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| Makena Morley. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
Makena Morley continues to break new ground in her freshman year.
Morley was named the Gatorade Cross Country Girls Runner of the Year for Montana recently, becoming the first girls runner from Bigfork High School to earn the honor.
Morley won the Class B state title this past fall in record time, clocking 17:44.32.
Here’s what the Gatorade news release had to say about our local standout:
Other Montana Gatorade honorees that have been named for the fall season are listed below:
Football -- Caleb Kidder, Capital High School: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior guard and defensive end led the Bruins to a 12-1 record and the Class AA state championship this past season. Kidder amassed 97 tackles, 13 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and six forced fumbles for the Capital defense. A three-time All-State selection, Kidder also recorded 45 pancake blocks on offense. Kidder has verbally committed to play football on an athletic scholarship at the University of Montana beginning in the fall of 2012.
Volleyball -- Kyndal Williams, Helena High School: The 5-foot-8 senior setter led the Bengals to a 29-4 record and their second straight Class AA state title this past season. Williams recorded 1,037 assists, 253 digs, 99 kills, 72 service aces and 45 blocks while posting a kill percentage of .398. A three-time First Team All-State selection, she distributed 145 assists in three state tournament matches, including 51 in a five-set win over Billings in the state final.
Read Morley was named the Gatorade Cross Country Girls Runner of the Year for Montana recently, becoming the first girls runner from Bigfork High School to earn the honor.
Morley won the Class B state title this past fall in record time, clocking 17:44.32.
Here’s what the Gatorade news release had to say about our local standout:
Ranked No. 22 on the ESPNHS DyeStat Cross Country Top 25 series, Morley placed third at the Foot Locker West Regional championships in 18:07 in addition to finishing ninth at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 17:39.1, capturing Second Team All-American honors. She also won the Flathead Invitational, Mountain West Classic and Capital City 7 on 7 this past fall.
Morley has maintained a 4.00 GPA in the classroom. In addition to volunteering as part of multiple community-service initiatives as part of a leadership class, she has donated her time to her team’s annual summer fun run and as a youth athletic instructor.
“She has a great work ethic, mental and physical toughness, and an unbelievable mindset for each race,” said Bigfork High head coach Susan Loeffler. “She runs to win every race, so she knows she has competed the best she can when the race is over, and she’s confident in her ability.”
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN HS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Morley joins Gatorade Montana Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year Caroline Hardin (2010-11, Bozeman High School), and Heidi Turner (2009-10, 2008-09 & 2007-08, Bozeman), as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Morley as Montana’s best high school girls cross country runner. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Morley joins an elite alumni association of past state award winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
Other Montana Gatorade honorees that have been named for the fall season are listed below:
Football -- Caleb Kidder, Capital High School: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior guard and defensive end led the Bruins to a 12-1 record and the Class AA state championship this past season. Kidder amassed 97 tackles, 13 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and six forced fumbles for the Capital defense. A three-time All-State selection, Kidder also recorded 45 pancake blocks on offense. Kidder has verbally committed to play football on an athletic scholarship at the University of Montana beginning in the fall of 2012.
Volleyball -- Kyndal Williams, Helena High School: The 5-foot-8 senior setter led the Bengals to a 29-4 record and their second straight Class AA state title this past season. Williams recorded 1,037 assists, 253 digs, 99 kills, 72 service aces and 45 blocks while posting a kill percentage of .398. A three-time First Team All-State selection, she distributed 145 assists in three state tournament matches, including 51 in a five-set win over Billings in the state final.
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Following a legend once is difficult enough, but to do it twice as both an athlete and a coach and with equal success is almost unimaginable.
But that’s just what Griz head basketball coach Wayne Tinkle has done. And let’s just say he’s entitled to sing the lyrics of the old Frank Sinatra song: “I did it my way.”
Read But that’s just what Griz head basketball coach Wayne Tinkle has done. And let’s just say he’s entitled to sing the lyrics of the old Frank Sinatra song: “I did it my way.”
Comments (0) TotalI was pretty skeptical of mixed martial arts as a serious sport when it really took off about 10 years ago, and I wasn’t alone. But thanks to the credibility established by UFC, MMA is now pretty widely accepted and supported as a legitimate competitive endeavor.
Evidence of that can be clearly found here in the Flathead Valley, where the number of both fighters and fans continues to grow. There are several talented locals rising in the MMA ranks like Zach Dickson and Jake Oyler, two professionals who train out of Montana Straight Blast Gym in downtown Kalispell.
The upcoming Kalispell Kombat event on Jan. 21 at Majestic Valley Arena is further proof of the valley’s growing appetite for MMA. The current fight card features 15 Kalispell residents competing in 14 bouts, including a professional main event fight for Dickson. Fights are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s probably the best card we’ve ever had in Kalispell,” said Kevin Moore with FightForce, which puts on the fights. “The talent is getting better and better here. These are high ranked amateur fighters.”
FightForce has been producing MMA events across the state over the years, and Kalispell has always been a popular stop. Last year’s Kombat drew over 1,000 fans, but never this many fighters.
“We’re loading it up,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a long night with a lot of good amateur fights and a good professional fight for Zach.”
Straight Blast Gym, a growing MMA gym with a history of strong competitors, has three fighters besides Dickson competing. A video below shows a compilation of the gym’s bouts from a previous Kombat event. Other fighters are competing “freestyle,” meaning unattached.
In conjunction with the event, a food drive is being held and a local business is offering a chance to meet and have dinner with a famed UFC fighter.
Fashion Plus Clothing in Kalispell is hosting Anthony "Rumble" Johnson between 12:30-5 p.m. on Jan. 21. Johnson, who is fighting Vitor Belfort in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 142 on Jan. 14, is a friend of Fashion Plus owner Kelley Taylor's. He appeared at last year's Kalispell Kombat. On Jan. 21, he will be offering autographs inside Fashion Plus, located at 132 East Idaho St. Those who purchase an article of clothing will be entered into a drawing to win a dinner with Johnson.
In cooperation with FightForce, Straight Blast Gym has started a food drive that will go until Jan. 20. With a donation of 10 non-perishable food items, donors’ names will be entered into a drawing for a VIP Ringside Table at Kalispell Kombat. The table will seat 10 people and has a value of $500. All donations must be delivered by noon Jan. 20 and the drawing will be held at 7 p.m.
Kalispell Kombat tickets can also be purchased at SBG or at the event. General admission tickets are $20 in advance. Ringside tables are available for $500.
CORRECTION:I originally said that Johnson will be appearing at Fashion Plus on Friday. He'll actually be there on Saturday, the day of the fights.
Read Evidence of that can be clearly found here in the Flathead Valley, where the number of both fighters and fans continues to grow. There are several talented locals rising in the MMA ranks like Zach Dickson and Jake Oyler, two professionals who train out of Montana Straight Blast Gym in downtown Kalispell.
The upcoming Kalispell Kombat event on Jan. 21 at Majestic Valley Arena is further proof of the valley’s growing appetite for MMA. The current fight card features 15 Kalispell residents competing in 14 bouts, including a professional main event fight for Dickson. Fights are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s probably the best card we’ve ever had in Kalispell,” said Kevin Moore with FightForce, which puts on the fights. “The talent is getting better and better here. These are high ranked amateur fighters.”
FightForce has been producing MMA events across the state over the years, and Kalispell has always been a popular stop. Last year’s Kombat drew over 1,000 fans, but never this many fighters.
“We’re loading it up,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a long night with a lot of good amateur fights and a good professional fight for Zach.”
Straight Blast Gym, a growing MMA gym with a history of strong competitors, has three fighters besides Dickson competing. A video below shows a compilation of the gym’s bouts from a previous Kombat event. Other fighters are competing “freestyle,” meaning unattached.
In conjunction with the event, a food drive is being held and a local business is offering a chance to meet and have dinner with a famed UFC fighter.
Fashion Plus Clothing in Kalispell is hosting Anthony "Rumble" Johnson between 12:30-5 p.m. on Jan. 21. Johnson, who is fighting Vitor Belfort in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 142 on Jan. 14, is a friend of Fashion Plus owner Kelley Taylor's. He appeared at last year's Kalispell Kombat. On Jan. 21, he will be offering autographs inside Fashion Plus, located at 132 East Idaho St. Those who purchase an article of clothing will be entered into a drawing to win a dinner with Johnson.
In cooperation with FightForce, Straight Blast Gym has started a food drive that will go until Jan. 20. With a donation of 10 non-perishable food items, donors’ names will be entered into a drawing for a VIP Ringside Table at Kalispell Kombat. The table will seat 10 people and has a value of $500. All donations must be delivered by noon Jan. 20 and the drawing will be held at 7 p.m.
Kalispell Kombat tickets can also be purchased at SBG or at the event. General admission tickets are $20 in advance. Ringside tables are available for $500.
Kalispell Kombat
Jan. 21, Majestic Valley Arena
Fights start at 7:30 p.m.
Current Fight Card
*Fighters affiliated with a gym have the gym’s name next to their names
135 pounds -- Jarrett Smith, Straight Blast Gym, Kalispell vs. DJ Snyder, Deer Lodge
175 pounds – Brandon Bailey, Kalispell vs. Matt Konoljnen, Montana MMA, Bozeman
170 pounds -- Michael Kuehne, Kalispell vs. Riley Tobin, PFA, Canada
160 pounds – Mark Johnson, Kalispell vs. Lane Day Chief, PFA, Canada
130 pounds – Luis Calderon, Kalispell vs. Leo Shoji, PFA, Canada
150 pounds – Vinnie Rossi, Kalispell vs. Mark Fallon, Kalispell
145 pounds – Sheldon Fisher, Fighters Island, Polson vs. Ericson Abalos, Montana MMA, Bozeman
145 pounds – Tony Best, Kalispell vs. Kris Putman, Heart N Soul, Great Falls
155 pounds – Joel Ballard, Kalispell vs. Jeremy Sanderson, Deer Lodge
135 pounds – Duran Flaget, Straight Blast Gym, Kalispell vs. Mitch Creighton, PFA, Canada
185 pounds – Gus Nolte, Straight Blast Gym, Kalispell vs. Tyrel Phillips, Grindhouse, Billings
185 pounds – Greg Tatar, Kalispell vs. Ace Gingerich, Dog Pound, Hamilton
155 pounds – Brent Young, Kalispell vs. Tyler Sager, Kalispell
145 pounds – Zach Dickson, Straight Blast Gym, Kalispell vs. Daniel Swain, Canusa, Newport, Wash.
CORRECTION:I originally said that Johnson will be appearing at Fashion Plus on Friday. He'll actually be there on Saturday, the day of the fights.
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Steve Tartaglino believes his sanity might be questioned if he could accurately say how much time he volunteers each year for the Woodland Ice Center.
“I counted the hours one season, and I started counting in September and I got to the tail end of February, and I think it was over 3,000 hours, so I never went back to keeping track,” he said. “There’s a fine line between passion and crazy, and I know I cross it at times.”
Read “I counted the hours one season, and I started counting in September and I got to the tail end of February, and I think it was over 3,000 hours, so I never went back to keeping track,” he said. “There’s a fine line between passion and crazy, and I know I cross it at times.”
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After Laurie and I got serious about each other we decided that instead of hanging out together at Sun Valley where we both had deep roots we would settle somewhere else. So we wound up in Vail and before I knew it we had become good friends with the new owner, George Gillette, and really liked everything about Vail except its lack of steep runs such as Exhibition and the canyon, both favorites of ours in our younger years in Sun Valley. When I invited an old Sun Valley friend to come and ski with us there he said, “Last time I skied there I got hurt very badly.”
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For folks looking for a new winter activity, the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex will be the place to be this weekend. The historic inn is hosting Ski Fest on Saturday and Sunday, and people can get free cross country skiing lessons on area trails.
“It's just a weekend to introduce folks to cross country skiing and is for people who may not know much about it,” said the inn's Amanda Kern.
Festivities will start at about 10:30 each day and go until mid-afternoon. Sportsman and Ski Haus will be on hand with demo gear that people can use free of charge and the Izaak Walton's gear will be available to rent at reduced rates. Trail passes are free all weekend. Kern said the event has been going on for more than a decade and is always popular.
“It's usually a busy weekend and we're excited to see so many people,” she said.
For more information call the Izaak Walton Inn at (406) 888-5700.
Read “It's just a weekend to introduce folks to cross country skiing and is for people who may not know much about it,” said the inn's Amanda Kern.
Festivities will start at about 10:30 each day and go until mid-afternoon. Sportsman and Ski Haus will be on hand with demo gear that people can use free of charge and the Izaak Walton's gear will be available to rent at reduced rates. Trail passes are free all weekend. Kern said the event has been going on for more than a decade and is always popular.
“It's usually a busy weekend and we're excited to see so many people,” she said.
For more information call the Izaak Walton Inn at (406) 888-5700.
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Tebow-mania is coming to Kalispell.
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be in town March 7 for a fundraiser supporting Stillwater Christian School, the school announced on Tuesday.
Read Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be in town March 7 for a fundraiser supporting Stillwater Christian School, the school announced on Tuesday.
Comments (2) TotalMushers from across the United States and Canada descended on a network of trails between Olney and upper Whitefish Lake to participate in the 2012 Flathead Sled Dog Days. Twenty-six teams of dogs divided into three classes – 36-mile 12-dog class, 25-mile eight-dog class and four-mile four-dog class – participated in the two-day race through the Whitefish Mountain Range.
Click the image or use the arrows to see more photos from the first day of racing.
Read Click the image or use the arrows to see more photos from the first day of racing.
Comments (0) TotalRead More Sports & Outdoors
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waterman said: "It might mean that some just do not like successful people or accomplishments."
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