For Emily Wilson the similarity between a blank canvas and the empty ice is a possibility.

“It has the potential to be anything you want it to be,” said the 17-year-old Whitefish High School student and member of the Whitefish Figure Skating Club.

 

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Erik Anderson seems to have been born with an innate sense of determination.

Following in his older sister’s ski boots, Anderson clipped into his first cross-country skis and tackled his first race – a one-kilometer loop around the Whitefish Golf Course – while still in diapers.

 

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At 5 years old, Ryan Rottenbiller would pack up his hockey gear, load it into the car with his father and take the one-hour-and-20-minute icy drive from East Glacier to Whitefish for hockey practice – twice a week for two seasons.

Now 17, sitting on a stool at the Stumptown Ice Den with the sound of pucks pounding off the glass nearby, the senior at Whitefish High School reflected on those drives around Glacier Park with a particular understanding.

 

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The Whitefish Speech & Debate Team attended the Ronan Invitation on Dec. 15, ending the day with a second place finish with 61 points; following Columbia Falls with 93 points.

In Team Debate freshman Adam Harris and sophomore Joe Mazur took second place, and sophomore, Matt Danczyk and sophomore Patrick Meehan took eighth place. In Lincoln Douglas Debate junior Ellen Scheffer took first place and sophomore Josh Schott took eighth place. Scheffer said, “It was so exciting as it was my first time winning first place. My top competitor from Columbia Falls and I have been battling for the top spot all season and I finally beat her.”

 

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BIGFORK – It’s no secret in Northwest A girls basketball – Bigfork is the team to beat.

Coming off a 20-4 season, the Bigfork Valkyries return five seniors, led by Alyssa Fierro. Fierro, a 6-foot-2-inch post, earned all-state last year after leading the Vals to an 11-1 regular season conference record, a divisional tournament championship and the consolation game of the state tournament, in which Bigfork lost to Livingston 54-53.

Related: Class AA Girls Basketball Preview

 

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With most of the league’s big names returning and a bumper crop of young stars emerging, coaches think Northwest A is as good this season as it’s been in years.

Columbia Falls is always a force to be reckoned with under the guidance of head coach Cary Finberg. The Wildcats have won three out of the last five state championships, taking the title in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Last year after dominating the regular season and finishing with a 14-4 (11-1) record, the Wildcats were upset by Libby at divisionals and missed the state tournament. But with two all-state guards returning, Finberg has good reason to once again feel confident about his team’s chances in Northwest A this year.

 

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As the sun cast shadows across the fairway at Whitefish Lake Golf Course, Chelsea Ray was getting ready to tee-off on the back nine. She had shot a 43 on the front and had to make a showing if she was going to win the Ladies Club Championship. Show she did.

Shooting a 34 on the back nine, she tied Maresa Jensen for first place. She beat Jensen on the first hole of the playoff, making the 15-year-old Ray the youngest person to win the ladies championship.

 

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Whitefish's girls volleyball team made it to the state championship game yet again with a victory over Libby on Friday, but lost to Lewistown 3-1 in the title match on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs were going for their fourth straight Class A championship and sixth in the last seven years. Whitefish didn't make it easy for Lewistown, barely losing the final two games 26-24 and 25-23. The Bulldogs' win over Libby in the semifinals was their first victory over the Loggers out of six meetings this year.

The Flathead Bravettes finished third at the Class AA state volleyball tournament after losing to Billings West 3-0 early Saturday afternoon. West went to play two-time defending champion Billings Senior in the state final on Saturday evening. Flathead opened up the tournament by losing to West in the first round, only to rebound and win three straight matches against Missoula Sentinel, Helena Capital and Billings Skyview. Then West ended Flathead's season by defeating the Bravettes for the second time in three days.

Also on Saturday, Montana quarterback Cole Bergquist led the the Grizzlies to a 27-14 victory over Idaho State. Montana standout running back and Kalispell native Lex Hilliard sat out of the game with a hand injury. In Portland, Ore., Montana State had a huge fourth quarter en route to a 50-36 win over Portland State.

 

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