Sports Stars Awards by Bozeman Daily Chronicle

SPORTS STARS

AWARDS HONORING THE AREA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTATHLETES A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E B O Z E M A N D A I LY C H R O N I C L E

HONOREES OF THE

SPORTS STARS AWARDS Order in which the awards will be presented:

CAMILLE LANDON

Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Bozeman

CADE WESSEL

Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Bozeman

JEMAL WILLIAMS

Inspirational Athlete of the Year, Belgrade

HEATHER SIKOSKI

Female Tennis Player of the Year, Bozeman

SHAINY MACK

MARCOS ZELVER

Female Basketball Player of the Year, Three Forks

Male Tennis Player of the Year, Bozeman

JAMES RAMIREZ

ALLIE LYNCH

Male Basketball Player of the Year, Manhattan Christian

SHANIA NEUBAUER

Softball Player of the Year, Belgrade

CAMILA NOE

Volleyball Player of the Year, Bozeman

ALEXA ARTHUN

Female Track Athlete of the Year, Manhattan

CHASE EQUALL

Female Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Bozeman

CHASE EQUALL

Male Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Bozeman

Male Track Athlete of the Year, Bozeman

LANCE MCCUTCHEON Football Player of the Year, Bozeman

JOHN SILLITTI

PIPI EITEL

Coach of the Year, Manhattan

Female Athlete of the Year, Belgrade

MEGGIE DELANEY Female Golfer of the Year, Bozeman

JR SMALL

SAWYER DEGEN

Male Athlete of the Year, Belgrade

Male Golfer of the Year, Bozeman

SAWYER DEGEN

Wrestler of the Year, Belgrade

KILEE ROHLF

Female Swimmer of the Year, Bozeman

MATTHEW HOFFMAN Male Swimmer of the Year, Bozeman

ALEXA COYLE

Female Soccer Player of the Year, Bozeman

JEFFREY DEBUSE

Male Soccer Player of the Year, Belgrade 2

2017 SPORTS STARS AWARDS

M A Y 16 , 2 017 â&#x20AC;¢ S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Bozeman Boys Cross-Country

DUNCAN HAMILTON ORRIN CLARK RILEY COLLINS LEONARD MCCOMAS SIMON ROSENZWEIG DYLAN HUMBERGER GRIFFIN MAY RENN MEUWISSEN CHASE EQUALL CASEY JERMYN

RIDGE ATHLETIC CLUBS FOUNDING SPONSOR The Ridge Athletic Clubs are proud to be the founding sponsor of these Sports Stars Awards, and to join our community in honoring the best high school athletes from across the Gallatin Valley. Dedicated to helping fellow Montanans build healthy lifestyles and meet their fitness goals, the Ridge Athletic Clubs have actively promoted family health and fitness for more than 20 years. Our team of professionals supports every fitness interest, while our state-of-the art facilities serve every need, providing members with two pools; a full-service spa; strength and cardiovascular training equipment; a full-size gymnasium and basketball programming; racquetball, handball and squash courts; multiple specialized fitness studios; nutritional health and physical therapy; fun Ridge Kids Playzone and programs for our youngest members; and more than 100 adult classes, including TRIBE Team Training offering personalized, expert coaching in a team setting. To meet any busy schedule, the Ridge Clubs open early and close late. Visit us at 4181 Fallon Ave. and 111 E. Mendenhall St. or online at ridgeathletic.com.

Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Camille Landon, Bozeman “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard, and there are definitely late nights. There are times when it’s stressful and there are times when you feel like maybe you should’ve skipped a workout to study for a test ... but finding a balance is really key for me, and part of what allows me to do that are high expectations for myself.” — Camille Landon

he metaphor is not lost on Camille Landon. She sets the bar above other athletes’ marks in high jump, and academics are no different. She agrees it’s a perfect way to explain her time at Bozeman High. The senior has been borderline obsessed with being the best at whatever she sets out to accomplish. In the classroom, that’s challenging herself with a host of advanced placement courses. On the track and in the gym, that’s being a state champion.

She is one of the school’s most successful student-athletes. This past year she balanced volleyball and track with three AP courses in both semesters and was named Bozeman’s lone National Merit finalist May 10. She is bound for Dartmouth in the fall. “It’s kind of a blessing and a curse in the sense that I don’t really allow myself to perform at a level that I’m not satisfied with,” Landon said. “I think every student-athlete has experienced that before when maybe they feel like they don’t have enough energy to go around and they are

stretched too thin. When you find a balance, it’s rewarding to see yourself succeeding in different areas of life.” Landon is the two-time defending Class AA high jump champion and also was a contributor to the Hawks’ 2015 volleyball title. For her jumping ability she credits good genes — her father was a decorated high jumper from Long Beach, California who once cleared 7 feet. For academics, she’s effusive in her praise of her teachers. “I haven’t had a single experience that was

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

completely negative with a teacher in any sense,” Landon said. “School has been such a big part of my life and I truly have learned from every class I have taken.” Similar to academics, one of Landon’s strongest traits in sports is her focus. She stares at the bar during her high jump setup, blocking out all noise around the track. She then slaps her quadriceps, leans back and takes long strides toward the bar. Once airborne, she’s the picture of perfect technique and grace. “Camille is really consistent,” remarked high jump coach Mike Cole, who was also Landon’s freshman year geometry teacher. “It’s so technical, so you have to be able to approach the bar at the same speed, the same angle, the same cadence. You have to be able to jump from the same spot — all of your angles have to be exact — and she’s good at that.” The Northern California native relocated when she was in fourth grade, and it was around that time when her interests in her potential college major were piqued. She entered a spelling bee and admittedly “nerded out” while preparing. “My mom and I, we would spend hours in the morning before school studying the review packets you can get online and learning about word origins and how they impact the spelling,” said Landon, who plans on pursuing a degree in linguistics “That was something I got really stoked about; I didn’t realize at the time how geeky it was, but it was definitely an esoteric thing to be excited about.” Studying linguistics is much like the high jump, Landon continued. So many small motions combine to produce an end result. “The margin of error is small — a fiberglass bar — so because of that I

think the sport hinges a lot more on precision and practice and the quality of your form than your athleticism,” she described. “You can only get so far with brute force before the details come back and cause problems.” Landon has waited about two years for an improvement in high jump. She won the state title as a sophomore at 5 feet, 5 inches, and then posted the same height to defend the championship the following season. On April 19, she finally had a breakthrough.

She leaped 5-7.5 during the SkorDeKam Invitational in Helena, the best mark in the state by 2.5 inches. “She only started high jumping as a sophomore,” Cole said. “The first year, it was kind of a surprise that she won it. This year … I think she’s put in the time and effort and worked hard enough to get those extra inches. In high jump it is a matter of fractions of inches that you’re dealing with. I think it’s a testament to the amount of work she does.” Landon is still surprised she will study

and compete at an Ivy League institution. Her list of potential destinations included Yale, Wesleyan, Scripps, Pomona, Swarthmore and Cornell. “It’s kind of surreal because just the thought of going to an Ivy League school is just such a reach to begin with because they are so intense in terms of applications and stuff,” she said. “It was hard to imagine myself just attending one in the first place. The fact that I can do athletics there is just even more baffling to me.”

As your State Farm Agent, I am proud to support your dedication and commitment. Congratulations Super Stars!

1616224

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

Elliot Insurance Agcy Inc. Ty R. Elliot, Agent 403 Gallatin Farmers Ave. Ste. 101 Belgrade, MT 59714 • Bus: 406-388-3178 Statefarm.com P047024 State Farm Insurance Companies Home Offices: Bloomington Illinois 05705

1616270

Always Buying: GET CASH FOR SPRING CLEANING WE WANT TO BUY YOUR USED GEAR Bicycles - Kids, Adult, Mountain Bikes, Town Bikes Baseball/Softball Bats, Ball Gloves, Soccer Gear, Lacrosse Gear Stand-Up Paddleboards, Wakeboards, Water Skis Pro-Line Golf Clubs, Junior Golf Clubs Yard Games, Inline Skates, Hockey Equipment, 1428 N. 15th – Just Off Oak St. Open Daily: M-F 9am-8pm, Fitness Equipment, Treadmills, Sat 9am-7pm, 587-7427 (PIAS) Sun 10am-5pm PlayItAgainSportsBozeman.com Elipticalls Stationary Bikes.... and more!

Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Cade Wessel, Bozeman “I’m a little biased, but he’s truly a fantastic young man. I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve had coaching him.” — Karl Wessel, Bozeman volunteer assistant coach

arl Wessel openly and unapologetically admits he is going to be an emotional wreck. He has enjoyed a unique perspective and special bond with his youngest son, Cade, during the past decade while serving as father, confidant, peewee football coach and trusted track and field mentor. He helped Cade blossom into a state javelin champion in 2016. On June 29, Karl once again will be by Cade’s side as the accomplished teenager embarks on his newest and most important venture. Delivering his son to the Naval Academy is sure to engender

both intense pride and tears. “It’s going to be pretty hard on dad,” said Karl, a volunteer assistant for the Bozeman High throwers. “I’m a little biased, but he’s truly a fantastic young man. … It’s been fun watching him grow and mature and succeed and knowing you’ve had a little part in that success. I’ve been very, very lucky to be that involved.” Wife Jennifer undoubtedly will be the strong one. “As a mom you worry about your sons going into this line of work, but I’m very excited for him to go out and grab his life,” she said. “This is what we raised them to do: to be independent and to

make their own decisions. It’s going to be pretty cool to get a glimpse of the kind of man he’s going to be in the future.” Who he hopes to become first rounded into focus in middle school. A confluence of factors influenced Wessel — spending a family road trip to Colorado listening to and being captivated by a recording of Marcus Luttrell’s book “Lone Survivor,” which details a Navy Seal team’s deadly encounter with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan; that first trip to Annapolis, Maryland as an 8-yearold; being regaled with stories from relatives in the family business, among them his grandfather, an

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Army lieutenant colonel, his mother, a former Air Force sergeant and an uncle, who attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; incessantly thumbing through other Seal books checked out from the library. He was hooked. “Just being a part of something bigger than myself and accomplishing a huge goal with little steps, that’s something important to me,” said Wessel, whose older brother, Chance, attends the Air Force Academy. “I just want to make the world a better place, the best place it can be. I’ve always just felt the military is the best way to do that.” “He’s always been a very determined person that likes challenges,” his father added. “If those challenges have both a physical and mental aspect to them, that’s even more desirable. “He usually doesn’t do anything half way. It’s all in for him.” On the playing field, there was no concern about whether Wessel would fit in upon his family’s move from Big Timber to Bozeman after his freshman year. The 6-foot-3, three-sport star has stood out in Montana’s highest classification.

The second-team All-State linebacker was integral to the Hawks’ 2015 title run, and he contributed to the basketball program’s runner-up finish in 2016. In track and field, Wessel transformed from a 12th-place state finisher in 2015 to a javelin champion. His first two tosses of the 2016 finals were a disappointment. His third and final, however, soared 191 feet, 5 inches, breaking the program record by about 3 feet and helping Bozeman clinch fourth place, its best finish since 2011.

“A lot of emotions came out after that one,” exclaimed Wessel, who hopes one day to represent the Midshipmen in the NCAA Championships. “Sometimes you take a step back, sometimes you take a step forward, but as long as you reach your goal in the end, it’s all worth it.” Wessel’s contributions have not ended there. The affable 4.0 student joined a youth volunteer group in his former hometown, where he often could

be found playing board games or participating in ice cream socials at a rest home. The Bozeman student body treasurer and National Honor Society member has mentored Special Olympic athletes and autistic adults here and supported veterans; he organized last fall’s “Hawk Football Military Appreciation Game,” which generated $600 for the Troop Dreams organization. A Congressional nomination has been secured. After a few months recovering from ankle surgery, which forced Wessel to forego his final season on the hardwood, he recently was medically cleared, the final hurdle to acceptance. For now, the focus in on state. Immediately afterward, it will shift to June 29 and a dream realized. “It’s nice to look back on the process and see how far you’ve come, but also look forward and see how far you can go,” said Wessel, who one day hopes to follow in Luttrell’s footsteps. “I’m really focusing on the future and what good I can do for people and what good I can do for myself. I just want to live the best life I can.”

OurBank.com

CONGRATS ATHLETES! No matter where you start, we’ll be with you every step of the way. 406.585.3800

Member FDIC

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

Female Basketball Player of the Year: Shainy Mack, Three Forks “She’s definitely the leader of our team. She makes us go. When she plays well, we play well.” — Mike Sauvageau, Three Forks head coach

hile Shainy Mack did not lead District 5B in scoring this past season, she was clearly the league’s most valuable. A three-year Three Forks starter, Mack helped her team win a regular season conference crown, claim the District 5B tournament championship, finish as the Southern B Divisional runner up and place third at state during a 22-5 campaign. Mack was among the league leaders in three categories — scoring, 3-pointers and free-throw percentage — en route to earning All-State honors. She averaged 17.4 points during the regular season, which ranked third in the conference behind a pair of posts, and 16.1 in the postseason. As the team’s starting point guard, Mack was often double- and tripleteamed early in the season. It did little to slow the junior, however, as she scored a career-high 34 in a 69-62 victory in late December against Anaconda. With the addition of sophomore transfer Kyle Olson to the varsity at midseason, Mack was relieved of some of the point-guard duties. She thrived in her new role, scoring both inside and outside of the arc. Mack ranked second in District 5B in 3-pointers (37) and fifth in free-throw percentage (61.8). “It’s really going to help Shainy in the long run because people can’t just come down and double team Shainy and deny her everywhere. Now they have somebody else they’ve got to worry about,” Three Forks coach Mike Sauvageau said after Mack scored 14 in a 39-point rout of Columbus in late January. “As you saw tonight they tried to guard both of them, and Shainy gives the ball up and she shoots some shots when she’s supposed to, but they’re both very unselfish.” Mack’s aggressive play on both ends earned her All-State honors for a second straight season. She was a first-team All-Conference selection as a freshman after averaging 11.5 points.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Shania Neubauer, Belgrade: All-State and first-team All-Central A selection. ■ Riana Rogers, Bozeman: All-State and first-team All-Eastern AA selection. ■ Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian: All-State and first-team All-District 11C selection. ■ Dasha Bough, Lone Peak: First-team All-District 11C selection. ■ Kyle Olson, Three Forks: Second-team All-District 5B selection.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Male Basketball Player of the Year: James Ramirez, Manhattan Christian “I don’t know that he necessarily got all of the recognition he deserved at times because he was a 6-foot-4 post player in Class C and he was fortunate to play with some other very, very good players during his time. But the proof is in the pudding; not a lot of kids can say they were a starter on three state tournament teams.” — Jeff Bellach, Manhattan Christian head coach

rior to the start of the 201415 season, coach Jeff Bellach had a tough time containing his excitement. There was a new addition to the program at Manhattan Christian, and that player would make a huge impact from the outset. James Ramirez transferred from Lone Peak following his freshman year and quickly became a starter for the Eagles. He proceeded to help Manhattan Christian reach the Class C tournament three straight times. This past year, he averaged a team-best 14.6 points and 9.5 rebounds during a 23-4 campaign. The Eagles reached the state championship, losing to Arlee, 71-67, and Ramirez was a primary factor for the success. Bellach praised his senior leader following that loss. Ramirez played in quite a bit of discomfort, but still tallied 18 hard-fought points in the paint. For his efforts, Ramirez earned All-State and first-team All-District 11C honors. It was the second straight year that he garnered AllState accolades after being selected second-team All-Conference as a sophomore. “I don’t know that he necessarily got all of the recognition he

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

deserved at times because he was a 6-foot-4 post player in Class C and he was fortunate to play with some other very, very good players during his time,” Bellach said. “But the proof is in the pudding; not a lot of kids can say they were a starter on three state tournament teams.” Ramirez recently signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball career at Montana Western. He’ll also compete in rodeo for the Bulldogs. “Can’t say enough about the work that James has put in to become one of the best players in the state,” Bellach said.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Eddie Starz, Lone Peak: AllState and first-team All-District 11C selection. ■ Dawson Fowler, Belgrade: First-team All-Central A selection. ■ Brock Salsbury, Belgrade: AllState and first-team All-Central A selection. ■ Callahan O’Reilly, Bozeman: All-State and first-team Eastern AA selection. … Averaged 12 points and six rebounds. ■ Jakim Ricketts, Park: Secondteam All-Central A selection.

Softball Player of the Year: Shania Neubauer, Belgrade “We are not just going to practice to go through the motions. We are here for a purpose, each one of us, and all of us have something to get better at. Not one of us has perfected every part of the game.” — Shania Neubauer

s a wide-eyed freshman in the spring of 2014, Shania Neubauer wasted little time making an impact for Belgrade. Neubauer worked her way into the rotation, earning a 5-3 record, and even started in the circle in the Class A championship against perennial power Frenchtown. Three years and two title-game appearances later, the veteran is hoping to lead the Panthers to their first crown. Belgrade once again is one of the top teams in the classification and Neubauer hopes this is the year the team can finally break through. “We are very determined this year. Us as a team are working every practice to get better every day,” she said. “That’s kind of been our motto this year. We are not just going to practice to go through the motions. We are here for a purpose, each one of us, and all of us have something to get better at. Not one of us has perfected every part of the game.” Neubauer, a second-team All-Conference selection a year ago, has led the way both with her arm and bat. She is 10-1 in the circle and batting .426 with five doubles, a triple and two home runs. Neubauer has a career pitching mark of 31-13 and has belted six home runs. While she has shined again this spring, She’s quick to point out the effort of her teammates, as well. “The last three years have given me a lot of experience, in the circle especially. The atmosphere of a state tournament isn’t new to this team — Rudy (Ty Atwood), Kalista (Pachl), and Khiala (Rollins), and myself all played in last year’s state tournament. We will do our best to keep the tempo of the game under control,” she said. “My freshman year I had good senior and junior leaders that helped and encouraged me really well when I was out on the field with them. We plan to do the same with our younger girls. I’m really exited for the postseason this year, but we have to make it to state first. We reach our goals one game at a time.” Belgrade takes a 15-1 record into the Central A Divisional on May 19-20 in Livingston, and finished 8-0 against league opponents during the regular season for a third consecutive year.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Erin Elgas, Belgrade: 3-0 in circle with three saves. ... Batting .550 with five doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. ■ Ty Atwood, Belgrade: Batting .500 with six doubles, a team-leading five home runs and 20 RBIs. ... Program’s career home run leader with 20. ■ Haylee Curry, Belgrade: Batting .410 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 16 RBIs. ■ Hope Titchbourne, Bozeman: Four-year starter who will attend Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Female Cross-Country Runner of the Year: Camila Noe, Bozeman “She’s pretty quiet and reserved in practice and in training and works really hard, but when you toe the line, it’s all business. It gets serious.” — Casey Jermyn, Bozeman head coach

alent will only take a runner so far, Bozeman cross-country coach Casey Jermyn insists. Internal drive and competitiveness are the true harbingers of success. Do not be fooled by Camila Noe’s humility or shy demeanor. Competitors who have lined up against the diminutive but undeniably talented Hawks junior the past two falls know that well. “There may be days where she’s a little sick or tired and she will just push herself to the next level,” Jermyn said of his talented pupil. “You’re like, ‘Whoah, maybe we should back off a little bit. It’s fine.’ It reminds you that she’s very driven. … She’s really made that jump to the next level.” And quickly. The converted soccer player has competed for just two seasons. She decided to make a switch because cross-country “seemed like an environment I would enjoy more.” “I really just wanted to work my hardest and kind of see where it could take me,” she added. Noe now resides among the nation’s elite. She cemented her status as one of Montana’s best with a 16-minute, 51-second effort in last year’s state meet at Kalispell’s Rebecca Farm, shattering the program’s previous top time (17:16), securing second place and helping the Hawks climb to the top of the podium for the 10th consecutive season. By season’s end, Noe added seventh- and 35th-place finishes to a breakout campaign at Nike Cross’ Northwest Regional and national meets, respectively. In the former, the Bozeman girls secured a second consecutive title. In the latter, they finished a program-best eighth. And this is only the beginning. Of that, Jermyn is certain. “She’s going to be right in the mix with some of the top girls in

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

the entire country,” he predicted. “If you take (nationals), you take her finish there and you take out all the seniors, she’s right in the top 10; it’s really exciting to know that. She was ranked in the top 10 in the two-mile (in track) for a while this spring. You see a real bright future for her.” “It’s really cool to see where I’m at now,” Noe added. “Everyone on this team is so hard-working. … It’s just

motivating and cool to have people as dedicated as these girls are.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Pipi Eitel, Belgrade: Class A champion (18 minutes, 17.5 seconds). ■ Lucy Wagner, Bozeman: 12th, Class AA meet (18:05). ■ Kenenni Wiegand, Bozeman: Fourth place, Class AA meet (17:22.7).

… 19th, Nike Cross Northwest Regional (18:22.2). … 46th, Nike Cross Nationals (18:44). ■ Piper Meuwissen, Bozeman: 23rd, Class AA meet (18:58.7). … 12th, Nike Cross Northwest Regional (18:13.7). … 106th, Nike Cross Nationals (19:34). ■ Laina Hall, Bozeman: 14th place, Class AA meet (18:11.2). … 73rd, Nike Cross Northwest Regional (19:33.4).

Male Cross-Country Runner of the Year: Chase Equall, Bozeman “Just talking to people from other towns, I think Bozeman is just a great place to run. A lot of other places, people look at you funny when you’re out on a run. I think we’re very fortunate to live in a place where that’s the norm.” — Chase Equall

normal person might listen to Chase Equall discuss the mileage he runs as a high school senior — somewhere between 60-70 per week — and is struck with words like “absurd,” “ludicrous,” or “torture.” Equall not only considers it normal, but figures he’s in for a big jump in the coming months and years. That’s because he’s headed to the University of Washington in August, where he’ll join a decorated group of runners. “Then we’ll have training camp and time with the team before school starts up in September,” Equall said. “They’ll set up a training plan for me soon, mostly just getting in mileage over the summer and then ramping up later in the summer. It’s pretty likely I’ll redshirt, but that’s OK because they didn’t graduate very many people. “(The workload) varies quite a lot. You’ll see 70 miles, which is not that much more than I’ve been running, all the way up to more than 100 per week. It just depends on the person — some people will just explode if you put 100 miles on them. I don’t know if I will or not, but we’ll see.” Equall said he first thought this future was possible a year ago, during his junior year of track. Even before that, he and teammates turned their cross-country focus not only on continuing their decade-long stranglehold on Class AA, but to the national level. Equall led the talented Hawks, set the classification record at the state cross-country meet in 14 minutes, 40 seconds, and then finished second at the Nike Cross Northwest Regional and 26th at Nike Cross Nationals, powering Bozeman to wins in both. “For him, it’s just cool, calm and collected,” firstyear coach Casey Jermyn said before state. “I think he doesn’t get overly hyped about things. Things don’t overly stress him.” The silver star-shaped national trophy, sitting in the grass at Bozeman High on a recent afternoon, still elicits a wide smile from the even-keeled Equall. “It never gets old,” he said. He takes a similarly straightforward approach to his jump to college — even if he has some unfinished business looming later this month at the state track meet. “It’s just different when you get in a different group of guys and they’re putting in a lot more mileage than you’re used to and throwing down a lot faster times than you’re used to,” he said. “I think just that environment itself will be a lot of what makes the difference for me, personally.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Duncan Hamilton, Bozeman: Class AA runner-

up in 15:00.1, the third-best time of the season in Montana. … Finished sixth at Nike Cross Northwest Regional. … Junior will be the top returning runner in AA. … Helped lead Bozeman to state, regional and national titles. ■ Sawyer Degen, Belgrade: Class A runner-up in 15:47.6, the state’s 13th-best time in 2016. … Ran a personal-best 16:35.1 at Nike Cross Nationals to finish 75th.

■ Riley Collins, Bozeman: Finished fourth in Class AA in 15:11.1, the sixth-best time of the year in the state. … Finished 25th at regionals and 56th at nationals. ■ Leonard McComas, Bozeman: Manhattan transfer finished sixth in Class AA in a personal-best 15:18.8. … Finished 37th at regionals and 65th at nationals. ■ Orrin Clark, Bozeman: Ran a personal-best 15:21.2 at Helena 7 of 7, but missed Class AA state meet with injury. … 45th at regionals and 58th at nationals.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Coach of the Year: John Sillitti, Manhattan “We’re better when we’re surrounded by people that are supporting us. It becomes part of your team culture. I really believe that.” — John Sillitti

conversation with John Sillitti can go in any direction, but it will always be interesting. Take, for instance, a recent chat with a reporter at Van Winkle Stadium as his Manhattan track athletes used a small invitational as one of the regular season’s final tune-ups. “Are you familiar with the Roseto effect?” Sillitti asked. When told no, the veteran Tigers head coach rattled off details about Roseto, Pennsylvania, a small town that in the 1960s recognized it had a significantly lower rate of heart disease among its population than the national average. Scientists claim to have accounted for every possible cause except the fact that the community was particularly tight-knit. Sillitti now uses the town as something of a model for his programs. “I looked at that and applied it to track,” he said. “We’re trying to create unity. Those athletes that come before have contributed to that team culture. It becomes an expectation that, ‘This is what we do.’ We have kids that are passionate about track and field and they commit to it, and when that happens, other kids do, too.” The results have been nothing short of dominant. The Manhattan boys have won five consecutive Class B track titles, and seven of the past eight. The boys cross-country team has four in his tenure, including three since 2009. The girls won a crosscountry crown in the fall and own two of the past three. Five Tigers girls finished in the top 25 in Kalispell in November, paced by Hannah Madsen in third, Jessa Steele in 10th and Hannah Boyd two spots back. All five of the top finishers are underclassmen, meaning the success is not likely to slow anytime soon. “He just puts so much love into everybody,” senior track standout Alexa Arthun said. “He genuinely loves everyone on the team and he cares and he shows that every day.” Sillitti is only the third coach in Montana history to win five straight track championships, and has reestablished the classification scoring record each of the past two years. “It’s like a dynasty,” Arthun said. “Kids come in and the underclassmen see the success the upperclassmen have and that makes them strive to want to do it. It’s been that way for a while.” Added Sillitti, “I just think you get the ball started and that helps the legacy of it. You see a kid that goes on to run in college and that just feeds itself because other kids believe it’s more of a possibility.” Belief is one part of the equation, but so is Manhattan’s training regimen and the coaching received in a town of less than 2,000.

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

“We’re a small school and we have a lot of kids doing different events, so we’ve tried to set it up where, two days a week are conditioning days no matter what group you’re in,” Sillitti explained. “Then two days are technique days, and that way everybody is getting conditioning done, and on technique days we can pick our events and (get work done on each one specifically). “There’s some trade-off there, but we’re able to get most of it in.” This year has been slightly different. There’s no glut of Division I athletes — though Arthun is headed to the Air Force Academy and auto-qualified for state in six events — and no status as an overwhelming favorite. The boys have been coming on of late and the girls could score points outside of Arthun, making both potential challengers. The continued improvement this year has been invigorating for the decorated leader. “Now we’re back to we know we really have to fight for it, and it’s kind of fun to be projected way down here and build up and up as the season goes,” Sillitti said. “We always told the kids that winning is a byproduct of doing things right. If we show up every day, work when it’s time to work, play when it’s time to play, don’t confuse the two, do things technically correct and pick each other up as a team, the winning comes from that.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Jeff Bellach, Manhattan Christian boys basketball: Led Eagles to Class C state runner-up finish and 23-4 record. … Finished 10-0 in District 11C. … Three All-State honorees. ... Two seniors (James Ramirez, Joey Lodine) playing in college. ■ Sarah Fowler, Belgrade girls basketball: Engineered program turnaround in first year, advancing to Class A semifinals after a combined 10-30 record two previous years. … 14-11 record. … Third-place finish at Eastern A Divisional, 6-2 in Central A. ■ Chris Hess, Ennis football: Led Mustangs to 13-0 record, Class C 8-man title. … Nine All-State selections. … At least three seniors (Ty Morgan, Gavin McKitrick, Jake Knack) signed to play in college. … Outscored opponents by 48 per game. ■ Ric Plante, Belgrade soccer: Head coach for all 14 years of program, which won first Class A title. … 13-2 record, including 2-0 win over Corvallis for championship. … Two All-State and four AllConference selections. ■ Casey Jermyn, Bozeman cross-country: Firstyear coach led Hawks boys to state, regional and national titles. … Girls won 10th straight state title. … Four boys and two girls in top six at state. … 13 runners (seven girls, six boys) in top 23 at state.

Female Golfer of the Year: Meggie Delaney, Bozeman “She’s competitive and has high expectations. She played the two best rounds she’s ever played.” — Matt Clark, Bozeman head coach

ozeman head coach Matt Clark typically refrains from inquiring about his players’ scores during tournament play. No exchange was necessary after last fall’s first round of the Class AA state tournament at Billings’ Lake Hills Golf Course. The grin covering senior Meggie Delaney’s face spoke volumes as she strolled off the 18th green. “I thought, ‘This has to be good,’” Clark recalled. “The timing couldn’t have been better.” Delaney routinely found herself in the mix during Bozeman’s dominant fall, but never with medalist honors. Teammates and honorable mentions Hannah Rosanova and Kameryn Basye earned that distinction a combined five times for the Hawks, who won every regularseason tournament for the second consecutive season. One week before state, a subtle tweak was made to Delaney’s mechanics — coaches and an assistant pro at Valley View noticed her shoulder position was too far open during her pre-shot routine. A breakthrough followed. The talented squad’s No. 3 golfer wound up first in Montana. “To be honest, I thought we had five girls that had a chance to place high and seven that would’ve played well if we were allowed to bring that many,” Clark said. “She’s competitive and has high expectations. She played the two best rounds she’s ever played.” Delaney and the Hawks established a nearly insurmountable firstday lead. She carded a career-best, 4-over-par 76 and Bozeman 317, 53 strokes clear of Missoula Sentinel. “My coaches always talked about peaking at the right time, and that’s what happened,” Delaney said then. “Everything was going well. My swings felt good and my putts were dropping.” By event’s end, the Hawks (641),

who in 2015 struggled to third but returned its entire lineup, had secured their 14th crown by a margin of 106 thanks to five All-State performances. Delaney shined brightest on the big stage. Her Day 2 82 secured a three-stroke win over a trio that included Hawks Basye and Annika Danenhauer, two accomplished returners who undoubtedly make Bozeman a favorite again this fall. “She was playing so well,” Basye told the Chronicle then regarding the veteran Delaney, “and I’m just so happy she was able to play so great her senior year.” Added Clark, “It seemed like, attitude-wise, she was just a little different that week — more accepting of shots, more even-keeled as far as emotion goes. She earned it. She was just fantastic.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Hannah Rosanova, Bozeman: Three-time medalist during regular season and All-State selection after finishing fifth at Billings’ Lake Hills Golf Course (82-80). ■ Kameryn Basye, Bozeman: Two-time, regular-season medalist, All-State selection after tying for second in Billings (79-82). ■ Annika Danenhauer, Bozeman: A former soccer player who finished with All-State accolades in her first varsity season after tying for second (80-81) at state. ■ Sydney Rochford, Three Forks: Carded a season-best 75 to win the Anaconda/Deer Lodge Invitational … Finished fourth at Class B state tournament (86-85), helping the Wolves clinch a second consecutive title by 49 strokes. ■ Shainy Mack, Three Forks: Finished seventh at the state tournament (85-95), one of three Wolves to finish in the top eight. … Part of a team that won 18 consecutive tournaments.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Male Golfer of the Year: JR Small, Bozeman “He’s going to be a really good one.” — Matt Clark, Bozeman head coach

att Clark long has seen something special in JR Small. It was the Bozeman High head coach and exectuive director of the Wheat Montana Junior Golf Tour who suggested the precocious youngster be bumped up an age classification during the summer circuit. Small not only acquitted himself admirably against 16- and 17-year-olds, he walked away the overall winner. It was hardly a surprise, then, when the freshman carded a 1-under-par 70 in the Hawks’ season-opening tournament in Great Falls. “He’s going to be a really good one,” Clark remarked that afternoon in August. “Junior” Small — a monicker jokingly bestowed on the player after a waiter misread his name during a road trip — grew up in a hurry in his first campaign with Bozeman. He validated his breakout in Great Falls with a few top 10s and garnered medalist honors at the I-90 Invitational at nearby Valley View Golf Club. Even a pairing with two standouts — eventual winner Joey Moore of Billings West and Keaton Sunchild,

the top athlete for tournament favorite Great Falls — did little to rattle Small in his first state experience. He carded rounds of 74 and 78, finishing ninth and earning All-State accolades as Bozeman secured second place, its best finish since 2010. “He never does shy away from the moment,” Clark said. “If you asked him, he’d say he wants to play with the best players out there — that competititon makes him raise his game. “He’s an incredible talent skill-wise and he’s just very mature for his age. He’s not a guy that wants to hit driver on every hole; he thinks his way around the course and knows how to play the game. His knowledge is great and he’s so even-tempered. Those aren’t a natural thing for high school golfers.” Small, also an elite hockey player, is stronger and primed for big things in coming years. Clark is excited to have a front row seat. “He’s a really dedicated golfer who knows that to be good you’ve got to put in the time and outwork everybody. He’s doing just that and his ceiling is so high,” the coach added. “He’s got so much potential, and I really see him meeting that because of his work ethic.”

ALLSTATE INSURANCE AWARDS

Congratulations Athletes!

GOOD STUDENTS WITH DRIVING DISCOUNTS

G E CO MP A

MARIE GARY

C M O N T

Buffalo, Elk & Beef Sausage & Snack Sticks * Buffalo & Beef Jerky Specialty deli featuring our smoked Ham, Pastrami & Brats Homemade Salads and Desserts • Import Beer & Wine • Gift Shop

mariegary@allstate.com 14

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

1616253

586-3330

The Chalet Market • 6410 Jackrabbit Lane, Belgrade, MT 59714 406-388-4687 • chaletmarket.com • Open 7- days a week • Trailer Parking Locally Owned & Operated

1616272

Montana’s Finest Sausage for Over 40 Years.

Wrestler of the Year: Sawyer Degen, Belgrade “It’s so exciting to be able to not only tie my brother, but to just get a little edge above him because he never had the perfect season. It’s just amazing.” — Sawyer Degen

fter spending three years in the shadow of his older brother, Sawyer Degen created his own this past season. It stretched clear across the state for one of the nation’s top high school wrestlers. The Belgrade senior won his fourth straight Class A championship in February to cap one of the most dominant seasons in program history. He finished with a 38-0 record to wrap up a preparatory career that featured 142 victories and only 12 losses. A year ago, brother Jarrett, who now competes for Virginia Tech, became the first four-time state champion from Belgrade. He never produced an unbeaten season, however, something the younger Degen noted after winning the 138-pound crown. “I’m just super excited,” Degen said on that winter evening at Billings’ MetraPark. “It’s so exciting to be able to not only tie my brother, but to just get a little

edge above him because he never had the perfect season. It’s just amazing.” Perfection was never the goal. But as the wins piled up, Degen embraced the challenge and became just the second in program history to accomplish the feat. “A big, big accomplishment for Sawyer,” Belgrade coach Sean Dellwo said following the state championship. “I know it was weighing heavy on him all year long. He was really looking forward to it, and his last tournament was his best tournament.” The three-sport athlete also won state championships at 98, 113, and 126. But it was his dominant senior campaign that will be remembered most. Degen helped the Panthers post an 8-12 dual record after going a combined 7-26 the previous two seasons. Degen served as a team leader and took a simple

approach: Never look ahead. That kept him grounded during what proved to be an historic campaign. “I’ve always thought that would be really cool,” he said of finishing unbeaten, “but my goal was just to wrestle my way, and if there was a tough kid, do what you have to do to beat him.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ John Mears, Belgrade: Class A’s 120-pound champion. ■ Bjorn Schroeder, Bozeman: Class AA’s 126-pound champion. ■ Leif Schroeder, Bozeman: Class AA’s 113-pound champion. ■ Chance McLane, Bozeman: Class AA’s third-place finisher at 120 pounds. ■ Shane Gibson, Park: Class A state qualifier.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Female Swimmer of the Year: Kilee Rohlf, Bozeman “(Kilee Rohlf’s) kind of stepped up the entire season. At the end of last year, she was borderline MVP. ... Even when she wins she’s disappointed that she’s not going fast enough. She doesn’t want to just win, she wants to destroy people.” — William McCallum, Bozeman head coach

he loss of one of the program’s most successful swimmers was devastating at first. The Bozeman girls harbored hopes of challenging powerhouse Missoula Hellgate with its strongest lineup in recent years. But during winter break, standout Hailey Hamlin was forced to quit for medical reasons. The grieving period was short thanks to Kilee Rohlf. Head coach William McCallum called Rohlf a leader who helped the Hawks navigate the adversity. She rallied the team along with other veterans and the group entered state with renewed confidence. While the Knights still rolled to a fourth straight title, Rohlf won the 100-yard freestyle in 52.96 seconds and was key in a pair of runner-up results in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. The Great Falls native made large waves in just two seasons at Bozeman. “Stealing away one of Great Falls’ best swimmers, it was a huge bonus for us,” McCallum said. “Just for our relays, usually teams have two or three kids that you can go to for a relay. Adding her in, we have four girls for every relay. We’ve never been this stacked or deep.” Rohlf was a top breaststroker during her sophomore year with the Bison, but dropped it in favor of the backstroke. She was second in state as a junior and was a favorite to win this past winter. During preliminaries, she was disqualified for moving while in the set position before the starting gun sounded. “They have a rule when they tell you to take your mark, if you have any kind of movement you’ll be disqualified,” McCallum said. “They held her for a long time — longer than they are supposed to.” The coach added that she broke the school record by about a second in that swim, though it didn’t count. Rohlf had hoped to drop time during the final meet and possibly walk on to Pac-12 Utah. It didn’t work out, but she decided in May to walk on at BYU. “I have been talking to them since I think the end of the high school season,” said Rohlf, who considered Idaho, Northern Colorado and the College of Idaho. “I’m super excited, but I’m nervous and a little stressed — but more excited than stressed. I want to make the conference team this year and go to the Olympic trials my senior year.”

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

Male Swimmer of the Year: Matthew Hoffman, Bozeman “Anywhere I could put him he could swim it.” — William McCallum, Bozeman head coach

ozeman head coach William McCallum doesn’t shy away from having his swimmers compete in off events. He does this in meets where the Hawks are heavily favored and during weeks where training is difficult. Some kids struggle, but most have fun with the experience. Others rise to the occasion. Matthew Hoffman was one such athlete whom McCallum could tab for just about any race and be assured of a win or runner-up finish. A glance at his race repertoire the past two seasons reveals an extensive resume: ■ Normally a sprinter, Hoffman competed in the 500-yard freestyle as a junior and won in 5 minutes, 10.75 seconds. “I told him he still has to go out hard, and he did and he held on,” McCallum said afterward. ■ This past winter he won a 200 individual medley in 2:11.39, which would have been good for ninth at state. ■ He won the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.10 that would have been another top-12 finish at state. ■ Hoffman raced the 200 freestyle for the first time in two years during a meet in Missoula and impressed McCallum enough to make that his second individual event in his final state appearance. It was a change about which Hoffman was rather excited. “Every Monday we do distance freestyle and every Wednesday we do mid-distance, but the knowledge that I’m going to be doing it is intimidating,” he said. “I had always done the 100 free and I think I would rather do the 200.” He’s built for mid-distance events, as his 6-foot-7 frame allows for longer, powerful strokes. In his strongest event, the 100 backstroke, his underwater kicks are unmatched. “Anywhere I could put him he could swim it,” McCallum said. Hoffman entered state with high hopes. His lack of experience in the 200 did not derail him from setting an ambitious goal of breaking the school record. He fell short, but still turned in a 1:50.51 to take third. Hoffman was also third in the 100 backstroke, and the Hawks were again runner-up to four-time champion Missoula Hellgate. “It’s been a lot of fun to grow up swimming with the same people and hang out with them and know them really well,” Hoffman said of his teammates. “It makes it a really fun community.”

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Female Soccer Player of the Year: Alexa Coyle, Bozeman “I feel like she just took it to the next level.” — Erika Cannon, Bozeman head coach

“I

t’s just the best feeling,” a giddy Alexa Coyle told the Chronicle on that late-October afternoon after leaving the pitch in Kalispell, memories of three crushing, unceremonious exits decisively erased and a Class AA trophy in hand. “We worked this season with this goal in mind, and to have it pay off is more than I can ask for.” The dominant Bozeman girls could not have asked for much more from the prolific striker during its 15-0-2 run to a championship, the program’s first since 2012. Veteran head coach Erika Cannon openly voiced skepticism that any player would surpass, let alone come close to matching, former Hawks star and Stanford athlete Averie Collins’ 19-goal, 49-point effort in 2014. Coyle did that and much more during a senior campaign that long will be regarded as one of the most productive in Montana history. The Grizzlies commit, a former U16 national champion skier, hit the back of the net a teamrecord 29 times, the fourth-highest tally in state history. She also established program benchmarks

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

for assists (15) and points (73) and scored in all but two matches. The state’s player of the year, a member of Hawks squads eliminated from the Class AA tournament in the semifinals twice and the final once from 2013-15, recorded a hat trick in the regular-season finale against Butte, and then connected twice and assisted on two others in a 4-0, state-opening rout of Missoula Hellgate. “I feel like she just took it to the next level,” Cannon said. “Her strength, speed and her composure on the ball is some of the stuff I think about. Her shot, with both feet, she would look to take leftfooted shots and sometimes it wasn’t falling, but that danger of having that and being able to dish off when she was getting shut down, it opened up so many players.” That statement proved apropos in the fall’s final two clashes. Coyle, asked to be a decoy and shifted to the midfield, routinely drew double and triple teams. A stout supporting cast seized advantage, procuring matching 3-0 shutouts of Missoula Sen-

tinel and Helena Capital en route to the program’s fifth crown since 2006. “As a coach, I think you try to under-emphasize those goal-scorers because you know it could affect the team in a negative manor,” Cannon said. “Ultimately, you need those people to step up in those situations, and that was nice to have her through the season.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Keeley Kempt, Bozeman: Scored 11 goals, logged nine assists … Class AA All-State. ■ Elaine Chandler, Bozeman: Tallied three goals and four assists in her central defending midfielder positions … Class AA All-State honorable mention. ■ Olivia Kaiser, Bozeman: Scored eight goals, added nine assists … Class AA All-State selection. ■ Elizabeth Gilbertson, Belgrade: Eastern A All-State, first-team All-Conference. ■ Madison Patrick, Park: Eastern A All-State, first-team All-Conference.

Male Soccer Player of the Year: Jeffrey DeBuse, Belgrade “I don’t know what switch went off in his head, but I think this year he took it on himself that, ‘I need to score goals for this team to be successful.’ He was much more aggressive going to goal. Much more creative in his attack.” — Ric Plante, Belgrade head coach

uring the majority of Jeffrey DeBuse’s prep career, Belgrade possessed a wealth of offensive talent. By the time his senior season arrived, however, those gifted scorers had moved on. Panthers coach Ric Plante asked his talented pupil to assume a different role. DeBuse thrived last fall. Belgrade returned to the Class A championship for a third straight year, and the Panthers finally won the title following back-to-back losses to Corvallis. DeBuse played a major role during his senior season and scored in the championship as Belgrade upset the Blue Devils, 2-0. “It’s just all so surreal after the past two years of coming up short in the final, just the heartbreak of that,” DeBuse said after the landmark win. “Coming back here, and literally the game plan we had set all week, just everything went to plan. It’s just a perfect ending to my high school career.” After leading the team in assists as a freshman and junior, the midfielder did it again as a senior. A four-year starter, he embraced his shift from distributor to scorer and tallied team bests in goals (18) and assists (12) after scoring just eight in the previous three years. “I don’t know what switch went off in his head, but I think this year he took it on himself that, ‘I need to score goals for this team to be successful,’” Plante said. “He was much more aggressive going to goal. Much more creative in his attack.” Belgrade posted a 13-2-0 record. It was the third straight season in which the team won 12 or more, and the Panthers advanced to the postseason in all four of DeBuse’s seasons. For his efforts, DeBuse earned All-State honors and was a first-team All-Eastern A selection. He’ll graduate having notched 26 goals and 26 assists.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Wes Robbins, Bozeman: Eastern AA Player of the Year. … All-State and All-Conference. ■ Fritz Arnold, Bozeman: All-State and All-Conference. ■ Ansel Brayton, Belgrade: All-State and first-team All-Eastern A. ■ Clayton Busby, Park: All-State and first-team All-Eastern A. ■ Kelton Maddon, Park: First-team All-Eastern

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Inspirational Athlete of the Year: Jemal Williams “The encouragement was there, the outgoing (nature) was there. And it was throughout the entire season. He was a very emotional player, as well.” — Eric Kinnaman, Belgrade head coach

ew teenagers are brave enough to make the decision that Jemal Williams did nearly a year ago. He has no regrets. The California native was selected for an AllStar football game during the summer of 2016 in Fargo, North Dakota. It was there that he met Belgrade seniors Will Blewett and Trey Mounts. The trio shared a hotel room in the days leading up to the game, and he bonded with them after learning each was being recruited by Montana. Williams later visited the Missoula campus and also toured Belgrade High during a four-day weekend. It was during that brief stay that Williams fell in love with Montana. He approached his parents about completing his senior year in Belgrade. “We drove up and I liked Montana,” Williams said. “My parents wasn’t out here and I went back to L.A. and said, ‘Mom and Dad, I think I want to go out to Montana for my senior year.’” Williams took another trip to Missoula with his father, and he too liked the campus. His mother needed a little more convincing, but both eventually gave their blessing. “I don’t regret it one bit. My parents don’t regret it and they think the choice was the right move,” Williams said. “I just told my parents this is like my fifth year of college … so it was a mature, big step for me.” Coming from Inglewood, Williams brought a different style of play and attitude to the Panthers football team. He helped raise the level of competition, both in practice and during games, as the group reached the Class A semifinals. “He was a very, very aggressive practice player. He practiced like he played,” Belgrade football coach Eric Kinnaman said. “He would lower his shoulder and he would hit. He brought that physical (element) to this team.” Williams earned All-State honors and was selected as Central A’s Defensive MVP after tallying 44 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and recovering a fumble. The 6-foot standout started on both sides of the ball and saw action at fullback and quarterback. He ranked second on the team in rushing with 608 yards and eight scores, and threw for another 171 during an 8-2 campaign. “I just wanted to win,” Williams said, “so I just brought my winning attitude.” It was his upbeat demeanor, however, that

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

proved to be even more valuable than his on-field abilities. Williams knew when to be encouraging or when to come down hard on teammates when they needed an extra push. “The encouragement was there, the outgoing (nature) was there,” Kinnaman said. “And it was throughout the entire season. He was a very emotional player, as well.” Williams brought that enthusiasm and effort to the wrestling room in the winter. He joined the team late, but wound up placing fourth at state in the 182-pound class. When not on the mat, Williams served as a team manager for the girls’ basketball team. He helped keep statistics, provide encouragement and do whatever the coaching staff requested. “Or I’d just be there just to give them a good laugh when they were not in a good mood that day,” Williams added. “Or on the way to the games, give them a good laugh on the bus rides. Just be that fun guy.”

Williams is wrapping up the school year as a sprinter on the track team, where he’s improved his endurance and conditioning. He recently helped the 4x100-meter relay team earn a prequalifying time for the Class A meet May 26-27 in Laurel. Williams is headed to Minot State this fall to play football for the Beavers and plans to study business management. His charisma, energy and winning attitude will be missed, but he’ll leave Belgrade having set a new standard for expectations and work ethic. “I just want to say that Belgrade, Montana has really changed my life. It made me mature way more than I was when I came from L.A.,” Williams said. “And I think that I was able touch other people here. … Playing sports, I got to know people from different cities, so I think coming out to Belgrade was a good choice for me because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t know the people I know or experience the things that I have experienced.”

Female Tennis Player of the Year: Heather Sikoski, Bozeman “I guess since I started so young … for a 6-year-old or 7, I was pretty good at that age and my dad was like, ‘You’re going to continue.’ I really loved it and I still love it. As far as sports go, this is the only thing I want to dedicate my time to.” — Heather Sikoski

t first glance, Heather Sikoski’s serve is nothing more than a weak lob. Bozeman’s No. 1 singles player looks as though she’s just a beginner when she bends over, drops the ball on her racket and underhands a shot to begin the point. It’s necessary for the sophomore to do this, however, as shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum renders her incapable of hitting anything overhand. What looks amateur has become a dangerous weapon. Sikoski hits what amounts to a slice that drifts just over the net and forces an opponent to the net. “It’s very effective,” Sikoski said. “In the beginning it was terrible and everyone just hit winners off of me because I just blooped it over. I got it to the point

where I basically drop-shot it all the time. “I don’t think it’s a liability. … I know they will hit winners off of it sometimes, but it’s not much different than many other girls’ serve at this time.” Sikoski is frequently in control of points from there. She can finish off opponents with powerful ground strokes or win on unforced errors. Not relying on her serve has strengthened other aspects of her game. “My volleys and backhand used to be way less consistent,” Sikoski said. “Since I took the serve out, I had a lot more time to focus on my backhand and volleys and they just progressed and also my confidence with rushing the net — I feel good about going to the net now, so that’s fun.” Sikoski is Bozeman’s best hope to retain a third

straight individual title at the Class AA state tournament. Zoe Lindgren won in 2015, and Madison Shea defeated Sikoski in the final last season. The Hawks are also vying for a sixth consecutive team crown. “She’s pretty strong, very independent,” Hawks head coach Cheryl Litle said. “She knows what she wants and has a leadership personality. She’s strongwilled and she works hard for it.” Sikoski, who has just three losses in her career, clearly has a bright future. “I guess since I started so young … for a 6-yearold or 7, I was pretty good at that age and my dad was like, ‘You’re going to continue,’” Sikoski said. “I really loved it and I still love it. As far as sports go this is the only thing I want to dedicate my time to.”

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Male Tennis Player of the Year: Marcos Zelver, Bozeman “For the kids who have not played him, they kind of go, ‘What? He’s hitting with two hands.’ It kind of freaks out his opponent.” — Cheryl Litle, Bozeman head coach

talented field offered little solace for a disappointed Marcos Zelver. The then-sophomore Hawks No. 1 singles player lost in the semifinals of the Class AA state tournament before bowing out in his first consolation match. Zelver used his defeats as motivation and a learning experience. He saw what worked for the field’s talented veterans and added a few wrinkles to his own game. The result was an undefeated junior season, an individual state title and a team championship. His offense improved thanks to one of the most unique weapons in Montana. Zelver serves with his left hand, and then tosses the racket to his dominant right for the duration of the point. “I had all the shots, but I just didn’t have the extra firepower that I do today,” Zelver said this spring. “I’ve been working out a lot more, for sure. Gaining more core strength has helped, getting taller and a lot more practice, too.” The Montana State signee is about 6 feet tall. “He’s mentally tough and he has the game,” Bozeman head coach Cheryl Litle said. “He’s worked really hard to get where he is.” To understand just how dominant Zelver has become, consider that he didn’t drop a game to a Butte opponent during a May 2 dual. His serve was overpowering and any return was weak and set up opportunities for Zelver to unleash forehand winners. He matched that dominant effort in coasting to a Southern AA Divisional title last week. What’s improved most his senior year, though, has been his defense. “My slice is starting to come along,” Zelver said. “That’s a great asset to have because it keeps kids on defense when they’re trying to get me on defense. My serve — my second serve — is more consistent and it has a little bit more spin on it. My forehand, I’m trying to crack it a little bit more and put more pace on it. It’s starting to come together at the right time.” As he has grown and his athleticism has improved, his passion for the sport hasn’t waned. Zelver played soccer for about 10 years and tried basketball once, but felt at home on the tennis court. “I was maybe 12 and I came to this moment where it was tennis or soccer,” Zelver said. “I felt I had more room to grow with tennis because it wouldn’t be likely to get a college scholarship for soccer. Tennis was the better decision for sure.”

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

Volleyball Player of the Year: Allie Lynch, Bozeman “I really feel like she is probably one of the strongest setters that has come through Bozeman High by far.” — Erika Gustavsen, Bozeman head coach

ince the beginning of the fall, Erika Gustavsen wasn’t shy about sharing her thoughts on her senior setter. The Bozeman coach said she considered Allie Lynch the best in the state at the position. The results — from Lynch’s final campaign and her Hawks career overall — back that sentiment vociferously. Lynch capped a heralded stint with firstteam All-State honors, leading Bozeman back to the Class AA state tournament a year after she helped bring home the first title in program history. “The tough part with the setting world is you have to make whatever you get from the pass a good, hittable ball,” Gustavsen told the Chronicle in November. “Then there’s mixing it up, keeping the blockers off balance. There’s a lot that goes into it and she constantly has to be engaged on every play. “She thrives in that role.” Lynch finished her career with more than

2,500 assists and 100 aces. She started at setter for two years after playing on the front line regularly. Now, she’s headed to Montana State to set for JJ Riley’s Bobcats. “With Allie, we are getting an outstanding student as she has the scores and grades to attract the attention of MIT and the Ivy League schools,” Riley said this spring. “She has the traits and qualities that our program looks for in our young ladies, and she will be a great ambassador for our culture, which we are still building.” Lynch cemented herself among the state’s best as a junior, when the Hawks marched to a title and featured Gatorade Player of the Year Caitlin Lonergan on the outside. As a senior, though, Bozeman’s offensive efficiency was predicated on Lynch’s ability to keep the defense off balance with her reads and distribution. “I’ve always given her free reign where she is going to set that ball,” Gustavsen said. “I really trust and believe in her decision-making. I feel like she’s really stepped up this year because it is a

different scenario.”

She’s also a willing blocker and hitter. “If she wasn’t a setter, she would be an All-State

outside hitter,” Gustavsen said. “I fully believe that.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Bailey Christensen, Belgrade: First-team All-Central A and All-State outside hitter in Class A as a sophomore. … Led Central A in kills. … 505 kills is a single-season Belgrade record. ■ Shania Neubauer, Belgrade: First-team AllCentral A and All-State setter. … Led Central A in assists with 902. ■ Molly Watkins, Bozeman: Second-team AllEastern AA. … Louisiana Tech signee. ■ Aleha Peterson, Park: First-team All-Central A and All-State selection as a junior. ■ Jourdain Klein, Ennis: All-Western C selection as a sophomore. … Helped lead Mustangs to runner-up finish in Class B. S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Female Track Athlete of the Year: Alexa Arthun, Manhattan “She’s so explosive. She always comes and competes hard and she’s never tentative.” — John Sillitti, Manhattan head coach

lexa Arthun gets so busy on meet days that she sometimes needs an assist. The Manhattan senior has already autoqualified for the Class B meet in six events, — pole vault, long jump, triple jump, 400 meters and the 100 and 300 hurdles — which can make for a jampacked schedule on any given day. “Luckily we’ve had awesome officials and they usually allow a little leniency if I’m running late doing another event, so that’s really nice,” Arthun said. The workload is nothing new for Arthun, who competed in the same number of events last year at state and accounted for 40 of the Tigers’ girls 42.5 points. “One thing she’s done that’s really helped her this year is she did indoor track,” Manhattan coach John Sillitti said. “I’m all for cross-training, but it gave her more time to work on the more technical aspects of her events.” Not only did indoor track help her technique, it also helped in her college decision-making process. Arthun originally thought she would follow in her parents’ footsteps to Oklahoma — both Laura and Daniel competed in track and field at Oral Roberts — before deciding to apply to the Air Force Academy. 24

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

“My grandpa was always hassling about it because he was an airline pilot,” Arthun joked. “I had a track meet down at Air Force in January and it was almost immediate. I loved it.” The application process is grueling and competitive, but now she has a full scholarship and will head to Colorado Springs in the fall. “Alexa has proven to be a tremendous leader and an exemplary student inside and outside of the classroom,” U.S. Senator Steve Daines said in a May 4 news release. “I have no doubt she will be an asset to the Air Force.” Arthun is the defending classification champion in the 100 hurdles and pole vault, and will likely have stiff competition again from Malta’s Sophia Stiles in the hurdles and long jump. The pair finished 1-2 at state in 2016 in both hurdles events and long jump. In the pole-vaulting pit, Arthun will be flanked by her mom for one final meet. “She’s been my coach ever since I was itty bitty. We can take the conversation home and watch film and stuff like that,” Arthun said. “It’s been great to have all these years with her, but it will be a little bittersweet at the end.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Pipi Eitel, Belgrade: Defending Class A champion in 400 meters, 800, 300 hurdles and 4x400 relay. … Currently holds top times in 800 and 1,600. … Holds three Belgrade school records. … Northern Arizona signee. ■ Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian: Defending Class C champion in 800. … Owns Class C’s fastest 800, second-fastest 400 and 1,600 and is on the Eagles’ second-ranked 4x100 relay team. ■ Delaney Bahn, Bozeman: Defending Class AA high jump runner-up. … Won Midland Roundtable Top Ten long jump and high jump. … Top long jump mark in AA this year at 18 feet, 7.5 inches. ■ Camila Noe, Bozeman: Owns second-best 3,200 time in AA this year (10:26.05) and third-best 1,600 mark (5:09.76). … Finished sixth in 3,200 and ninth in 1,600 at state in 2016. ■ Lauren Emter, Park: Owns best shot-put mark (40-4.5) and second-best discus (137-10) in Class A this year. Both marks are second-best among all classifications. … Finished seventh in shot put and third in discus at state in 2016.

Male Track Athlete of the Year: Chase Equall, Bozeman “Chase is just fun to watch. He has a motor that goes and goes.” — Eric Fisher, Bozeman head coach

hase Equall still feels as though he has goals to accomplish in the weeks before his sterling high school career closes Memorial Day weekend at the Class AA meet. He did check a big one off the list last month, though, at the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California: He ran the first sub-nine-minute 3,200 meters in Bozeman High history. That mark of 8 minutes, 57.62 seconds, about 15 better than his previous school record and good for 24th in a national field, is only the latest in a string of achievements and accolades that continue to pile up for the future Washington runner. “Now the goal is to set some state records,” he said. “It might be difficult … but it’s definitely not out of the question.” Equall’s 3,200 time is the best in the state by more than 26 seconds over teammate Duncan Hamilton. He also currently owns the secondbest 1,600 time and eighth-best 800, a race he’s run just twice this spring. Equall broke the school record in the 1,600 earlier this month at Laurel’s Midland Roundtable Top Ten with a 4:16.75, but wound up less than a half-second behind Billings Senior standout and Minnesota signee Dawson LaRance. Whatever Equall’s state workload, head coach Eric Fisher will likely have little doubt about his stalwart senior’s ability to thrive. “The (Helena) meet combined the boys and girls’ 3,200s, and Chase only had a seven-minute break before he ran a 65-second 400 to anchor the win in the 4x400 relay,” Fisher recounted. “Chase is just fun to watch. He has a motor that goes and goes. He could have said, ‘Hey, I want to take time off after that meet,’ but he didn’t.” Equall doesn’t take much time off in general. This time last year he was just starting to realize what his future could hold. “When I started hitting some faster marks, (I started) thinking that I could be more on the scene with some runners that were dropping impressive times,” he said. Now, he’s signed to a Pac-12 school, holds numerous records and has another chance to add to his list. Class AA be warned: Equall doesn’t often set his sights on a mark and then fail to deliver.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Jacob Grinwis, Belgrade: Owns Class A’s best times in 400, 800, 1,600 and ranks sixth, second and third, respectively, in all classes. Finished third in 400 and sixth in 800 at Class A meet in 2016. … Boise State signee. ■ Cade Wessel, Bozeman: Defending Class AA champion in javelin. … Holds third-best javelin and seventh-best discus marks in Class AA this year. … Headed to U.S. Naval Academy. ■ Logan Kleinhans, Bozeman: Class AA runner-up in long jump and high jump and fifth

in triple jump in 2016. … Has top triple jump, second-best high jump and 11th-best long jump in AA this year. ■ Colin Marks, Park: Finished third in the 200, fourth in the 100 and seventh in the 400 at Class A meet in 2016. … Holds second-best 200 and fourth-best 100 marks in Class A. … 200 time is seventh-best in all classes. ■ Ty Morgan, Ennis: Defending Class C champion in shot put and discus and owns school records in both. … 6-foot-5, 220-pounder also runs on Mustangs’ 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

Football Player of the Year: Lance McCutcheon, Bozeman “Probably one of the more athletic players in the state of Montana.” — Jeff Choate, Montana State head coach

is talent has been conspicuous, but Lance McCutcheon’s contributions somewhat overlooked on the football field. Not anymore. Not after those four touchdown receptions — two more than his 2015 season total, and three in the first half alone — in a tense September titlegame rematch with visiting Kalispell Glacier. Not after that pair of interceptions — one in which he tipped the ball to himself and then secured it while sprawled on his back — and suffocating coverage that resulted in three scoreless quarters from Butte in a runaway rivalry victory. Not after that timely fourth-down pick in the final minute against Missoula Big Sky, which secured a come-from-behind triumph, or that memorable deep post pattern against Great Falls; the defender was well-positioned on the inside heave, but McCutcheon plucked the ball out of the air, stiff-armed his adversary to the ground and took off to the end zone. The team captain led the Hawks in more ways than one. He established a strong rapport with first-year starting signal-caller and fellow Montana State signee Callahan O’Reilly, who found his favorite target 40 times for 780 yards and 12 touchdowns, the second-highest, single-season tally in program history. McCutcheon expertly manned the back end of the Hawks’ defense, as well, logging a school-best 10 interceptions for a team that won eight of 11 games. “He was such a huge game-changer for us,” Bozeman head coach Levi Wesche said. “Any time you can throw to someone who’s (6-foot3) and can jump out of the gym, you feel good putting the ball in his area while throwing fades and posts. If it’s a jump-ball situation, Lance was going to win. “He was a great leader, was always positive and always did everything we asked of him. I think that’s the best thing I could say of any athlete.” In a category teeming with worthy recipients, the three-sport standout distinguished himself with a rare double in the state’s top classification: McCutcheon was a first-team All-State selection on both sides of the ball. “Probably one of the more athletic players in the state of Montana,” remarked Bobcats head coach Jeff Choate, who made sure McCutcheon did not leave town to attend college. “He’s a local product who I think will take a great deal of pride in representing the Bobcats.”

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Callahan O’Reilly, Bozeman: Threw for 3,178

yards and 26 touchdowns in his lone season as starting quarterback. … His 203 completions and 307 attempts were school records. … Eclipsed 300 yards passing with three or more touchdowns five times. … Threw for 522 yards and seven touchdowns in his debut against Kalispell Glacier. … First-team All-State selection. ■ Hayden Van Winkle, Belgrade: Averaged 10.3 yards per carry and finished with 1,199 and 15 touchdowns on the ground. … Eclipsed 100 yards rushing five times. … Tallied 59 tackles at outside linebacker. … Central A Offensive MVP, first-team All-State selection and All-Conference selection at linebacker. … Led the Panthers to seven wins and a state semifinal berth. ■ Jake Knack, Ennis: Of his 104 offensive touch-

es — 87 carries and 17 receptions — 34 resulted in touchdowns. … Averaged 23.5 yards per reception and 12.3 per rush. … Logged 49 tackles, including 13 for loss. … Led the Mustangs to a second perfect season and Class C 8-man title in four seasons, clinching a 30-24, title-game victory over Charlo with an overtime interception. ■ Gavin McKitrick, Ennis: Caught 27 passes for 730 yards and 16 scores during Ennis’ title run. … Logged 115 tackles, including 16 for loss. … Key cog of an offense that outscored opponents 764190. ■ Kobe Grossman, Manhattan: Broke Alec Nehring’s single-game, school-passing-yardage record with 333 against Roundup. … Completed 131 of 188 attempts for 1,901 and 21 touchdowns, and added 49 on seven carries in leading the Tigers to seven wins, a conference crown and state quarterfinal berth. … Second-team All-Conference selection.

Female Athlete of the Year: Pipi Eitel, Belgrade “Pipi, in my opinion, she is just a tremendous competitor. She’s got as much fire to win as anybody I’ve been around, but she’s also one of the kindest kids around.” — Don Samuelson, Belgrade head coach

here was a time not too long ago that Pipi Eitel had pondered no longer competing in track. Little did the Belgrade runner know back in the spring of 2015 what was attainable with a little more dedication. Two years later, following plenty of hard work, Eitel has won multiple state championships and is one of Montana’s top distance runners. She’s grateful for not having stepped away. “Sophomore year I didn’t really like track that

much, honestly. It was just so painful and I wasn’t in very good shape. I was injured for quite a bit,” Eitel explained. “So (Deb) Greany just did a really good job of getting me back on track, just getting me fit as quick as she could.” A longtime Panthers assistant coach, Greany nurtured Eitel throughout her sophomore season. By the end of May, Eitel had won the first of three state championships and now is the two-time defending Class A 800-meter champion. “After winning that 800, it just gave me a lot

of motivation my junior year to come out in the offseason and work hard for that,” Eitel said. “I didn’t really know what to expect junior year. I just wanted to improve, and to have that much improvement was pretty cool and it just built on that.” Eitel won titles in the 800 and 300 hurdles last year to lead the Panthers to a fourth-place team finish at the state meet. It was only the start. After spending her freshman and sophomore years competing in soccer, Eitel shifted gears and S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

joined the volleyball program as a junior. It wasn’t quite the right fit for an athlete who excels at running. So, Eitel changed direction again as a senior and joined cross-country. Admittedly, she was nervous about the new venture. “I really didn’t know if I was going to be any good at it,” Eitel said. “I hoped that I would, but I also was prepared that if I was pretty bad at it then that would be the way that it was.” The team’s first meet took place in Livingston and Eitel easily captured first place in a little more than 20 minutes. Still, she had her doubts. “It was super hard and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I don’t think this is going to go very well,’” Eitel recalled. “But the more that I did it, the easier that it got. My times went down a lot.” By midseason, Eitel had hit her stride. She bested defending classification champion Jaycie Schmalz at the Belgrade Invitational and thoughts of a state triumph began to emerge. From that point in mid-September, Eitel would shatter the school record of 19:03, and then bettered her own time twice en route to finishing with a season-best 18:08.1. In late October, Eitel became the third individual state champion in program history, and the first female. It came as no surprise to longtime track coach Don Samuelson. “Pipi, in my opinion, she is just a tremendous competitor. She’s got as much fire to win as anybody I’ve been around, but she’s also one of the kindest kids around,” he said. “She helps everybody. She leads by example and she’s just generally a really good person. “Sometimes you see those people that are like that and you can take it for granted that they’re not very competitive because they’re not boisterous or loud. But she truly is one of the best competitors I’ve been around.” Eitel holds three school track records. She initially broke the 800 mark as a junior, but has bettered it this spring. She has also established new benchmarks in the 1,600 and 3,200. In addition, Eitel is not far off in the 400 and 300 hurdles. By season’s end, she may secure her place as the best female in program history. “I don’t think there is any question,” Samuelson said. “From the standpoint of what she’s accomplished, to the discipline that she’s followed these last several years with her workouts and her work ethic, there’s no question that she’s right up with the best ones we’ve ever had.” Eitel, a four-year basketball player, is heading to Northern Arizona to compete in track and possibly cross-country. What will she reflect on after walking across the stage to accept her diploma? “That I’m just really thankful for the program here. I’m really, really close with Greany and a lot of the coaches, and the girls team, too — I just love them,” Eitel said. “And I’m really happy that I got (cross country and track teammates) Jacob (Grinwis) and Sawyer (Degen) to train with to push me. I think it will just be a feeling of being super grateful.”

Congratulations to all the

Sports Stars honorees! Thank you to our Sponsors for making this a memorable evening!

1617454

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

M A Y 16 , 2 017 • S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

■ Alexa Arthun, Manhattan: Reigning Class B state champion in 100 hurdles and pole vault. … Program record-holder in 300 hurdles, long jump and pole vault. ■ Alexa Coyle, Bozeman: Montana commit and state’s player of the year who led the Hawks soccer team to a 15-0-2 record and a first Class AA title since 2012. … Established program bests for goals (29), assists (15) and points (73). … A former U16 national champion skier. ■ Morgan Allen, Three Forks: Defending Class B high jump champion. … school record-holder in high jump. ... All-State middle hitter in volleyball. ... Second-team All-Conference post in basketball ■ Shania Neubauer, Belgrade: All-State setter in volleyball. … All-State forward in basketball. … No. 1 starter for Panthers softball team. ■ Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian: Defending Class C champion in 800. … All-State middle blocker in volleyball. … All-State basketball player.

Male Athlete of the Year: Sawyer Degen, Belgrade “Sawyer works a lot with our youth wrestling programs. When he walks in, the kids’ eyes light up. They know who he is and they aspire to be him. I couldn’t think of anybody better for kids to want to be like.” — Sean Dellwo, Belgrade head coach

awyer Degen came within seconds of losing Jan. 7 at Bozeman’s South Gym. In the Tom LeProwse Invitational’s 138-pound final, Forsyth’s Michael Weber notched an escape on the Belgrade senior early in the third period and maintained a 1-0 edge in the match’s closing moments. A loss to Weber hardly would have counted as a black mark on Degen’s resume. The Forsyth sophomore, after all, would win a state championship at 145 and since has won three national titles — Virginia Beach National High School Coaches Association Nationals in March, USAW Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa in early April and the Reno Worlds one week later — staking his claim as one of the nation’s top preparatory wrestlers. And yet, Degen did in January what so many from coast to coast could not in the following months. He shot inside, finally breaking through Weber’s defenses and disrupting his balance, and then took his opponent down in the final five seconds, claiming a 2-1 victory. This is how thin the line becomes when legacy is at stake. These are the margins in which history is made. Degen’s senior season could still have been described as dominant without that win, his career still memorable when he became the 32nd four-time state champion in Montana history. With the victory, though, his final campaign at Belgrade is best described another way: Perfect. “He’s got ice in his veins,” Panthers head coach Sean Dellwo said. “Those matches where it’s tight, he never feels the pressure. He feels confident in all situations and it’s going to do him well at the next level.” Degen joined older brother Jarrett as the school’s only four-time winners and became just the second to compile a flawless record, winning 38 times without defeat. Degen has not yet decided where he’ll attend college, but he’s attracted some Division I attention from North Dakota State, among others, according to Dellwo. He could also choose a smaller-division school if he feels the fit is right. Wherever he winds up, Degen will bring with him nearly unparalleled high school success. He complied a 142-12 record and won state titles at 98, 113, 126 and then 138. He completed his final two years with 75 wins and two losses.

Degen describes his process as a simple one, belying the years of work, the mental toughness to persevere through mounting pressure as the stakes intensified. “I’ve always thought that would be really cool, but my goal was just to wrestle my way and if there was a tough kid, do what you have to do to beat him,” Degen told the Belgrade News after his fourth title, a 4-0 win over Polson’s Parker Adler. “When I got that final takedown and saw how much time was left, that’s when it really sunk in that I won my fourth because I knew I could hold him there. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I did it.’ It was amazing.” So, too, was Degen’s entire career. So, too, is the fact that he’s not just a wrestler. If four state titles isn’t enough, Degen holds the second-best, 3,200-meter time in Class A and was the classification’s cross-country runner-up. At the Midland Roundtable Top Ten earlier this month, he ran the 3,200 in the top group with Bozeman’s vaunted distance lineup and Laurel’s Levi Taylor, likely his primary competition at the upcoming state meet. There, he’ll be looking to improve on his 2016 second-place finish in the event and eighth-place showing in the 1,600. “His competitive spirit is amazing. I wish I could just harness that for all my kids,” Dellwo said. “Even when we’re doing a game or something to relax in wrestling practice, he’s so competitive and it would frustrate him to no end if he wasn’t winning. That doesn’t get taught. You’re born with it.” The running success is impressive, but Degen will be remembered most for his work on the mat. It’s unlike anyone in school history and comparable to the most elite in the state’s deep wrestling annals.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Chase Equall, Bozeman: Class AA cross-country record-holder and state champion. … 2016 runnerup in 1,600 meters. … Washington signee. … Led Bozeman to state, regional and national cross-country titles. ■ Bjorn Schroeder, Bozeman: Class AA champion at 126 pounds. … Two-time state champion. ■ Callahan O’Reilly, Bozeman: Threw for 3,178 yards and 26 touchdowns in his lone season as starting quarterback. … Second on Bozeman, 16th in Class AA in

basketball scoring at 12.4 points. … Top 15 in Class AA in rebounds (5.6) and assists (2.7). … All-State football and basketball selection. ■ Eddie Starz, Lone Peak: All-Class C and First-Team All-11C in basketball. … First player in Lone Peak history with 1,000 career points. … All-State selection in 8-man football. … Multiple-year starting quarterback. ■ Jake Knack, Ennis: Scored 34 touchdowns on 104 touches. … Averaged 23.5 yards per reception and 12.3 per rush and added 13 tackles for loss. … Led the Mustangs to a second perfect season and Class C 8-man title in four seasons. … All-State basketball selection. … Led Mustangs to 22-4 record and third place in Western C Divisional.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

M A Y 16 , 2 017 â&#x20AC;¢ S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S

Team of the Year: Bozeman Boys Cross-Country “We all know Bozeman is an active town. These kids are putting it on the map. It’s crazy. I think being from Bozeman, these kids are proud to represent the community.” — Casey Jermyn, Hawks head coach

eonard McComas joked that after six months he still can’t describe the magnitude of his team’s unlikely triumph. He remembers the details, of course, like standing on the stage with two other teams awaiting results at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. He and his Bozeman teammates were proud they had claimed one of the top spots, and then were shocked when third and second place were announced. What followed was a mixture of disbelief and joy. McComas said he cried. Standout Chase Equall went numb. Duncan Hamilton joked that his heart was beating faster than when he ran the race. “I don’t know if I fully grasp it,” McComas said. “These are the people that I know and we’re just friends that run cross-country, and we won a national title?” Some believed the Hawks could upset Utah powerhouse American Fork. Bozeman finished a program-best eighth the previous year and endeavored primarily to inch higher to continue its steady national rise. Bozeman has arrived. Before December’s national title, the program was seen as a model of consistency and the in-state bellwether. Former head coach Clint May dreamed of his squads becoming a force in regional meets and beyond, and years ago he identified middle schoolers who showed promise. Those runners, among them Division Ibound seniors Equall and Riley Collins, turned May’s vision into a reality. “I think a big part of it is that we had a group of young guys for a few years,” Equall said. “The team stayed pretty much constant for the last three years. “I think that contributed to the success because you didn’t have to stop momentum and pick it back up again; it was more continuous than a segmented process where you start over

again each time. We were thinking about the national meet over the summer the year before. If we had graduated a bunch of seniors, it probably wouldn’t have been the case.” When May stepped down after 10 years to take a college head coaching job, former Montana State standout and Bozeman Running Company owner Casey Jermyn assumed control and then met with each runner to discuss goals. Each told them they wanted to chase a national title, and Jermyn formulated a plan. They skipped a traditional season-opening meet in Billings to focus on the bigger picture. At the peak of training, Jermyn said Equall ran 75 miles in a week. “That was just a lot of stuff I did in college that really helped me,” Jermyn said. Equall was 26th at nationals to lead the way at Glendoveer Golf Course. The team’s next four, though, secured the victory. After a frenetic start, junior Duncan Hamilton paced Collins, Orrin Clark and McComas through a field of nearly 200 and started passing groups in the final mile. Hamilton was 52th, Collins 56th, Clark 58th and McComas 68th. Along with talent and dedication, the third strength of this team is its bond. “I thought they would be a lot different,” said McComas, who transferred from Manhattan before this school year. “They were just really laid back and down to Earth and really cool people. I thought they would be these elite distance runners and all fancy, but they were really just all cool people. “I think here, just like the level, you’re able to work every day. In Manhattan I did all my runs by myself and all of my workouts. Here, when you have a workout you’re always with someone and you always have someone at the end of a workout pushing you to go harder and give your all every day.” Even though Equall, Collins and Clark graduate, Hamilton and McComas are rising

stars and others — Dylan Humberger, Simon Rosenzweig and Renn Meuwissen, among them — lend credence to hopes of mounting a title defense. “It will all come down to who wants to put the work in this summer,” McComas said. “It will not be handed to us.” Added Jermyn, “I don’t think there’s as much pressure as there’s just an expectation. You just step into it and you know what to expect year in and year out. They know that if they want to make the national team that they have to show up in June and July and August and work and it will not just come if they show up the first day of practice. “When you have a successful program it just builds more success. I think kids want to be part of that and they will work hard for that. It’s just a snowball effect, really.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Ennis football: Completed 13-0 season to clinch second title in four years. … Averaged 59 points and limited opponents to single digits six times. ■ Manhattan Christian boys basketball: The Class C runner-up to one-loss Arlee. … Went 23-4 with an arsenal of shooters and powerful post presence in standout James Ramirez. ■ Manhattan boys track: Won a fifth straight Class B title in 2016 … Broke scoring record with 114 points. ■ Bozeman girls cross-country: Won 10th consecutive Class AA title. … Won the Nike Cross Northwest Regional title. … Finished a program-best eighth at Nike Cross Nationals. ■ Bozeman girls golf: Generated a 53-stroke lead after Day 1 of the state tournament and eventually won by 106. … Four golfers finished in the top five led by overall winner Meggie Delaney.

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 16 , 2 017

At the Ridge, we’re here to help you launch

a healthy lifestyle and reach your goals,

whatever they may be. So whether you’re training as a serious athlete, staying in shape, reducing stress, or rehabilitating from an injury, we’ve got the facilities, experts, classes, and positive atmosphere to

HELP YOU SUCCEED

to all the great athletes, teams and coaches

in Southwest Montana for their amazing accomplishments! 1616260