Sports Star Awards 2019

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 & T H E B E LG R A D E N E W S

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Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Sophia Robinson, Bozeman “She’s a really great teammate. She’s a very coachable kid and has just a great attitude that helped her, in both sports, excel. “ — Erika Gustavsen, Bozeman basketball head coach

S

ophia Robinson experienced the exhilaration of winning a state championship. She endured the agony of losing one as well.

Yet through wins and losses, Robinson was a consistent factor for the Bozeman girls soccer and basketball teams. Her head coaches gushed about her willingness to try new drills to set an example for the other players and her elevating her play as she gained experience.

Robinson’s coaches said she provided leadership, a model work ethic, positivity and overall athletic ability.

Simply, Robinson delivered for the Hawks throughout her career.

As a senior, Robinson was a captain for both of the Hawks teams she played on, and Bozeman basketball head coach Erika Gustavsen said everything she provided was key for those programs.

“She’s a really great teammate,” Gustavsen said. “She’s a very coachable kid and has just a great attitude that helped her, in both sports, excel.”

She loved the outdoors, so Robinson started playing soccer in kindergarten. She played on club, travel and intramural teams and grew to become an all-Class AA player. She enjoyed staying busy, and that hasn’t changed.

“It’s kind of all I’ve known is playing sports,” Robinson said. “I’ve loved it ever since I was little.”

Robinson is also involved in too many extracurricular activities for her to keep count of. She’s been a unified partner on the Special Olympics soccer team. She’s a member of Bozeman’s Partners Club which includes eating lunch with special education students every week. She’s spoken with exchange students and hosted events through Spanish Club. Her peers selected her for the Leadership Program in which she tried to find ways to unify her fellow students.

That is all while taking Advanced Placement classes and earning academic all-state honors during the soccer and basketball seasons.

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Robinson also coaches her little sister’s soccer team, as she wants to provide the same positive impact her coaches had in her life. She finds her busy schedule helps her focus on all that she wants to accomplish.

“You can’t procrastinate,” Robinson said with a laugh. “I think it helps when you do more things, being able to balance it.”

Being a captain developed Robinson’s leadership abilities as she strived to support her teammates and help them work together. This was even while Robinson dealt with compartment syndrome, which stems from extra pressure within one’s muscles, but Gustavsen said she didn’t take time off or complain.

She wanted to continue playing to help her team.

When Bozeman head soccer coach Erika Cannon thinks of Robinson, she recalls the effort she

exerted in training and practices as well as the smile she usually had while doing it.

“She wants everybody to have success, and I think players really look up to that type of player,” Cannon said. “They want to be like those types of people because they realize how much better they make our team.”

Robinson will play soccer at Concordia College in Minnesota and will represent the fourth generation in her family to go there. Cannon said Robinson will have little issue translating her skills and education to college.

“She’s just one of those kids who’s the full package,” Gustavsen said. “I know she’ll be successful in school and will be a huge addition to their soccer team. I’m excited to see what the next step holds for her.”

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Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Brooklyn DeMars, Bozeman “To me, Brooklyn’s just a great example of what a student-athlete should be. He’s very selfless. He was way more worried about the team than himself all through the four years he played for us.”

— Wes Holmquist, Bozeman head coach

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rooklyn DeMars was slightly surprised at first.

He thought he improved over the summer.

But at the start of the basketball season, Bozeman head coach Wes Holmquist informed DeMars he might not play much in games.

Initially, the senior considered quitting. He wanted more minutes on the court. But shortly after, DeMars changed his mind and his attitude.

“That was going to be my role,” DeMars said, “so I just embraced it and tried to do what I could to make the team better.”

DeMars became integral during the Hawks’ practices, pushing teammates to exert more effort and challenging those who played more often in games by tightly guarding them. Holmquist and football head coach Levi Wesche often preach to their players about learning to embrace their role within the team dynamic. Behind the scenes, DeMars shined.

In addition to playing football, basketball and running track, DeMars is a member of National Honor Society, volunteered with the school’s custodians and has assisted Holmquist with youth basketball camps.

“To me, Brooklyn’s just a great example of what a student-athlete should be,” Holmquist said. “He’s very selfless. He was way more worried about the team than himself all through the four years he played for us.”

When construction began on the new football stadium at Bozeman High, DeMars helped take down a fence where the new stadium is being built. He also helped clean ceilings with the custodians and gained a new perspective.

“They do a lot of stuff that everyone takes for granted,” DeMars said. “They make the school nice and clean for us, do everything that no one really knows about.”

During Holmquist’s camps, if he ever anticipated a situation that might require extra attention, he’d call

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DeMars over. Helping at the camps and clinics wasn’t required, but DeMars showed up every time.

DeMars enjoyed spending time with the children and recognized how they looked up to high schoolers as role models. So anytime he had the chance, he shared knowledge about basketball or life.

“If you ask him to do something, he’s going to do it,” Holmquist said, “and he’s going to give it everything he has.”

During the football season, DeMars played wide receiver and linebacker, catching six passes for 80 yards and making 16 tackles. He signed to play at Carroll College and plans to study health sciences.

On Jan. 29, senior Ryan Simpson suffered a wrist injury during a game against Butte, and DeMars provided a spark off the bench. He defended a key Bulldogs player, created a passing option in the high

post on offense and knocked down two 3-pointers, his only points of the regular season.

Earlier in his career, DeMars didn’t fully appreciate the value of role players. But he watched teammate Payton Price, who graduated last year, remain steady and eventually earn playing time off the bench.

That laid the foundation for DeMars to positively affect his teammates as a senior.

After Bozeman won the Class AA boys basketball championship, Holmquist approached DeMars and told him he was as important to the team’s success as anyone.

“He was always a guy I could count on to help us whenever we needed something,” Holmquist said. “... Just a very well-rounded young man, and he’s going to be very successful in whatever he wants to do.”

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Female Basketball Player of the Year: Kyle Olson, Three Forks “Kyle’s a great passer. If you’re open, she’ll get you the ball, but she’s also going to have to do a heavy load of scoring for us this year.”

— Mike Sauvageau, Three Forks head coach

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a junior, Kyle Olson proved to be the missing link that Three Forks needed en route to winning its first state championship since 1979. She helped the Wolves post a perfect season and was named the most valuable player of the Class B tournament.

Olson was the lone returning starter on a young team for Three Forks this season and was the focal point of every opposing team’s defense.

“I told her she can bring some of these younger players along,” veteran Wolves coach Mike Sauvageau said heading into the season. “Kyle’s a great passer. If you’re open, she’ll get you the ball, but she’s also going to have to do a heavy load of scoring for us this year.”

The 5-foot-6 point guard, who has signed to play at Carroll College, accepted the challenge. She led District 5B in scoring (22.2 points per game), 3-pointers (44) and free-throw percentage (83) during the regular season.

Olson then led the Wolves to a district championship, a third-place trophy at the Southern B Divisional and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament to cap a 15-14 campaign. Olson averaged 26 points per game at the divisional and 24.7 at state.

In less than three years — she transferred to Three Forks from Bozeman as a sophomore — Olson amassed 1,409 career points. That ranks third in program history behind Vicki Heebner (1,743) and Shainy Mack (1,467).

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Ayla Embry, Bozeman ■ Ava Westphal, Bozeman ■ Bailey Christensen, Belgrade ■ Jourdain Klein, Ennis ■ Kiersten Van Kirk, Manhattan Christian

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Male Basketball Player of the Year: Caleb Bellach, Manhattan Christian “There was a calmness over us. I think some of that comes from his leadership” — Jeff Bellach, Manhattan Christian head coach

W

hether it was a dazzling dunk or swishing a 3-point shot, no one electrified a gymnasium more than Caleb Bellach.

The 6-foot-6 senior was one of the most explosive scorers in the state and led Manhattan Christian to an undefeated season en route to winning its first state championship since 1984.

The Eagles finished 26-0 and avenged back-to-back state championship losses to Arlee with an 83-51 victory over the Warriors on March 9. Bellach led the way, scoring a game-high 42 points en route to being named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“There was a calmness over us. I think some of that comes from his leadership,” Eagles coach Jeff Bellach, who is Caleb’s father, said following the championship game. “We try hard to remain humble, but he’s so driven and just really wanted to get over the top this year after being so close for a couple years.”

Caleb Bellach, who has signed to play at Montana State, averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game during the season. The all-state forward also broke the program’s career scoring record at the divisional tournament en route to finishing with 1,543 points.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Ryan Lonergan, Bozeman ■ Carter Ash, Bozeman ■ Trevor Swanson, Ennis ■ Colter Miller, Three Forks ■ Ryan Simpson, Bozeman ■ Brendon Johnson, Park

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Softball Player of the Year: Erin Elgas, Belgrade “She’s fearless. She will come right at these batters.

She knows her strengths, and she knows where the batters can’t hit the ball.”

— Andrea Folkman, Belgrade coach

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fter earning all-state honors while helping Belgrade win its second consecutive state championship a year ago, Erin Elgas has stepped up her game even further this spring.

The Belgrade senior put together an impressive April in the circle to ensure that the Panthers were once again the team to beat in Class A. And she’s done it in dominant fashion.

Elgas took an 8-0 record into May, which included five complete games and a pair of victories in relief work. She had struck out 80 batters in 45 1/3 innings of work, had allowed just 26 hits and seven earned runs en route to boasting a 1.08 ERA. “She’s fearless. She will come right at these batters,” Belgrade coach Andrea Folkman said. “She knows her strengths, and she knows where the batters can’t hit the ball.”

Elgas has twice rallied the Panthers to victories in relief work and has proven to be equally impressive in the batter’s box. In 13 plate appearances in April, she was 7 for 13 with three doubles, a triple and a home run.

Elgas, who finished 11-1 in the circle a year ago, has signed with Brown University. She plans to concentrate on biology and also study history

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Olivia Cook, Belgrade ■ Madi Kreiger, Belgrade

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Female Cross-Country Runner of the Year: Terra Trom, Bozeman “It was wire to wire, and she just owned it. In races like this, you have to make the move and commit, and she made it early. She was really, really strong.” — Casey Jermyn, Bozeman head coach

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he Bozeman girls cross-country program saw their historic 11-year streak as Class AA champions end last season. The Hawks, battling injuries, finished the meet in second place, losing out to Missoula Hellgate.

The second-place finish was nothing for head coach Casey Jermyn or his athletes to scoff at.

Junior Terra Trom led the Hawks by finishing in second place overall, clocking in at 18 minutes, 3.5 seconds to receive all-state honors and complete a successful season.

Trom started the year off strong to position her for a successful junior year. She took first at the Great Falls Invitational in September, finishing in 19:19.85.

“It was wire to wire, and she just owned it,” Jer-

myn said about the invitational. “In races like this, you have to make the move and commit, and she made it early. She was really, really strong.”

This was Trom’s second consecutive season as an all-state runner. Her sophomore season, she finished the Class AA meet in ninth place, running in 19:05.09. She was the third-fastest sophomore at the meet. This year, she improved relative to her peers and finished as the top junior runner in Class AA. After the state meet, the Hawks qualified for the Nike Cross Northwest Regional in Boise, Idaho, and Trom once again paced the team. She placed 14th in 18:14.70.

Trom returns to a Bozeman team with its eyes set on nationals. Only one senior graduated from

this year’s team, and the Hawks’ top five regional runners all return. With the top returning senior in the state, the Hawks are poised to meet their goals.

“I think the girls are going to have one heck of a team next year,” Jermyn said. “… Top six in a tough region, that sets us up nice for next year. Hope to come back stronger and get a bid to nationals.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Alex Moore, Bozeman ■ Riley Moore, Bozeman ■ Kyle Olson, Three Forks ■ Jodi Cameron, Manhattan ■ Shelby Walls, Manhattan Christian ■ Averi Parker, West Yellowstone S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 1 2 , 2 01 9

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Male Cross-Country Runner of the Year: Xander Danenhauer, Bozeman “Just super proud of them. They worked hard all season. You saw a lot of new faces on this team that really stepped up and that shone through today so it’s pretty exciting to see.” — Casey Jermyn, Bozeman head coach

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hen the Bozeman boys cross-country team won its 10th straight Class AA title in 2017, the Hawks had two runners place in the top three. Preparing to build off their domination at state, the boys spent the 2018 summer running as a pack.

Bozeman’s top-three finishers from last season had graduated. With no standout from the group, the top seven runners trained together.

By the end of the season, a sophomore, Xander Danenhauer, stepped up and started to pace the Hawks.

The pack mentality helped them win the Class AA meet for the 11th year in a row. Four Bozeman runners finished in the top 15 at the meet. Danenhauer, who didn’t compete at state as a freshman, led the Hawks in sixth. He clocked in with a time of 16 minutes, 18.46 seconds to earn all-state honors.

“Just super proud of them. They worked hard all season,” Bozeman head coach Casey Jermyn said. “You saw a lot of new faces on this team that really stepped up and that shone through today so it’s pretty exciting to see.”

Danenhauer’s season continued at the Nike Cross Northwest Regional in Boise, Idaho, where he once again paced the Hawks. The sophomore finished the meet in 71st place, running in 16:28.40.

Danenhauer’s top finishes in the last two meets of the season showed his potential. He has two more seasons to build on his success, and the Hawks are primed to continue their Class AA dominance behind Danenhauer’s ability.

“On the guys’ side, we got a state championship under our belt, top-10 team in the region,” Jermyn said. “Graduate a few guys, but with a good core coming back and a good JV group coming up, we’re pretty excited.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Brooks Peters, Bozeman ■ Jonathan Wheeler, Bozeman ■ Andrew Holleman, Bozeman ■ Zak Meeker, Manhattan ■ Riley Schott, Manhattan Christian

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Coach of the Year: Jeff Bellach, Manhattan Christian head boys basketball “Starting with the dream, to be able to run the table and win the state title. That was more of the thing — the state title than the undefeated thing — but then that became a reality. — Jeff Bellach

A

fter guiding Manhattan Christian to five consecutive state tournaments, including back-to-back championship games, Jeff Bellach finally helped his team climb to the top.

The Eagles completed an unbeaten season en route to winning the program’s first title since 1984. They did so in dominant fashion and avenged losses the previous two years against Arlee with an 83-51 victory in the Class C title game at Rimrock Auto Arena in Billings.

“It was nice to win one,” said Bellach, who notched his 200th career victory during the season. “It was nice to get over the hump as far as a state championship goes and come out on top. Really proud of the teams that came in second too.”

It was the second time Bellach took an unbeaten team into the state tournament, but the 2015 team lost in the first round en route to placing fourth. That proved to be key learning experience for Bellach, who took a different approach with this year’s team.

“I think we paid a little bit too much respect to the idea that it was a hard place to shoot the ball being a big, open arena,” he said. “This year going into it, we didn’t even really talk about it. It’s just another gym.”

As had been the case throughout the season, the Eagles excelled in the postseason. They dealt with a handful of tight games at the Western C Divisional and state, but Christian prevailed at the end en route to finishing with a 26-0 record.

Bellach noted his players were “on the same page” and that a perfect season began to come into focus as the season progressed.

“I think that was a big thing with this team,” he said.

“Starting with the dream, to be able to run the table and win the state title. That was more of the thing — the state title than the undefeated thing — but then that became a reality.”

The development of his players, Bellach said, made this year’s Eagles special. Caleb Bellach, the coach’s son and a Montana State signee, averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while sophomore point guard Caidin Hill facilitated the offense.

“The way that Caleb and Caidin came together to kind of lead the team was a big thing,” Jeff Bellach said. “And the other big thing is that these kids just love to play. So they put a lot of time in not just together as a team and as a group over the summer but

on their own time.”

Once the team advanced to state, Jeff Bellach relied on his experience. He’s guided the Eagles to the tournament in five of his six years and also went three times while coaching Three Forks’ girls for five years beginning in the late 2000s.

Now he can draw from the experience of winning a state championship following those agonizing losses to Arlee.

“It meant a lot (to win it) because I didn’t want to lose another one. Those were great seasons and great teams, and even the two teams before that there was a lot of great things that came out of those years,” Jeff

Bellach said. “I look at those kids now, and they’re all doing great things with their life and they’re all on the right path.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ John Sillitti, Manhattan boys and girls

cross-country ■ Wes Holmquist, Bozeman boys basketball ■ Nate Laslovich, Bozeman wrestling ■ Matt Clark, Bozeman boys and girls golf ■ Hunter Terry, Bozeman boys soccer ■ Nate TeSlaa, Manhattan Christian boys

cross-country

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Female Golfer of the Year: Annika Danenhauer, Bozeman “I’m not taking anything for granted. You can’t just assume you’re going to make the shots.”

— Annika Danenhauer

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n individual Class AA golf championship had eluded Bozeman’s Annika Danenhauer her previous two seasons. Two times, Dannenhauer was edged out for the title, placing second her sophomore and junior seasons. Her junior year, she was bested by teammate Laurel Ward.

After the first day of this year’s Class AA tournament, Danenhauer appeared to be in trouble. The team was in first place, but individually, Danenhauer shot 78 was in third and stood five strokes back from the leader, Billings West’s Carrie Carpenter.

“I’m not taking anything for granted. You can’t just

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assume you’re going to make the shots,” Danenhauer said after the first day. “I’m going to soak up every minute of it.”

Danenhauer, with one last chance to play for the Hawks, made the most of it. And it was her time for a victory. She stormed back after the first day, shooting a second-day 76 to overcome Carpenter by one stroke and take home her individual state title.

Her efforts helped the Hawks have the second-best scoring output in Class AA tournament history, shooting 331-316—647 to win the state title for the third consecutive season. The team effort earned all five Hawks all-state honors.

“The goal coming in was playing to your potential,” Hawks head coach Matt Clark said. “All year we’ve had that kind of mantra, just try and play as well as you possibly can and let the cards fall where they will.”

Danenhauer described closing out her career with an individual state championship as the “cherry on top” of a successful four years.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Laurel Ward, Bozeman ■ Cora Rosanova, Bozeman ■ Jill Frye, Manhattan Christian ■ Landri Paladichuk, Ennis

Male Golfer of the Year: Justus Verge, Bozeman ““(Verge is) a phenomenal talent, but I could say the same thing about any one of our guys.”

— Matt Clark, Bozeman head coach

C

ompeting in his first Class AA tournament, Bozeman freshman Justus Verge proved he can shine on the golf course.

On the first day of the two-day state tournament, Verge’s nerves were non-existent as he shot a field low 5-under 66. The round was his best of the season and put him in the pole position with a five-stroke lead on second place. “(Verge is) a phenomenal talent, but I could say the same thing about any one of our guys,” Bozeman head coach Matt Clark said. “Any one of them could get hot.”

The competition Verge saw every day in practice — all five of Bozeman’s golfers finished on the all-state team — helped him be ready for the moment..

With the lead, Verge battled the pressures of holding on. But in a show of poise, the freshman stuck to his game plan and played smart golf.

The strategy was enough for Verge to pull out his first Class AA title in as many attempts. He shot a second-round 72 to win the tournament by six stokes, defeating his twin brother Jordan, who came in second.

His finish led the boys to a team Class AA title for the first time since 1997. Bozeman, as a team, shot 284291—575 for a Class AA record.

“I know I have what it takes, but it doesn’t come out every time,” Verge said after his Class AA title. “But today I played a lot of defense and stayed out of trouble.

I tried to be smart and stick with my game plan.”

With the state championship entering his sophomore season and the Hawks returning two other freshmen who placed in the top five, the team is positioned to build on its success.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Jordan Verge, Bozeman ■ JR Small, Bozeman ■ Braxton Butler, Belgrade ■ Cullen Visser, Manhattan Christian ■ David Aamot, Manhattan Christian ■ Caidin Hill, Manhattan Christian

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Wrestler of the Year: Chance McLane, Bozeman “That was my main focus coming into the year because I knew we could do it. We trained hard all year, and I know we’ve outworked every single team out there.” — Chance McLane

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ozeman’s Chance McLane completed what his head coach, Nate Laslovich, estimated as one of the best wrestling careers in Bozeman history. After winning an individual Class AA title his freshman and junior seasons, McLane wanted to finish his career with his team on top of the podium for the first time in his four years.

His senior year, McLane led his Hawks to a team title. He won the 152-pound Class AA championship, and as a team, Bozeman finished took a state title for the first time since 2011.

“I can’t even put it into words. I’ve wanted it my whole high school career,” McLane said. “That was my main focus coming into the year because I knew we could do it. We trained hard all year,

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and I know we’ve outworked every single team out there.”

McLane started his career as a Hawk by capturing the Class AA 103-pound state title. But his sophomore season, he lost in the the quarterfinals of the 120-pound division.

After that disappointing finish, McLane reevaluated his preparation. Two weeks after his defeat, he started working out at 6 a.m. every day and finished his workouts after school.

His junior season, now better prepared, McLane bulked up and broke through as the 145-pound state champion.

Even though his high school career is over, McLane expects to keep outworking his competition. He committed to Oklahoma State in

September, and his goals are to keep improving.

“That was a super good move on (OSU’s) part,” Laslovich said. “He’s totally capable of wrestling at that level or any level. It’s just a matter of him continuing to work like he does and enjoying wrestling like he does.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Leif Schroeder, Bozeman ■ Sterling Quinn, Bozeman ■ Tom Walkup, Bozeman ■ McCade O’Reilly, Bozeman ■ Shane Gibson, Park ■ John Mears, Belgrade ■ Oden Currier, Belgrade

Female Swimmer of the Year: Erin McKinney, Bozeman “I’ve had kind of an up-and-down season in all of my races. It was really nice to win (the 400 freestyle relay).

It confirmed all of my hard work was worth it.” — Erin McKinney

In

the last race of the season at the Class AA meet, Bozeman’s Erin McKinney and her teammates lined up at the starting block for the girls 400-yard freestyle relay race side-byside with their rival, Missoula Hellgate.

McKinney, a junior, was the veteran on a relay team consisting of her, two freshmen and a sophomore. The race ended up being among the closest events of the weekend. The Hawks finished in 3 minutes, 40.69 seconds to hold off Hellgate’s late push and win the relay by .21 seconds. The relay helped secure a second-place team finish for Bozeman’s girls.

McKinney also earned the No. 1 seed in the

200 individual medley as well as the 100 breaststroke by swimming the fastest times in the state during the regular season. She won the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.18.

“I’ve had kind of an up-and-down season in all of my races,” McKinney said. “It was really nice to win (the 400 freestyle relay). It confirmed all of my hard work was worth it.”

Her sophomore season, the team was filled with senior leaders, and McKinney finished second in the Class AA 100 breaststroke.

This season presented extra challenges for McKinney as she had to take on a major leadership role for the Hawks. This past season, the makeup of the team was simply different.

“(This year’s) definitely been different. A lot of my competition training wise was with older kids,” McKinney said. “It’s been different in that way, but a lot of the freshmen coming in have been swimming for a long time, and they’ve been stepping it up and starting to push us.”

McKinney went ahead and helped the Hawks compete for the state title even with a lack of senior leadership.

The experience will pay off for McKinney as she enters her final Hawks season. Bozeman is poised to build off its state meet finish, and McKinney has the potential to take down a few school records.

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Male Swimmer of the Year: Brodey Gray, Bozeman “Seeing my friends and teammates cheer for me while I’m in the water definitely helps me.”

— Brodey Gray

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rodey Gray had to learn to adapt.

He spent his freshman year going to Belgrade while swimming for the Bozeman Barracudas. Then Gray transferred to Bozeman for his sophomore season, and he was now a Hawk.

But he adjusted quickly, earning better grades, better times in the pool and feeling like a part of a team. By the end of the season, Gray was a leader for the Hawks.

Gray capped off his inaugural Hawk season placing fourth at the Class AA meet in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1 minute, 3.9 seconds and the 200 freestyle in 1:50.71. Gray also lent his hand to the two Bozeman relay teams that recorded top-four finishes. He raced on the 200 freestyle relay that finished fourth, clocking in at 1:35.17 and the 400 freestyle relay which placed third in 3:24.85. Gray helped the Bozeman boys capture fourth at the state meet in Bozeman.

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“You’re up and supporting your team at every event and everything, and that’s a really big change for me,” Gray said. “Seeing my friends and teammates cheer for me while I’m in the water definitely helps me.”

Before the season, the Hawks knew they needed Gray and the younger swimmers to step up after losing 24 to graduation from the two prior years.

Having two years remaining as a Hawk, Gray is focused on earning a swimming scholarship during his remaining time at Bozeman. The sophomore showed his potential this year, capturing first in the 100 freestyle at the Billings Invitational in 51.82 seconds.

“Our boys team is very young this year, and our freshmen and sophomores really stepped up and helped us,” Bozeman head coach Siobhan Gilmartin said. “So that was exciting to see.”his teammates. “It makes it a really fun community.”

Female Soccer Player of the Year: Mariah Morgan, Belgrade “I know my freshman year I had some record happen for freshmen goals, so it was really exciting to hear about that.”

— Mariah Morgan

H

ad she competed all four years for Belgrade, Mariah Morgan may have graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer. She’ll have to settle for the single-season record.

The senior broke the school record with 21 goals this past season to lead the Panthers to the Class A semifinals for the second time in three years. Belgrade finished with a 9-3-2 record.

Morgan set a freshman program record with nine goals, and then she transferred out of state before returning as a junior. Her goal total in her final year of high school ranked fourth in Class A as she also tallied six assists.

Morgan notched four hat tricks during the season, including in a 5-1 state quarterfinal victory against Missoula Loyola. In the process, she eclipsed the previous single-season scoring record of 19 goals, which had been set by Shelby Erdahl in 2011.

“I didn’t know about it, but I just figured that if I try my best then maybe I could get something like that,” Morgan said after setting the record. “I know my freshman year I had some record happen for freshmen goals, so it was really exciting to hear about that.”

Morgan, who signed to play at Long Island University in New York, earned all-state honors for her effort. She amassed 40 career goals, which ranks second only behind the 47 tallied by former Panther standout Jamie Greany.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Sophia Robinson, Bozeman ■ Addi Ekstrom, Bozeman ■ Hana Scott, Bozeman ■ Katie Hayes, Bozeman ■ Ava Westphal, Bozeman ■ Lauren Allen, Park

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Male Soccer Player of the Year: Luke Turner , Belgrade “Not a lot of teams are ready for the big ball, especially when you get the back spin on it and it’s pretty straight and accurate.”

— Luke Turner

G

oal scorers tend to be the players who garner headlines, but Luke Turner earned his share by preventing them from finding the back of

the net.

The Belgrade goalkeeper set an all-class state record this past season for career shutouts while helping the Panthers reach the Class A semifinals for a sixth straight season. Turner boasted five shutouts during the season en route to finishing with 16 in his career.

Turner helped the Panthers reach three state championship matches and win back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. This past season, Belgrade was upset in its bid to reach an unprecedented fifth consecutive final during a 9-2-3 campaign.

As impressive as Turner was in goal, he was also an asset offensively. His booming goal kicks led to three assists, including one during a playoff victory against Hamilton.

“Not a lot of teams are ready for the big ball, especially when you get the back spin on it and it’s pretty straight and accurate,” Turner said after the Hamilton win. “Get a lucky bounce and it goes the right way, you get a goal.”

Turner, who has signed to play at the University of Mary in North Dakota, earned all-state honors for his effort this past season.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Ted Scott, Bozeman ■ Aspen Klein, Bozeman ■ Ben Taylor, Bozeman ■ Colin McKenzie, Park ■ Cole Vondra, Park ■ Kanon Tebo, Belgrade

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Female Tennis Player of the Year: Maicy McCarty, Bozeman “She’s a strong hitter. She’s very determined.

She is a fighter.”

— Clayton Harris, Bozeman head coach

N

ormally, players are screaming with excitement during United States Tennis Association tournaments, especially during championships. But for Maicy McCarty, she needed to focus.

The Bozeman sophomore was playing against her sister after all.

During the USTA Intermountain Sectional’s under 16-year-old girls doubles title in Las Vegas in April, she and partner Kennedy Buntrock of Las Vegas defeated McCarty’s younger sister, Meg, and her partner for the title. And after winning that tournament, McCarty took her place as Bozeman’s No. 1 singles player.

“It was a little different,” McCarty said. “We were both just trying to win. … I just needed stay mentally strong because it was my sister. I just needed to focus.”

McCarty said it was odd considering she had just practiced with her sister the morning of the championship. They compete together often, which meant they also knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

McCarty said their mother, there to watch, didn’t take sides.

“That was a nice win for (McCarty). It was encouraging to see her play that well,” Bozeman head coach Clayton Harris said. “That’s a competitive group of kids. It’s nice to see her do that.”

McCarty didn’t play for Bozeman as a freshman as she dealt with a torn wrist ligament. But she joined the program in 2019 wanting to play in the Hawks’ team atmosphere.

“It’s really fun, and the competition is really good so it’s fun to play good people,” McCarty said.

“We’re just super consistent and work together really well. We play well together.”

After missing Bozeman’s first matches of the season to compete in Las Vegas, McCarty provided the Hawks a stable and dominant presence at their No. 1 spot.

“She’s a strong hitter. She’s very determined,” Harris said before smiling. “She is a fighter.”

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Male Tennis Player of the Year: Conner Joly, 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

W

hen Conner Joly is warming up, he’s focusing on finding a feel for his strokes. Early in a match, he tries to identify what his opponent’s best and worst strokes are.

Then, after recognizing those weaknesses, he adapts and takes advantage.

Joly also had to adapt to a new team this season.

As a freshman, he earned the Bozeman boys’ No. 1 singles spot, which was a position he took seriously.

He knew upperclassmen expected to win matches, and thus he expected himself to play to the standard of a top player.

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And Joly was successful early. When he beat Ethan Violette 3-6, 7-5 (5), 10-8 of Missoula Sentinel on April 22, Bozeman head coach Clayton Harris could tell how happy Joly was. He had adjusted after losing early to provide his team a point that tied the match.

But Harris also said Joly spoke afterward about how he wanted to be better.

“He’s just a great tennis player. He’s got a lot of skills,” Harris said. “I didn’t assume anything going into the season, but it was pretty clear pretty early that he would be able to take that No. 1 spot.”

Joly prides himself on a strong serve and his

quickness to put himself in position to reach opponents’ shots all over the court.

“He strikes the ball well,” Harris said. “He’s got a good sense of how to develop a point so it can develop in his favor and he can finish the points off.”

Joly missed Bozeman’s first matches of the season competing in the 16-year-old category of the United States Tennis Association Intermountain Sectional in Las Vegas. He lost in the first round but then won four matches before losing in the back draw quarterfinals.

“I’m happy with it,” Joly said. “It’s just uphill from there.”

Volleyball Player of the Year: Jourdain Klein, Ennis “I hope (the Mustangs) continue to play and love it like I did.”

— Jourdain Klein

J

ourdain Klein wouldn’t change the impact she made on the Ennis volleyball program even if she could.

The Mustangs won a state championship when she was a junior. And sure she would’ve liked to have led Ennis to another title as a senior in 2018, but she was happy to see how much the program, coached by her mother, Betty, had developed.

Klein, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, finished her high school career as a three-time all-Class C player before she signed on to play at Montana State.

“Jourdain Klein is a phenomenally gifted all-around athlete,” MSU head coach Daniel Jones said. “She brings good size and will be a big block. We couldn’t be more excited to be

adding a Montana kid to our roster, especially as high-quality as Jourdain.

“I’ve known her since she was a freshman, and she’s developed very nicely. She comes from a great family and will be a good fit with our program.”

Klein totaled 1,802 kills, 540 blocks and 248 aces in her career during which Ennis went 104-22 as a team. Klein also scored over 1,000 points in her basketball career and was second in both the high jump and triple jump at the Class C track and field meet as a junior.

Klein, a four-time all-conference pick, finished her final season at Ennis by guiding the Mustangs to the state tournament again as a senior. In the state tournament, Klein was nearly unstoppable with match highs of

29 kills, two aces and five blocks as Ennis defeated Scobey in the first round before the Mustangs lost their following two matches.

They finished the season 22-5 overall.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Klein said in November. “I hope (the Mustangs) continue to play and love it like I did.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Ayla Embry, Bozeman ■ Mara Lynch, Bozeman ■ Bailey Christensen, Belgrade ■ Matilda Dietz, Manhattan ■ Taylor Christensen, Belgrade ■ Jaiden Blakley, Belgrade S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 1 2 , 2 01 9

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Female Track Athlete of the Year: Delaney Bahn, Bozeman “And you love having that mindset. She’s exactly what you want as a student-athlete.”

— Eric Fisher, Bozeman track and field coach

E

ric Fisher didn’t know Delaney Bahn would be capable of breaking records and winning state championships.

But when he taught her physical education class when she was in elementary school, the Bozeman track and field coach saw Bahn wanted to break her grade’s records for even fitness tests. From then on, he sensed a competitive drive that could lead her to success.

He was right. Driven by a self-motivation to continuously outperform herself, Bahn became a standout for the Hawks. As a junior, she won the Class AA long jump title with a mark of 19 feet, 2 inches. Then as a senior, she lept 19-11.25, breaking the previous Montana High School Association record set back in 1975 by 5 inches.

As of May 4, Bahn also led the state in the 100 meters (12.27 seconds), the 200 (25.69 seconds) and the high jump (5-7).

Dealing with sore muscles the day that Bahn set that long jump record, she remembers telling a friend she just wanted to clear 19 feet “really bad.” And she went ever further.

“That was really drilled into my mind, and your body follows your mind,” Bahn said, “and I felt good.”

Fisher said Bahn showed promised as a freshman, broke out and proved herself as a consistent varsity athlete her sophomore year, then had a “phenomenal” state meet as a junior. When Fisher asked her what her goals were for her senior season, Bahn simply responded “just to get better.”

“And you love having that mindset,” Fisher said. “She’s exactly what you want as a student-athlete.”

Bahn will be taking a year away from school after her high school graduation then wants to compete in college track afterward. But if her senior season at Bozeman is her last with the sport, she hopes she will have performed to her capabilities.

“You have to take every meet and just enjoy it with your teammates and competition,” Bahn said. “You just have to enjoy it all.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

■ Jourdain Klein, Ennis ■ Kendall Lynn, Three Forks ■ Kyle Olson, Three Forks ■ Averi Parker, West Yellowstone ■ Faith Shepard, Manhattan Christian ■ Terra Trom, Bozeman

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Male Track Athlete of the Year: Joe Olson, Bozeman ““He can set a good example for what that competitive drive looks like, and a lot of times you get that snowball effect.

Teammates see one guy doing well, they’re going to drive to do the same thing.”

— Eric Fisher, Bozeman head coach

In

Bozeman’s first meet this spring, Joe Olson flashed the ability he’d continue to display throughout the rest of the season.

On April 2, Olson won the 100 meters, 110 hurdles and ran the first leg of the Hawks’ first-place 400 relay team. The performance was also Olson’s first in a varsity sport since breaking two bones in his arm in a football game against Kalispell Flathead on Sept. 28.

Olson spent the winter recovering, motivated to return to full strength and work his way back into the best possible shape.

“It’s all good to go,” Olson said. “I just got a gnarly scar.”

As a Montana State football signee, Olson plans to join the Bobcats during the summer.

But before that, he focused on improving his speed on the track.

“His famous quote in football is he just doesn’t want to go down,” Bozeman track and field head coach Eric Fisher said, “and in a race on the track, he just doesn’t want to lose.”

As of April 26, Olson ranked second in Class AA in 110 hurdles with a time of 15.4 seconds and fifth in the 100 with 11.16 seconds, both personal records. His 400 relay team including Carter Ash, Jace Fasting and Tyler Rued was third in the classification (43.82 seconds).

His strong senior season helped set the tone

for fellow Hawks.

“He can set a good example for what that competitive drive looks like, and a lot of times you get that snowball effect,” Fisher said.

“Teammates see one guy doing well, they’re going to drive to do the same thing.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Griffin May, Bozeman ■ Bryce Olson, Three Forks ■ Zak Meeker, Manhattan ■ Bryce Love, Manhattan ■ Riley Schott, Manhattan Christian ■ Ben Morrison, Manhattan Christian

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Football Player of the Year: Kris Brown, Bozeman “Probably one of the more athletic players in the state of Montana.”

— Jeff Choate, Montana State head coach

A

fter Kris Brown’s freshman season in Covina, California, his family moved to Bozeman when his brother Kamden committed to Montana State to play quarterback.

The younger Brown quickly settled into the quarterback role at Bozeman, taking the reigns his junior season. But that year, the Hawks finished with a 5-6 record and Brown struggled, throwing 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

He improved quickly. Finishing his career as a Hawk this season, he led the team to an 11-1 record and a scoring average of more than 44 points per game.

“I couldn’t even tell you how much I thought about (my junior year) this offseason. Honestly it burned inside of me,” Brown said.

“I’ll never forget the things all the outsiders said, all the people that were doubting us said. Never.”

The quarterback earned first-team all-state honors, compiling 2,843 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes. While showing his dual-threat ability, the senior added 499 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, according to Maxpreps.com.

Brown’s response his senior year fulfilled one of his dreams. Despite living in MSU’s backyard, the University of Montana came calling for Brown. The quarterback’s first interest in the Grizzlies came in 2015 when Montana defeated North Dakota State at home.

“When I moved here, my goal was to play for the Griz,” Brown said.

“To be honest with you, I think their stadium’s a lot cooler (than Montana State). I wanted to play for the Griz. I thought they had really good quarterbacks. That was just kind of my goal.”

After his junior season, Brown and his teammates spent five days a week working out in the offseason. That work ethic helped Brown put on 50 pounds during his time at Bozeman.

Now the Hawks are going to have to replace one of their leaders.

“I can’t think of a kid that’s ever worked harder than him,” Bozeman head coach Levi Wesche said.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: ■ Ryan Lonergan, Bozeman ■ Ryan Simpson, Bozeman ■ Kenneth Eiden, Bozeman ■ Joe Olson, Bozeman ■ Easton Page, Belgrade ■ Trevor Swanson, Ennis ■ Michael Nehring, Manhattan ■ Colter Miller, Three Forks

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Co-Girls Athlete Of The Year: Kyle Olson, Three Forks “Senior year is busy in general, but with sports and everything, it keeps me having fun at all times, that’s for sure.” — Kyle Olson

A

fter games at the start of the basketball season, Kyle Olson nearly cried.

Opponents’ box-and-one and triangleand-two defenses designed to stop Olson frustrated her. Coming off an undefeated Class B championship season the year before, Olson wasn’t used to this.

Three Forks’ senior guard was tasked with leading a team filled with younger players. It took time to adjust. But as the year went on, Olson grew more and more comfortable with her role as teammates around her improved.

“They were all over me the entire game, and I just didn’t know how to handle it,” Olson said. “Throughout the year, it definitely got better and I learned how to handle those things, how to get stronger, move past it.”

Olson carried the Wolves in the postseason by averaging 23 points per game in the

district and divisional tournaments, and Three Forks took fourth at state. Olson earned all-state honors and signed to join Carroll College’s basketball team next year.

Olson, who grew up using running as a way to relieve stress, took fourth at the Class B cross-country meet in 19 minutes, 59.88 seconds and was named all-district in volleyball in the fall. This spring, Olson is running track for Three Forks, competing in the 800 meters, 1,600, 3,200 and occassionally high jump and javelin.

Olson not only participated in the four sports she played, she contributed mightily.

“It was super enjoyable,” Olson said. “Senior year is busy in general, but with sports and everything, it keeps me having fun at all times, that’s for sure.”

Co-Girls Athlete Of The Year: Jourdain Klein, Ennis “I was a little nervous at first to have them kind of relying on me so much, but I did really enjoy it.” — Jourdain Klein

E

ntering her final high school volleyball season, Jourdain Klein was slightly concerned. She had already committed to play at Montana State and Ennis won a state title the year before, two major dreams already realized.

But Klein was going to be relied on to carry the Mustangs, and she knew teammates would turn to her for critical points.

“I was a little nervous at first to have them kind of relying on me so much, but I did really enjoy it,” Klein said. “It was fun to be able to play all the way around and help in the front row and in the back row, and it was really fun for me honestly.”

The senior hitter helped lead Ennis to the Class C tournament and earned all-state honors. Klein was also named first-team allDistrict 12C in basketball and qualified for

FINALISTS: ■ Ayla Embry, Bozeman ■ Sophia Robinson, Bozeman

the Class C track and field meet in high jump and triple jump.

In basketball, the Mustangs won their district and went undefeated against Class C opponents until the Western C Divisional, where they took fourth.

“It was more my responsibility to be the main post because I was the only tall girl we had,” Klein said. “So that was kind of different for me, but it was pretty fun getting to play down there.”

Klein concluded her high school volleyball career as a three-time all-state honoree and with 1,802 kills, 540 blocks and 248 aces. She embraced the responsibility of scoring in key spots and energizing her teammates.

“In my opinion (Jourdain) is one of the best to come out of the state in recent times,” MSU head volleyball coach Daniel Jones said.

■ Ava Westphal, Bozeman ■ Bailey Christensen, Belgrade S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 1 2 , 2 01 9

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Male Athlete of the Year: Ryan Lonergan, Bozeman “But you definitely have to play good every single game. I like that because that mentality, if you think you’re the best then you will be the best.” — Ryan Lonergan

W

hen Ryan Lonergan verbally committed to Montana State’s football team in June, he felt he could play more relaxed in the fall knowing his college decision wasn’t looming.

But choosing to play for his hometown Bobcats added pressure, Lonergan said. He understood the distinction that being an MSU commit would attract extra attention from opponents.

Lonergan knew he had to bolster his game.

“You have to play a good game or else people will start talking trash like, ‘Oh you’re going to MSU,’” Lonergan said. “But you definitely have to play good every single game. I like that because that mentality, if you think you’re the best then you will be the best.”

Lonergan played an integral part in both Bozeman football’s undefeated regular season and the Hawks’ boys basketball Class AA championship. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior earned all-state honors in both sports as a tight end and defensive end in football and a forward in basketball.

In the fall, Lonergan helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 287 rushing yards per game.

Lonergan also caught 64 passes for 1,121 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“I like it a lot honestly just taking pride in the run game and taking pride in the passing game too,” Lonergan said. “... That’s what makes a good tight end.”

The Hawks averaged 44.6 points per game, and in a first-round playoff win over Great Falls, Lonergan recorded season highs in receptions (nine) and touchdowns (three). Bobcats head coach Jeff Choate called him “probably the best prospect in the state of Montana.”

But the campaign came to a halt a week later in a 21-17 loss to Kalispell Flathead in the state semifinals. Three days later, basketball practice began.

“My mind was still set on football, that devastating loss,” Lonergan said. “... But life happens, and I just learned to move on and then just carried on with our basketball season.”

The transition was difficult. It took about halfway through the winter until Lonergan had fully come to grips with the loss to Flathead, he said.

Lonergan already progressed as a defender from 28

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his junior season and capitalized on more opportunities to score inside. But once senior Ryan Simpson suffered a wrist injury on Jan. 29, Lonergan had to communicate better with teammates to fill Simpson’s void.

“I had to be the voice on the court, and that’s where I think I improved in is my leadership when we were on the court playing because I had to do it,” Lonergan said. “I was a senior captain so ... it was my duty basically.”

Lonergan finished the regular season averaging 14.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. The Hawks capped the year with six straight wins en route to

their first state title since 2011. And Lonergan was at the center of it all.

“No one really could match up physically,” Lonergan said. “It was pretty easy for me to back down and just lay it in just knowing if my feel is pretty good.”

FINALISTS: ■ Ryan Simpson, Bozeman ■ Caleb Bellach, Manhattan Christian ■ Easton Page, Belgrade ■ Colter Miller, Three Forks ■ Trevor Swanson, Ennis

2019 SPORT STAR AWARDS PRESENTING SPONSOR

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HONOREE OF THE SPORTS STAR AWARDS THE 2019 AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE:

JOURDAIN KLEIN & KYLE OLSON

Wrestler of the Year, Bozeman

CHANCE MCLANE

Female Athlete of the Year Co-winners, Three Forks & Ennis

CALEB BELLACH

RYAN LONERGAN

Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Manhattan Christian

Male Athlete of the Year, Bozeman

JOURDAIN KLEIN Volleyball Player of the Year, Ennis

KYLE OLSON Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Three Forks

LUKE TURNER

ERIN ELGAS

Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Belgrade

Softball Player of the Year, Belgrade

MARIAH MORGAN

CONNER JOLY,

Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Belgrade

Boys Tennis, Bozeman

XANDER DANENHAUER

MAICY MCCARTY,

Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Bozeman

Girls Tennis, Bozeman

TERRA TROM Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Bozeman

DELANEY BAHN Girls Track, Bozeman

JOE OLSON Boys Track, Bozeman

JUSTUS VERGE Boys Golfer of the Year, Bozeman

ANNIKA DANENHAUER,

MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN BOYS BASKETBALL Team of the Year

Girls Golfer of the Year, Bozeman

KRIS BROWN

JEFF BELLACH

Football Player of the Year, Bozeman

Coach of the Year, Manhattan Christian Boys and Girls Basketball and Golf

ERIN MCKINNEY

BROOKLYN DEMARS

Girls Swimmer of the Year, Bozeman

Male Student Athlete of the Year

BRODEY GRAY

SOPHIA ROBINSON

Boys Swimmer of the Year, Bozeman

Female Student Athlete of the Year

S P O R T S S T A R S AWA R D S • M A Y 1 2 , 2 01 9

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Team of the Year: Manhattan Christian Boys Basketball “Honestly, the way we played over the summer, I thought it was possible if we stayed healthy.”

— Jeff Bellach, Eagles head coach

L

ong before the season began in December, Jeff Bellach knew it would be special.

Manhattan Christian’s sixth-year coach felt the returning cast had an opportunity to shine, and it proved him right. The Eagles soared to a 26-0 record en route to winning the program’s first state championship since 1984.

While there was little talk about an undefeated campaign during the season, Bellach felt it could happen following strong play during the offseason.

“Honestly, the way we played over the summer,” he said, “I thought it was possible if we stayed healthy.”

Not only did the Eagles stay healthy, they dominated nearly every opponent they played.

The team stretched its conference-winning streak to 36 games dating back to the 2015-16 campaign.

Christian averaged 66.5 points per game, which included a 91-point effort in a regular season game against Gardiner. The defense was equally as impressive, allowing just 35 points per game.

Coming off back-to-back losses in the Class C championship game to Arlee, Christian routed the Warriors 83-51. It was the first

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time in Montana High School Association history that the same two teams met in the championship game for three consecutive seasons.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Bellach said after the victory. “I don’t know if it’s hit me yet. I’m just proud of these kids for believing in each other and believing in what they’re doing.”

Caleb Bellach, a Montana State signee and the coach’s son, averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to lead Christian to the first unbeaten season in program history. He received plenty of help from teammates Josiah Amunrud (10.6 points per game) and Sam Leep (12.4), who also averaged double-figure scoring. David Aamot, Caidin Hill and Tyler Kamps were key contributors as well.

Jeff Bellach, who helmed the Three Forks girls for five seasons prior to becoming coach at Christian, picked up his 200th career victory after beating Gardiner in the district championship game.

Caleb Bellach also reached a milestone at the divisional tournament. With a 15-point effort in a semifinal victory against Twin Bridges, he became the program’s career scoring leader. He finished with 1,543 points to surpass the old mark of 1,448 set by Conner VanDyken.

Caleb Bellach was named MVP of the state tournament following a 42-point effort against Arlee in the championship game. The all-state forward was joined on the all-tournament team by Leep.

The championship victory helped ease some of the heartache endured over the past two years.

“They put in so much work to do it,” Jeff Bellach said of winning the championship.

“We try to keep it in perspective, but it means a lot to us and it means a lot to our community to be able to be on this kind of stage and show our faith and also our passion for this great game. To be rewarded, it’s awesome.”

FINALISTS ■ Bozeman wrestling ■ Bozeman boys basketball ■ Bozeman boys and girls golf ■ Bozeman boys soccer ■ Bozeman boys cross-country ■ West Yellowstone girls cross-country ■ Manhattan Christian boys cross-country ■ Manhattan boys and girls cross-country

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Rewarding the student athlete for being both.

firstinterstate.com Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ⌂

00106.SP.19.04

We’re proud to support Sports Stars as it provides scholarships to deserving students exercising not just their bodies but also their minds.