Family values are golden

BILLINGS - A family of athletes is nothing new, as many siblings grow up to play the same sport and even play with one another. However, it's hard to find a family with as diverse a sports background as the Plants.

Naomi, Albert and David Plant all competed in the Big Sky State Games for different events and all brought home hardware around their necks.

This isn't their first venture into athletics either.

"They're always running, always training, always doing something to get ready," Albert Plant, the kids' father, said.

The Big Sky State Games, held last weekend in Billings, is an Olympic-style event for the state of Montana and is the biggest state game event per capita in the nation. More than 10,000 athletes from 250 communities competed in 2009. The event is held in several locations across the state.

David, an 18-year-old senior at Arlee High School, knows what to expect from the games since he won a gold medal last year in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Originally a wrestler, he quickly picked up the sport when Aaron Brien started offering free classes as part of the 406 Jiu-Jitsu club.

"You kind of skip the beginner stage if you're a wrestler," Brien said.

While wrestling requires good core body strength, using leverage and taking advantage of your body weight, David said that Jiu-Jitsu is a much more patient sport.

"He's got a mind for it," Brien said. "He doesn't over think it."

David said he tries to use his brute strength sometime to overpower opponents, which can be an issue when they're bigger than him.

"I've got to quit doing it," David said. "I've got to rely on my skill."

And his skill has been something to behold. While just a white-belt, David dominated the competition last year during the Big Sky State Games. He also won the Inland Northwest Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Spokane last year.

"David pretty much walked through everyone like a hot knife through butter," Brien said.

This weekend, David defended his gold medal, winning first in the Adult Gi division (wearing a traditional uniform) this year, silver in the Adult no Gi division, and bronze in the all-around division.

"He had to beat a purple belt and a blue belt to do it," father Albert said.

He had nine matches in two and a half hours, which can be quite taxing on an individual.

"That's a hard feat, I don't know too many people that can do that," father Albert said. "Half the time he was on the mat."

While David dominated in his sport, his younger siblings also performed well.

"I think they'll do good," David said before the competition. "My sister is awfully busy, and my brother is too."

David's younger brother, Albert III, took first in wrestling after trying to drop a weight class from 155 pounds to 143 pounds to be more competitive.

"I don't want to get whipped because there's a ten-pound weight difference," Albert said.

He didn't make weight but won just the same, capturing gold.

The 15-year old Albert also wrestles for Arlee High School and is looking to take his wrestling skills to the international stage.

Along with his high school wrestling experience, he's also hoping his gold performance at the Big Sky State Games will improve his athletic resume for the North American Indigenous Games.

The NAIG is a multi-sport event for indigenous North American athletes that began in 1990. It's a non-profit organization of the United States Olympic Committee and hosts thousands of athletes.

Since Montana doesn't have a state team for the NAIG, Albert is trying to make Team Ontario in Canada.

So far in his wrestling career, Albert has gotten sixth at the AAU state competition, third in the Grand Nationals held in Butte, and sixth in the Montana Open.

Along with wrestling Albert also plays lacrosse for the Spring Missoula Elite team, which has really helped him stay in shape during the wrestling offseason.

"That's what really helped him get ready for Grand Nationals," father Albert said.

Then there's the youngest, 11-year-old Naomi, who perhaps took on the most challenging of the events - a triathlon.

While most preteens are concerned about what movies will be showing at the local theatre, Naomi has been training.

"I've been biking two miles a day and running one mile a day," Naomi said before her event.

She has also been swimming at the Arlee YMCA for six years and is a member of the Mission Valley All-Stars softball team.

"She enjoys being athletic, she just loves it," father Albert said. "I don't have to get after her."

While he doesn't get after her, he certainly has been helping her train for her event.

"My dad helps me with the running, he rides a bike in front of me; and my mom takes me swimming," Naomi said.

Along with help training from her parents, she's also very happy that her siblings were competing with her at the Big Sky State Games.

"That makes me feel better because I'm not the only one there," Naomi said.

Naiomi did well, taking silver place in the triathlon and also bronze in arm wrestling.

"She wants to try another triathlon," father Albert said. "So we're looking for another triathlon."

All three of them aren't only competing in athletics but are winners in the classroom as well.

"Their grades are always fine," father Albert said. "We don't have to dwell on that."

However, Albert did say there is one concern for the Plants, and it's a big one.

"The only thing we have to worry about is getting new shoes," Albert said. "They wear them out."