Spring Sports Previews

Lady Pirates Softball

Last years Class A state champions will have their eyes set on a 2013 title, which would be their fourth state title in a row.  Coach Larry Smith – who has led the Lady Pirates to seven state championships in the last 12 years – will lead an array of both new and old faces through a competitive Northwestern A conference.  

2012 Finish:  16-5, third in Northwestern A.

State Finish:  First Place

State Titles: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Key Departures:  SS Ashley Johnson (All-State), IF Riley Kenney (first team All-Conference), IF Makaliah Wilson (second team All-Conference), UT Coleen Jacobson.  

Key Returnees:  SP Shalaina Duford (All-State), IF/OF Heidi Rausch (All-State), IF/OF Jessica Bagnell (first team All-Conference), C Jaylin Kenney (second team All-Conference).  

Maidens Softball

The Ronan Maidens look to make their 2013 season even more successful than their 2012 visit to state.  First year head coach Brad Benson will have plenty of talent returning from last year to help lead the Maidens back to the state tournament.  

2012 Finish:  18-10

State Finish:  Second in Divisional tournament, 1-2 in State tournament.

Key Departures:  SS Payge DeLaurenti (first team All-Conference), P Bethany Colman (second team All-Conference), C Lindsay Clairmont (second team All-Conference).

Key Returnees:  CF Ashleigh Lynch (All-State), SS McKenzie Dulmes (second team All-Conference), P/IF Samantha Colman, 1B Courtney Taylor, LF Turquoise Haggard.  

Mission-Arlee-Charlo Softball

The Lady Bulldogs were impressive last season, placing third at the divisional tournament and third at State.  Losing All-State leadoff hitter Kinley Pope will be a tough hit for MAC, but the returning and new arriving Lady Bulldogs are more than capable of filling their former teammates shoes.  

2012 Finish:  19-5

State Finish:  Third place

Key Departures:  IF Kinley Pope (All-State), IF Jameal McDonald (first team All-Conference), IF Serena Long.

Key Returnees:  SP Loren Erickson (All-State), CF Alyssa Doty (second team All-Conference), CF Sara Nerby, OF/IF Sahriha Camacho.

Polson Tennis

Boys

The Pirates will consider their 2012 divisional championship and fourth place finish at state as a stepping-stone as they look to improve their success in 2013.  

2012 Finish:  15-2

State Finish:  Fourth.

Key Departures:  Sam Peel (All-Conference), Reed Hovenkotter, Ian Laimbeer (All State), Will Davey (All-State)

Key Returnees:  Brady Hislop (All-Conference), Dylan McCrumb, Hayden Congdon (All-Conference).  

Girls

The Lady Pirates look to repeat last year’s success with another state title. Polson returns a strong team in 2013, where they will look for their seventh consecutive division title.  Polson’s biggest strength – their depth – will again be the catalyst in this year’s title run.

2012 Finish:  16-1

State Finish:  State Champions

State Championships:  2008, 2012.

Key Departures:  Kenzie Clay (All-State), Audra Engebretson, Sara Robinson, Kylee Wegner, Jordan Quinn, Karmen Borchers.

Key Returnees:  Whitney Zimmerman (All-State), Mollybeth Hendrix (All-State), Karly Rochin, Tegan Bauer.  

Mission Tennis

Boys

Mission Bulldog tennis looks to excel in 2013 and will be introducing 10 new players this year.  The massive turnover from last year shouldn’t threaten the Bulldogs’ chances, as Coach Kimimi Ashley is excited about her new crop of players and the dedication she sees early in the season.  

Key Departures: Felix Sonntag, Harry Suta

Key Returnees:  Karl Daniels, Katz Yelsa, Troy Bontrager, Chris Camel

Girls

Despite losing their top player in Jane Makepeace, the Mission Lady Bulldogs are looking for returning talent to step into the leadership roles and guide this team to a state finish.  Coach Sara Ison believes that she has a great group of girls this year ready to compete at the highest level.  

Key Departures:  Sarah Bowers, Jane Makepeace.

Key Returnees:  Briar Ahlborn, Kayla Billette, Cierra Dougherty.  

Charlo Track and Field

Boys:  The Charlo boys have been dominant in track and field over the last two seasons and they don’t plan on relinquishing that dominance in 2013.  Although Charlo lost track star Stephen Delaney to graduation, the Vikings’ deep squad should have no problem defending their 2011 and 2012 titles.

State Finish:  State Champions

State Championships:  1972, 2011, 2012.

Key Departures:  Stephen Delaney (All-State)

Key Returnees:  Tra Ludeman (All-State), Webb O’Neill (All-State), Kail Pope (All-Conference)

Girls:  Running right along with the boys, the Lady Vikings had an impressive 2012 campaign and look to reap similar success in 2013.  The boys’ back-to-back state titles should prove to be great motivation for the Lady Vikings, as Charlo looks to see both their boys and girls track teams take home hardware in 2013.

Key Departures:  Dawn Blevins (All-State), Deondra Brown (All-State)

Key Returnees:  Aspen Runkel (All-State), Jordan Ludeman (All-State), Rachel Hoyt (All-Conference)  

Ronan – St. Ignatius Track and Field

Boys:  RSI boys turned a lot of heads last year at the track and field state tournament in Butte.  They crowned two state champions at the Class B Championships (Paden Alexander, Jalen Bell), both student athletes are returning this year.  RSI hopes to again have a strong performance at the state level in 2013.

Key Returnees:  Paden Alexander (All-State), Jalen Bell (All-State), Connor Benn, Shelby Grant.

Girls:  After the adjustment from Class A to Class B, the RSI girls look to have a strong showing during the 2013 season.  RSI should have enough returning talent to make the 2013 year a successful one.  

State Titles:  1972

Key Departures:  Twyla Hogge, Sydnee Clairmont

Key Returnees:  Aspen Jore, Stephanie Lewandowski

Arlee Track and Field:

Both the boys and girls teams finished the 2012 track and field season strong, but left much to improve on.  Despite both teams suffering significant losses from graduation, they should have enough talent returning to give two-time defending state champions and district rival, Charlo, a run for their money.  

Boys:  

2012 Finish:  Third in 14-C

State Titles:  1993

Key Returnees:  Donovan McDonald, Isaac Desjarlais.

Key Departures:  Sam Nelson, Zack Carver

Girls

2012 Finish:  Third in districts

State Titles:  1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

Key Returnees:  Whitney Malatare, Jessica Knoll, Alexis Schick, Mahalia Hendren, Becca Whitesale

Key Departures:  Becca Nelson Aspen Meidinger, Rachelle Meidinger

Polson Track and Field:

Both Pirates and Lady Pirates should be strong in 2013.  With a combined 12 state championships between them,   this year’s squads look to put Polson track and field back on the map.  As a young team last year, Polson is hoping for a more experienced and posied group of athletes to impress this season.  Leading the charge is senior Riley Sampson, who threw the best shot put in Class A last year and took second at shot put in the state tournament.  Polson will be without juior Aja Starkey this season.  Starkey finished in second place in the 3,200-meter at state last season.  New additions Will Davey, Cedric Earthboy and Chloie Huerta should make strong contributions.

State Championships: (Boys) 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964,1965, 1974, 1981, 1996.  (Girls) 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010.

Key Departures (Boys): Vince DiGiallonardo (All-Conference), Chris Cote, Adam Schmidt (All-Conference).

Key Returns (Boys):  Riley Sampson (All-State), Jimmy Bjorge (All-Conference),

Key Departures (Girls):  Kat Medland, Shelbi Mallon, Kidron Lee (All-Conference). Aja Starkey (All-State)

Key Returnees (Girls):   Claudia Hewston (All-Conference), Anna DiGiallonardo (All-State), Alisha Jore, Jewel Zakir-Ackerman