Area grads excel in collegiate postseason action

Several collegiates from the Mission Valley area were recently acknowledged for their athletic accomplishments this spring from the NAIA Frontier Conference and the Junior College Northwest Athletic Conference.

In outdoor track and field with the Frontier Conference, an athlete must place among the top three of their respective event at the conference meet. Polson graduates Karly Lawson along with Quin Stewart and Ronan graduates Jackson Duffey along with James Normandeau all placed for all-conference honors.

Duffey is widely decorated in cross-country as well with four all-conference top ten finishes in that sport.

In softball in the East Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference, Ronan graduate Macao Jackson received first-team honors at pitcher, while Polson graduate Lexi Orien was conferred with second-team acknowledgement behind the plate as catcher. Orien clobbered a pair of grand slams this past season. Jackson's teammates on the yesteryear summer Montana Mustangs squad included Ashlynn Nixon and Kobbey Smith. Nixon received first team honors, clubbing an astounding 25 home runs. Though not accentuated with postseason recognition, Smith had five home runs this past season that included grand slams.