Year in Review: Sports Highlights of 2023

JANUARY

Ronan basketball teams travel to Alaska

The Ronan boys and girls basketball teams had a once-in-a-lifetime experience playing in the Alaska Airlines Classic in January. Not only did the Chiefs and Maidens become the first Montana teams ever to play and win in Alaska at the tourney, but they also put up some confidence-building performances against schools three to four times their size.

The journey began in 2022 when Ronan hosted a Zoom call with the filmmakers of the documentary "Alaska Nets." After holding a fundraiser at Ronan High School featuring the documentary, they were named a finalist in a contest to win a trip to Alaska.

Knight wins Pro Rodeo Championships

Charlo’s Abigail Knight left very little doubt in the rodeo arena in Great Falls, winning two rounds of barrel racing and winning both the overall and average championship at the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, held Jan. 12-14.

“I have been rodeoing since I was 4 and did it in high school and college,” Knight said. “I’ve been competitive in every sport I’ve done, like basketball, but rodeo is different. You’re by yourself, but you also have an athlete you’re responsible for and is counting on you.”

Her 10-year-old Pistol was an excellent partner all year as Knight came into the finals with a significant cushion in points.

Polson honors 90s Teams

January’s Ronan-Polson basketball games were a fun night for Pirate athletics as the home teams both picked up victories. The honoring of two historic teams in the Polson basketball program made it even more special.

Both the Polson 1993-94 State A Boys Basketball Champions and the 1993 State A Girls Basketball second-place team were honored.

FEBRUARY

Ronan girls win State Wrestling title

The Ronan Girls Wrestling Team made state history in Billings at the state wrestling championships, winning the first Class A-C title as four different wrestlers placed, and Tirza TwoTeeth picked up a state championship at 235 pounds.

After a first-round bye, TwoTeeth won by pin over Sidney’s Autumn Ownby in under two minutes. She then pinned Flathead’s Boston Howell in the quarterfinals and Billings West’s Marika Bonner in 3:06.

The championship match went quickly as TwoTeeth pinned Billings West’s Evy Mackey in 39 seconds for the victory.

Mission Valley sends two to national boxing tournament 

Two young boxers from the Polson Boxing Club – Araeya Nelson and Oziah HeavyRunner – headed to Independence, Mo., for the Silver Gloves National Tournament on Feb. 8. To qualify for the tournament, boxers must first win in their respective states and then their region.

Dumont signs with Shoreline College

Polson’s Dawson Dumont signed to play baseball at Shoreline Community College of the NWAC Conference.

“I’m beyond excited,” Dumont said. “My biggest goal is to play baseball as long as I can, and this is the next step.”

Dumont, who has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old, said the Shoreline coaching staff reached out to him after seeing his video on a recruiting website. Dumont said being left-handed and fast helped him get noticed. He also added the coaches told him they wanted to help him get picked up by a four-year or NAIA program after two years of play.

Wilson signs with Montana Tech 

For those who saw Polson quarterback Jarrett Wilson play on Friday nights, it came as no surprise when he was tapped to play on Saturdays this fall.

Wilson, who threw for 115 touchdowns and rushed for 27 others for the Pirates, signed to play for Montana Tech University of the NAIA in Butte.

Polson places several at State Swim Meet

The Montana State Swimming Meet took place in Great Falls in February, with top-notch performances from high school swim teams across the state. And Polson was no exception.

The Polson Swimming Team had a standout showing, with the boys' team placing  second overall with 62 points and individual competitors earning several top honors.

The Polson girls' team placed fifth overall, with several members earning recognition for their performances.

MARCH

 Brandie Buckless shines as Polson Girls Basketball Coach

Entering the 2022-23 basketball season, the Polson girls had struggled to find consistency for over a decade. They found it in the form of first-year head coach Brandie Buckless.

The new coach was a standout during her high school career as a four-year varsity starter, four-year All-Conference, and three-time All-State player. Buckless then played at Montana State, fulfilling a dream of Division I basketball.

Polson went 8-3 in conference play and finished second in the standings. At regionals, the Lady Pirates picked up their first regional victory in a long time and played other conference powers to within a couple of points.

Polson plays first baseball doubleheader In school history

There is only one time you can be the first in school history, and Polson's baseball team rose to the occasion at the end of March.

Playing a doubleheader against Florence in their inaugural high school baseball games, the Pirates picked up an 8-2 win in the first game and fell 6-2 in the nightcap.

Lake County athletes shine at State Track Meet

Mission Valley athletes found the podium at State A, B and C Track and Field Championships, with Mission Senior Bryce Umphrey winning gold in the long jump at the Class B Championships in Butte with a personal best mark of 21-2.25.

At the State C Track and Field Championships in Laurel, Charlo placed in five individual events at the Laurel Sports Complex and had one relay team place in the top eight. The Vikings took fourth in state.

MAY

Polson’s Todd signs to play tennis at Whitworth

Polson High School's tennis star, Clara Todd, signed on to play college tennis at Whitworth University in Spokane.

"I was interested in a few other schools for tennis,” said Todd. “However, Whitworth seemed to be the best fit."

During a campus visit, Todd was able to play for Whitworth Coach Rachel Aldridge and meet the team.

Hawk signs with Carroll College

Polson High School's standout basketball player, Mila Hawk, signed to play basketball at Carroll College, bringing her skills to the Fighting Saints' program.

Hawk's journey to Carroll College began during her junior year when she started using an online recruitment program for schools. Although she initially committed to Rocky Mountain College, she ultimately decided to de-commit due to the distance from home.

The coaches at Carroll College caught Hawk's attention, and she attended one of the college's basketball camps last summer, solidifying her interest in the program. Additionally, sister Bella plays volleyball for Carroll, adding to Hawk's familiarity and connection to the college.

LaFrombois signs with Providence

Mission multi-sport athlete Zoran LaFrombois signed with Providence University in Great Falls, where he has the opportunity to pursue both basketball and cross country/track.

LaFrombois said coming from a small school made it hard to be noticed, but he was able to make the step forward.

"I feel like there wasn't a lot of recruiting (due to) being undersized and at a small school with little success," LaFrombois said. "It was hard to get coaches' attention, especially for basketball. Cross country was a little easier because the times speak for themselves."

Ultimately, LaFrombois chose Providence University because it offered him the chance to pursue both sports without sacrificing one for the other.

Polson wins Montana’s first-ever state baseball title

This year, Polson made history by being the first-ever Pirate baseball team. They added to the history books on Saturday, May 20, at 3 Legends Stadium in Butte, defeating Whitefish 10-4 in the inaugural Montana All-Class State Baseball Tournament Championship Game.

Espn Fisher, the son of Pirate coach Brad Fisher, contributed a little bit of everything to the Pirate victory. He pitched a 110-pitch seven-inning gem, striking out nine and allowing just three earned runs. At the plate, he collected two hits and three RBI.

Jarrett Wilson hit an RBI triple in the fourth, while college baseball-bound Dawson DuMont hit a two-run triple in the sixth. DuMont finished the game with two hits, a steal, and three RBI in the matchup, while Cody Haggard also had two hits and RBI.

With Legion baseball season around the corner, these championship game players, without a doubt, face each other since Polson sends players to the Mission Valley Mariners and Whitefish sends players to the Glacier Twins.

Mission-Arlee-Charlo Softball takes second at State

For the third year in a row, Mission-Arlee-Charlo placed second, and while they would have loved to take home the top trophy, it was an impressive performance at the State B-C Softball Tournament in Anaconda.

The Lady Bulldogs went back to the state championship game through the consolation bracket after losing to Conrad in the tournament opener.

Polson brings home State Tennis titles

Judging by the Polson Tennis trophy case, quite a few great players and teams have come through the program. However, this year's boys and girls teams might have had the most storylines going into the Class A State Tournament at Fort Missoula.

The Polson boys tennis team picked up their first state title in 10 years, with their No. 1 doubles team, Owen McElwee and Trent Wilson, winning an individual state title.

On the girls' side, Clara Todd capped off a brilliant career for the Lady Pirates, losing just two sets all season and winning the girls' singles individual championship, and helping the girls claim second place at state.

JUNE

Mission Valley players impact East-West Shrine Game

Two Mission Valley players had a big impact in the 76th annual Montana Shrine Game in Butte June 18. Montana Tech-bound quarterback Jarrett Wilson of Polson threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Mission’s Bryce Umphrey to put the West team up 22-7 in the third quarter.

Umphrey and Canyon Sargent were the first Mission players to represent the Bulldogs in the Shrine Game in 21 years. Both players came off strong performances in the state’s first eight-man All-Star game in June, where they earned MVP nods for offense and defense.

Mission’s Rush signs with MSU-Billings

Mission High School's Andrew Rush has officially committed to run for MSU-Billings after the senior found a perfect fit in the state's biggest city.

"The coaches genuinely seemed interested in me and listening to me," Rush said. "We exchanged stories, and the team had a similar sense of humor as me. While it was the first time we met, it felt like we had been friends a long time.”

Reflecting on his journey, Rush acknowledged that junior year was challenging for him. However, he dedicated himself to training during the summer and found success in cross country, attracting attention from numerous schools across Montana.

Oakland named new Polson head football coach

Carson Oakland had found incredible success at Mission High School, guiding the Bulldogs to the eight-man state championship game in 2022. Last summer Oakland added three more players on the field to his toolbox as the new coach at Polson High School.

"The Polson football program has been on the rise and has brought a lot of joy and support to the community," Oakland said. "I want to continue to build on that and set the tone with the kids we have.”

Mission’s Page to play basketball for Central Wyoming College

Mission's Kooper Page is continuing to lace up her shoes to play basketball after moving a state over. The standout Lady Bulldog player committed to playing for Central Wyoming College (CWC) in Riverton.

Page attributed her successful recruitment to the visibility of her Hudl link on her Instagram profile. The coach and the CWC women's basketball account took notice of her skills and reached out to her through Instagram direct messages. Eager to explore the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, Page enthusiastically accepted the offer and engaged in further discussions with the coach.

Tonasket signs with Rocky Mountain College

Rocky Mountain College's mens' basketball program added Ronan's Elijah Tonasket to their roster. The talented six-foot guard averaged 12.6 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game during his senior season, showcasing his versatility on the court.

With an impressive shooting accuracy of 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc, Tonasket proved to be a force to be reckoned with.

Petersen named Assistant Coach of The Year

In a moment of surprise and delight, Jim Petersen of Charlo High School was awarded the prestigious Assistant Coach of the Year title by the Montana Coaches' Association (MCA). Petersen, who has dedicated over four decades to coaching young athletes, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.

"It's awesome to be honored like that," Petersen said. "When my head coach knocked on my door and told me to check my email, I thought I was in trouble. But then I found out I wasn't in trouble at all."

Mission Valley Mariners season ends at State

Lethbridge ended the Mission Valley Mariner's 2023 season at the Class A Montana State A Tournament in Laurel on Thursday, July 27.

After an 8-2 loss to the Miners, the Mariners finished the year 24-17, including a third-place finish in the West A league and a second-place finish at Divisionals held the previous weekend in Polson.

JULY

 Delaney shines at USAF Nationals

Morgan Delaney of Polson placing ninth in the 3,000-meter run with a personal record of 11:03.05 at the USAF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, held July 24-30 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene.

She narrowly missed being an All-American by one spot in the 15-16 girls’ division. She also placed 24th in the 1,500-meter prelims with a personal best of 5:08.46 and 59th in the triple jump with a mark of 26-7.25.

Other members of the Mission Mountain Mercury Club also competed in the event.

AUGUST

Petersen named Mission head football coach

Mission High School’s search for a new head football coach came to an end with the hiring of the school’s head wrestling coach and now former defensive coordinator Jacen Petersen.

Petersen is a Charlo resident and is no stranger to St. Ignatius, not only teaching there but also wrestling there during his time in high school. He comes from a football family and his love of the sport precedes his passion for wrestling, which came later in life.

Souhrada contributes to U.S. Championship win 

Columbia Falls native and retired Polson coach and teacher became a world basketball champion at the tender age of 71. Terry Souhrada was a point guard on the USA Global 65-70 age group team in the Federation of Masters’ Basketball Association league.

Souhrada played an age group down as the team of 60-something ballers beat Brazil 68-60 for the championship, held Aug. 25-Sept. 3 in Argentina.

The squad won their pool round, beating Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica. In the medal round they beat another Chile team, then Serbia in the semis before the championship game against Brazil.

“It’s kind of like living in my 20s all over again,” Souhrada told the Hungry Horse News. “The most talented group of I’ve ever played basketball with.”

SEPTEMBER

Polson Girls and Boys win State Golf titles

Polson’s golf teams had to find extra room to bring back all the hardware they won at the State A Golf Tournament in Sydney Sept. 29-30. Both the boys and girls won team championships, while Hunter Emerson was the top finishing boys golfer in the state and Lady Pirate Ashley Maki finished third.

It was the second straight state championship for the Polson girls, while the Polson boys were able to slay the proverbial dragon by defeating Laurel, a team they hadn’t previously bested in stroke play.

OCTOBER

Lake County detective sets world record in power lifting

While Scott Sciaretta usually does detective work for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, in October, he traveled across the Atlantic and represented his country at the IPL World Championships in England.

And he did it well, earning first place in three different events.

"Grabbing the two world records is equally meaningful to me, but the highlight for me was getting recognized as the Best Masters Male lifter against some tremendously strong athletes," he said.

Sciaretta has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2010, and in 2012, a heart attack caused him to re-evaluate his life and take up powerlifting seriously.

Arlee teen makes rodeo history

Graysen O’Connor, a 13-year-old cowgirl from Arlee, returned from Las Vegas to a hometown parade after winning the World Championship title in junior and senior barrel racing. She’s the youngest competitor ever to claim both junior and adult titles at the Indian National Finals Rodeo, held Oct. 24-28.

“The sky's the limit with her,” says her mentor, champion barrel racer Judy Myllymaki. “She has a terrific work ethic for a 13 year old.”

NOVEMBER

Polson finishes season at State A Volleyball

Polson won one match at the State A Volleyball Championships, bowing out on Nov. 10, after losing to rivals Frenchtown at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. The Lady Pirates finished the season 14-11 and have advanced to the state tournament for three straight years since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arlee Warriors end season in Quarterfinals

The 2023 season will go down as one of the best for the Arlee Warriors after an undefeated regular season and a playoff victory. The magical ride, however, ended Nov. 4, after the Warriors fell to Fairview 70-22 in the State Eight-Man Football Quarterfinals.

“This hasn't been done in Arlee since 2015, so these boys should feel good about themselves and what they have accomplished,” Arlee Head Coach Quinn Huisman said.

    The Ronan Chiefs and Maidens found time to check out the scenery during the Alaska Airlines Classic. (Ronan Basketball photo)

    Ronan's Tirza TwoTeeth picked up a state championship at 235 pounds. (Michelle Sharbono photo)
  

  

    Polson Coach Bob Hislop hugs newly crowned State A Girls Tennis Champ Clara Todd. (Bob Gunderson photo)
  

    Polson's 2023 Championship Golf Teams, top row: coach John Kelley, Torrin Ellis, Espn Fischer, Hunter Emerson, Christian Lund, Carson Hupka, Cole Cross and coach Cameron Milton.Bottom row: Ashley Maki, Kila Cannon, Clare Konen and Kylee Siefert.
  

    Arlee's Graysen O'Connor rounds the barrels at the 2003 Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, where she won both junior and senior divisions.
  

The Arlee Warriors fell to Fairview during last year's quarterfinal round of the State Eight-Man Football playoffs, held on their home turf. Coach Ryan Landolfi says this year's team is "the most football-focused group of athletes I've had the pleasure of coaching thus far in my career."(Jamie Sievers photo)