04 17 gameday

MICHAEL GALLACHER

Corvallis high jumper Jane Booth is back this season, hoping to defend her Class A state title. The Blue Devils will be shooting for their fifth straight team title next month in Laurel.

Friday, April 17, 2015

2 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015

Corvallis player optimistic about Class A state tic she’ll stay strong “I’m feeling pretty confident,” said McHugh. “It’s all in my head – I get ‘match anxiety’ pretty easily. If I lose, it’s because of me.”

McHugh said to combat anxiety she does a lot of self-talk while she’s on the court.

“Instead of saying ‘I can get this serve in,’ I’ll say ‘you have to get this serve in’ and then I’ll put more pressure on myself. It’s easy to get burnt out. There was a point that I thought I hated tennis and I wanted to put my racket down but I wouldn’t be who I am without tennis and if I did put my racket down for good I’d probably be really depressed because it’s a part of who I am now.”

Mike Fehr is the CHS girls tennis coach.

“Laramie gets better and better every year,” said Fehr. “She’s a solid player; she works hard and plays all year. Tennis is what she likes to do. I find her more athletic, more fit and every aspect of her game has just been dialed up a notch.

“We’re hoping to win. There are a lot of good teams out there – we can’t take a win for granted.

“I can give several examples of Laramie being in tough matches – but to her credit she follows through. Sometimes she gets behind, but then she comes over to the fence and we talk and she gets the MICHELLE MCCONNAHA – Ravalli Republic determination to get it done. My coaching style is positive, enthusiCorvallis High School senior Laramie McHugh’s success on the court begins mentally. astic and encouraging – which I think is key to successful tennis for “It’s all in my head – I get ‘match anxiety’ pretty easily,” said McHugh. “If I lose, it’s youth.” because of me.”

McHugh said she is considering college at Gustavus Adolphus MICHELLE McCONNAHA College in St. Peter, Minnesota, or signing with St. Lawrence in Ravalli Republic Canton, New York, to play tennis for them – they have offered her CORVALLIS - Self-talk is the secret to Corvallis High School senior a $128,000 scholarship. She plans for a pre-med degree and will to Laramie McHugh’s success. study broadcast journalism with a minor in marketing, anthropology Laramie started tennis lessons in seventh grade while living in or religious studies.

Wisconsin.

“I was really bad at first,” said McHugh.

The way McHugh McCue describes it, she was not that determined to succeed until her Wisconsin coach spread the word that he thought she never would.

“Tennis tournaments are like pageants in that moms are really involved,” said McHugh. “He told the moms that he thought I would never be good at tennis or a top contender. Well, moms gossip – so it got back to my mom. That’s when I started getting really competitive at tennis. I was No. 2 in Wisconsin, then we moved to Montana and I was No. 1 in the 16s and now I’m No. 1 in the 18s.”

CHS had never won a divisional or state title in girls tennis until McHugh moved to Montana her sophomore year. They won that year and last year and are looking forward to another win. McHugh MICHELLE MCCONNAHA – Ravalli Republic said she does feel the pressure to win.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without tennis,” said McHugh. “It’s a part of who I am now.”

Class A state is Memorial Day weekend - and McHugh is optimis-

Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015 - 3

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Hard work pays off for Corvallis senior MICHELLE McCONNAHA

she said. “I take more of a liking to the middle distances, but right now I’m on it and they need me I guess.”

Corvallis High School senior Amelia Gardner enjoys running disSpencer Huls is the CHS head track coach. tances.

“Amelia has come into her own this year,” said Huls. “She’s been She runs the 800, the 1600 and the 4-by-4. buried in the depth chart the last few years. She’s very talented. She “My favorite to run is probably the 800,” said Gardner. “It’s a little had a great cross country season – was No.1 all season and worked bit faster paced and more intense. It’s hard all winter. Now she’s at the top of the easier for me to excel and improve in the state in her distances. There is a girl from mile. There is more strategy involved. It’s Columbia Falls and one from Whitefish easier to develop a new plan for the mile we’ll try to beat, but she is right there with every single time and your progress is more those girls. I’m really glad things have apparent.” worked out for her. She has worked hard She runs a mile in 5:31. Five minutes, for four years. Some people just get sucthirty-one seconds. cess, but she is not one of them – she has Gardner said her competitor from worked for it.”

Columbia Falls is ranked first for Class A Gardner ran track in middle school and and runs a mile in 5:23. said assistant cross country coach Mark “My mentality is ‘that is only eight secYoakum made her go out for cross country. onds,’ ” she said. “She’s had tougher com“I originally felt indifferent about cross petition in the Northwest where she comcountry because I didn’t know anything petes against Glacier High School competiabout it, but if he hadn’t told me to do that tors – they have some great long-distance I wouldn’t be here – where I am today - at girls. That’s not to say the competition is all. He’s the coach I’ve gotten to know the weak down here – it’s not by any means. It’s best over the last four years. He’s intense just tougher up there. She has been paced MICHELLE MCCONNAHA – Ravalli Republic in all the right ways – he is not mean just Corvallis High School senior Amelia Gardner enjoys running at a faster pace.” very driven, and he drives you to be the distances. “Amelia has come into her own this year,” said Gardner runs on the 4-by-4 team, which best you can be.”

CHS head track coach Spencer Huls. “She’s been buried in the depth chart the last few years. She’s very talented. She she said isn’t set firm at this point in the Gardner said she does feel the pressure. had a great cross country season – was No. 1 all season and season. Currently different teammates are worked hard all winter. Now she’s at the top of the state in “For the past four years we’ve won selected to run together at each meet, but her distances.” state, and it wasn’t a question of whether there should be a selection and finalization soon of who will run for we would win, it was a question of by how much. This year there’s divisional and state. at least four other teams that are incredibly competitive with us. It’s “I don’t know if it will be me or not – I’m not a sprinter-sprinter,” not that we’re not one of the favorites to win but there is more pressure to excel when it counts. This year it’s not a question of by how many points we’ll win; it’s a question of whether or not we’re going to win period. This year is actual competition – everyone has to step up and leave everything on the track and give 100 percent.

“We’re used to having lots of depth and some of our most gifted athletes have gone on to race at the collegiate level which is great but it leaves us to fill in their shoes. It’s fun. Younger kids will be stepping up – some already this year.”

Gardner plans to run cross country and track for Carroll College.

“I don’t know what I want to study yet – physical therapy or business,” she said.

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Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015 - 5

One more chance at the state title MICHELLE McCONNAHA

“I think he’s a funny and brilliant man – and an amazing coach,” said Sylvester. “I respect him a lot. He’s been around and he knows Corvallis High School senior Taylor Sylvester is fast. He’s ranked what he was doing.” second in all of Montana – including AA schools.

“Taylor is very, very talented,” said Huls. “He has been working “My PR [personal record] hard - in the last couple of for the 200 is 22.3, and my years especially. I keep watchfastest this year is 22.4 right ing and just kind of marveling now,” said Sylvester. “I’m still at how he’s got that kind of out of shape - I haven’t hit my transcendent speed where you peak. My goal is to break the look back and go ‘wow – you Class A record in the 200 and can’t really teach that’. He’s in the 100. I’m going to try to been working hard and getting break those at state.” in shape and I think by the end Sylvester sprints. of the season we’ll be able to “I compete in the 100, 200, maximize his talent and poten110 hurdles, 4-by-1, 4-by-4 tial and he’ll be able to do and open 4,” said Sylvester. some really good things.”

“I’m in track because it’s Sylvester has his eye on the been in the family for a long trophy. time and I got used to it. I “I win a lot of meets, but I love hanging out with the have not won the state title team and the coaches - they yet – that’s what is pushing me are fantastic and fun to be because I only have one more around.” chance,” he said. “I’ve come Sylvester started running close the last three years. I MICHELLE MCCONNAHA – Ravalli Republic think I’ve worked harder this in third grade and attended Corvallis High School senior Taylor Sylvester is fast. He’s ranked second in all of Montana – track for young athletes in year than all the other years including AA schools. “My goal is to break the Class A record in the 200 and in the 100,” said the state of Washington. combined. I’ve been training Sylvester. “I’m going to try to break those at state.”

“When I’m running, it’s like and doing off-season work, a whole different feeling than I’ve ever had before,” he said. “My and I only have one shot left so I can’t hold anything back. It’s mostly favorite race is the 200 meter dash. I’ve trained most of my track me versus me. career on that race.”

“I’d rather get the team trophy than the individual trophy. At the Spencer Huls is the boys’ track coach. end of the day, it’s about the Corvallis team and keeping a good name for us. We’re predicted to win, but that’s not even on our minds. We’re focusing on the meets and getting our relays together and seeing where people fit in.”

Sylvester plans to attend an in-state school for his first year and probably study radiology.

“I like helping people and being around people and trying to make them smile,” he said. “I’m a people person.

“I’ll probably redshirt and not compete, but get a feel for it at the college level and I’ll probably play football too. It’s between Good luck to all the bitterroot valley teams the Cats or Griz and then I’ll transfer. I’d like to run for the [Oregon] firstinterstate.com Ducks – that’s been my dream. Why not run for the best and com1501 N. 1st St. | Hamilton, MT | 406-375-6900 pete for the best in the world? That would be the most fun and the biggest challenge I could ever do.” for the

Ravalli Republic

6 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015

Class A track and field: Corvallis, Hamilton eye more state hardware

By BILL SPELTZ For

the

Ravalli Republic

Two Bitterroot Valley schools have been setting the standard lately in Montana Class A track and field.

Corvallis and Hamilton hauled away half of the six team trophies at the state meet last spring. They may garner just as many this season – occasionally even cheering for each other along the way.

“The kids for the most part know each other and some of them are really good friends,” Hamilton coach John Stromberg said. “You know you compete against them all the time. But it’s one of those things, in a race if our kids aren’t going to win it, we kind of root for the Corvallis kids.

“I tend to think the Corvallis coaches feel the same way. It’s a friendly rivalry. We want to beat each other but at the same time we want to see each other succeed as well.”

Needless to say, Stromberg has a lot of respect for the Blue Devils, having watched them steamroll to four straight girls’ team titles. Plus Corvallis got this whole Bitterroot track phenomenon going back in 2009 when it started a surge that netted three boys’ state team titles in four seasons.

The Blue Devils and Broncs shared state bragging rights last season.

While Corvallis rolled on the girls’ side, Hamilton edged out the Blue Devils for top honors on the boys’ side.

Judging from early results, the fun is bound to continue for both programs this season all the way up to the 22-team state meet in Laurel on May 22-23.

Girls Corvallis coach Spencer Huls says his team does not have as much depth as last season, which could present a problem come state time. The gap between the Blue Devils and teams like Dillon, Columbia Falls and Hamilton has narrowed.

That was apparent in the Gene Hughes Invitational when the Blue Devils won by a relatively slim margin over second-place Hamilton, 132-120.

“This year there’s legitimately three or four different teams that could win the whole thing, where in the past few years we’ve been the prohibitive favorite,” Huls said. “This will be a little bit of a new ball game for our girls.

“We’ll see if they can come through and really perform well when it comes down to it. It has focused us. Hopefully they will maintain that.”

The Blue Devils are led by defending state champion pole vaulter Katelyn Frost. She cleared 11 feet, 6 inches earlier this month, and Huls believes the class record of 12-3 is within reach for the senior.

Corvallis also has the defending state high jump champion in Jane Booth. She was a little banged up coming off basketball season but is capable of clearing 5-8 or even higher.

Two others who have impressed Huls early are senior sprinter Hannah Gale and senior distance runner Amelia Gardner. Corvallis also has an up-and-coming sophomore in Brookelyn Palin, who won the discus in the Gene Hughes Invitational.

The Hamilton girls are led by two-time defending state triple jump champion Annika Moore. The senior had a huge day in the Gene Hughes, winning the triple jump, long jump and 100-meter dash along with anchoring the 400 relay team to victory in 51.55.

Junior Taylor Bess has returned after missing all of the last season with an injury. She won the 100 hurdles at the Gene Hughes in 17.22. Freshman Lyric Devries will make some noise in sprints and middle distance events, Jaylee Albert is a point-scorer in field and running events and Hamilton has several capable distance runners in Kaitlin Stromberg and Jacie Schmalz.

“I think if we come together we could be a top-5 team at state,” coach Stromberg said. “We might be able to sneak in there to third place if things fall right.”

Columbia Falls coach Jamie Heinz believes he has the strongest team in the Northwestern A conference. The Wildkats are led by senior Samantha Mundel, who last year mined gold in the 3,200 and bronze in the 1,600 at state.

Senior Carla Nicosia is another athlete capable of big things for Columbia Falls. In last year’s state meet she took fourth in the triple jump, fifth in the 300 hurdles and sixth in the 100 hurdles.

Other western Montana girls likely to make their mark at state are sprinters Grace Kurtz of Whitefish and Tiara Duford of Polson, hurdler Allie Schulz of Whitefish, distance runner Sarah Latcham of Whitefish and javelin standouts Mariah Corrigan of Polson and Lacey Hochhalter of Frenchtown.

Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015 - 7

Boys Had the Corvallis 1,600 relay team finished 4/100ths of a second faster at state last season, the Blue Devils would have tied Hamilton for top team honors. This season they’re looking good to get over the hump with a star-laden squad led by Montana football recruit Jesse Sims.

“He looked really good at the Gene Hughes,” Huls said of the invitational. “He threw 52 feet in the shot put and 149 in the discus.

“He should be close to the top in the state in both of those events. He will also run on a couple relays which we’re hoping will be close to the top in the state, too.”

Huls returns a lot of the talent that guided the Blue Devils to second place at state last season. Joining Sims are sprinter/hurdler Taylor Sylvester, javelin standouts Tyler Olsen and Edward Ryan and pole vaulter Cameron Koerner.

“Our kids worked real hard in the offseason and they’ve looked good early,” Huls said. “I also think Whitefish and Hamilton, those are teams that will be in the top three, just like last year.”

Defending state champion Hamilton is led by senior middle distance runner Karill Apedaile. He won the 400 (51.20) and 800 (2:02.40) in the Gene Hughes meet last week.

Junior Cameron Meikle and senior Kole Tison have looked good for the Broncs in distance events. Other good bets to score points at state are Zach Brown (shot put/ discus), Ky Burch (triple jump/relays) and Aidan Carmody (pole vault), “Our kids that were here last year with our state championship team have really stepped up to be good leaders, getting the younger kids going,” Stromberg said.

“It really helps.”

Other western Montana boys likely to make their marks at state are defending 100 and 200 champion Gharrett Olson and high jumper Robert Jones of Frenchtown, hurdlers Daniel Pendergast of Stevensville, Keaton Grove of Whitefish and Jacob Clairmont of Polson and javelin thrower Luke May of Whitefish. Clairmont, a junior, should also contend for top honors in the long jump.

Good Luck To All of Our Bitterroot Vally Athletes!

Wishing You A Winning Season!

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Class C track preview

By AJ MAZZOLINI For

the

Ravalli Republic

Both of Class C’s state track and field champions call western Montana home. The Seeley-Swan girls broke a long title drought with their crown last May, while the Charlo boys added a fourth straight.

But with four state qualifiers graduated from that team, Charlo’s path to a fifth is a little unclear.

“I would like to be able to at least threaten,” Charlo coach Bret Thompson said. “The big thing we all understand is we just have to give ourselves a chance. We can’t talk until we get there.”

The Vikings edged Belt by 1 1/2 points last year and the Huskies have run runners-up the past two seasons.

Charlo tied with Darby the year before.

Michael Delaney leads the returning Vikings, though the junior is still rounding into shape after missing the end of football season with a broken ankle.

Delaney placed in 100-meter dash and 300 hurdles and ran in Charlo’s short relay that took state silver.

The relays, where the Vikings have thrived in recent years, are full of holes this spring, Thompson said – at least for now. His out-going seniors made up 75 percent

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8 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, April 17, 2015

of both the 400 and 1,600 relays.

“Three of them ran the short, three of them ran the long and that’s probably the big question mark,” he said. “Do we have the kids, the depth, to fill into those positions?”

Tyler Delaney, Michael’s older brother, will be especially hard to replace.

He scored in the 100, 200, 400 and ran on both relays.

Senior Dalton Delaney is the only other returning state scorer (3,200 meters), but thrower Dugan Runkel, a junior, and hurdler Jesse Long, a junior, both qualified.

Thompson sees Belt as the state favorite since the Huskies didn’t graduate any of their state scorers, but a handful of area boys return for shots at individual gold.

Darby’s Joe Caicedo is the defending champion in the javelin. Coach Steve Gideon expects a strong season from his senior as well in the discus and shot put, where Caicedo placed sixth in 2014. Fellow Tiger senior Garrett McCormack, who is splitting his spring between track and golf, has a shot to score at state in the 800, the coach added.

Hot Springs’ Tanner Hoff placed in the 110 and 300 hurdles and javelin throw last spring as a junior, but he’s coming off a substantial football injury.

Hoff tore his Achilles tendon last November and he’s only competed in the javelin this spring.

Other area state scorers as underclassmen last year included Noxon junior Bradey Wilson (1,600) and Two Eagle River senior Kamiah Payne (long jump).

The Seeley-Swan girls look strong again after winning their first State C title since 1986 last year. The 2014 group had just two seniors at state, though neither did as much scoring as Seeley’s slew of underclassmen.

Five state scorers are back and all five are still juniors or younger. The Blackhawks have only one senior on this year’s girls’ squad -- a transfer

from Utah.

Junior Paige Holmes is the biggest points scorer after top-three finishes in four state events. She won the 300-meter hurdles and took third in the 100s, then ran second in the 400 meters and helped Seeley set a Class C record in the 1,600 relay.

“I think we struggle more deciding what we’re going to put her in than she does in any event,” Seeley-Swan coach Mike Haines quipped about his standout, who also triple jumps.

The record-setting relay lost two of its legs. KeAnna Conley graduated and senior Marge Henrekin is out with health issues.

Alex Bohlman returns from that relay team as well. She placed fourth at state in the 200 and sixth in the javelin throw, an event in which teammate Mary Strumpfer finished fourth. Mary’s twin sister Cera was sixth in the pole vault.

All three are sophomores while Stephanie Robbins, the silver medalist in the 800 and 1,600, is a junior now.

Plenty of area underclassmen finished well at state last year with lots of years left in high school track.

Drummond’s Claire Fickler won the 100-meter dash as a freshman and was second in the 200. Keely Ehmann, now a senior, scored points in the 200 and 400 and junior teammate Lily Lang was top four in the 1,600 and 3,200. Both girls were on Darby’s relays as well.

Like last year, a team that could give Seeley trouble is housed in the same Western C division. West Yellowstone went to state with just two girls and still tallied 52 points to the Blackhawks’ 62.

Both Jewlz Collins, the 400 and 100 hurdles champ, and Bailee Parker, who won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, return as juniors. Even another state qualifier or two could push the Wolverines over the top this spring.

Good Luck to all Bitterroot Valley Teams Serving the Bitterroot Valley for 16 years

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