First half of 2006 includes something for everyone in terms of sports
January
January 5: The four guards - Mary Hall, Carly Hilley, Avery Vogel and Whitney Wilson - on the Bigfork Valkyrie varsity basketball team kept active despite a number of ailments, which included recovery of two torn ACLs and a broken ankle as well as a bothersome back due to a previously fractured vertebrae.
"I've never seen that many injuries together, but basketball is a physical game," Bigfork coach Nate Hammond said.
The determination of Bigfork senior Chris Richter earned him a spot on the Bigfork High School varsity basketball team, a team Richter had been cut from the previous three years.
"It shows that if you stick with it, things will eventually go your way," Bigfork coach Jim Epperly said.
January 12: The Vikings were welcomed home with a win against Thompson Falls. The Vikes had gone 0-4 in their four road games before the holiday break, but won 72-61 against the Blue Hawks.Nathan Roessmann scored 23 points in the game and Robert Walters added 14.
January 19: Both the Bigfork Vikings and Valkyries recorded wins against Whitefish and Ronan.
The Vals posted a 65-64 win against the Lady Bulldogs with a little help from senior post Breana Brendsel. Brendsel recorded an offensive rebound, basket and foul to tie the game and send it into overtime.
The Vikings also beat Whitefish by a closer margin - not as close as the Vals though. Bigfork beat the Bulldogs 58-50 for its second win in the week, moving the Vikes to 2-1 in conference action.
January 26: The Bigfork Vals lost starter and leading scorer Mary Hall to a knee injury in their game against Libby. Hall landed wrong after a layup and underwent meniscus surgery.
February
February 2: Columbia Falls' run and gun style of play met its match in a quick Bigfork team. The Vikes led 51-50 wit four minutes remaining when the Wildcats slowed things down and went on a 21-5 run to secure the 71-56 win.
The Whitefish Wave Ryder Swim Club expanded its area and team to include Bigfork area swimmers. With four Bigfork swimmers already on the team, the Wave Ryders hoped to attract more swimmers from the village. The Bigfork club would act as a sister club to the Whitefish team, practicing in Bigfork at the Montana Athletic Club.
February 9: The Bigfork basketball teams both suffered losses. The Vikings' varsity team split two games at home against Polson and Stevensville. The Vikes beat Stevi 77-61 and fell to Polson 50-71. The Vals also fell to Polson, ending their 7-0 winning streak. The Lady Pirates beat Bigfork 47-34. Bigfork came back to beat Stevensville 68-36, led by Jaylee Haveman with 16.
February 16: The Vikings won two more games to increase their win streak to three, beating both Ronan and Whitefish again. Bigfork defeated Polson 58-50 and won a close one with the Bulldogs - 59-58.
Three former Bigfork High School athletes met in competition at the University of Washington Open Nov. 3 at the Dempsey Indoor track in Seattle. Callie Gunderson, Kaci Calaway and Logan Senrud all competed at the meet for Pacific Lutheran University, Montana and Western Washington respectively.
March
March 2: The Vikings basketball team lost two games at the Northwest A basketball divisionals in Columbia Falls. Both Polson and Libby proved to be too much for the Vikes who lost to the Pirates 45-53 and to the Loggers 57-58 in overtime.
Senior Joe Wolstein sank a three-point basket to send the game into overtime, but fell to a Logger three by Jim Mee.
Bigfork's girls basketball team finished third in the Northwest A divisional tournament. The Vals, who were picked fifth in the pre-season poll, won games against Ronan and Columbia Falls but fell to the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs. Bigfork beat the Ronan Maidens twice, 52-42 and 41-33.
All the action wasn't on the basketball court at the Northwest A divisional basketball tournament. Bigfork High School cheerleader Jill Graham was injured while performing on the sideline, as a candy bar was thrown from the stands and hit her in the face. The candy bar was thrown by a Columbia Falls student who was later disciplined for their actions.
March 9: The Montana Special Olympic Games hit the slopes of Big Mountain, drawing 248 athletes and 21 teams. The games began with opening ceremonies and included alpine, cross country skiing, snowshoe and glide events.
Three Bigfork members of the Wave Ryder Swim Club qualified for the Northwest Age Group Sectional Championship in Seattle after good showings at the Montana State Championships in Missoula. Jordan Loyda, Cassie Krueger and Patrick Phattharaampornchai all qualified for the meet in Seattle.
March 16: The Bigfork High School tennis and track teams started practice with conditioning before beginning their seasons.
The tennis team was led by first-time coaches Matt Jensen and Matt Porrovecchio.
"We need to get our players developed and take care of our home matches," Porrovecchio said.
Bigfork track coach Sue Loeffler added that year-round training is necessary to be good.
Bigfork's middle school girls basketball team won the eighth-grade tournament in Kalispell. Undefeated, Bigfork beat Kalispell 62-27, Eureka 47-26 and Polson 42-35.
March 23: The faculty team beat the student team in the annual student-faculty game held St. Patrick's day. The faculty won 65-63. All proceeds from the game, sponsored by BHS' Interact chapter, went to Compassion International.
Devin Wegener was invited by People to People Sports Ambassadors to compete in its competition in Amsterdam. A freshman at BHS, Wegener joined league bowling three years ago and has been coached by Bobbye Eike all three years.
Bigfork High School basketball player and senior David Holst defended his title as slam dunk champ at the Les Schwab Shoot Out in Whitefish. Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Flathead, Stillwater Christian and Whitefish high schools all competed in the event consisting of a free-throw, three-point and slam dunk competition. Competing for Bigfork was Holst, Whitney Wilson, Carly Hilley, Robert Walters and Nathan Roessmann.
March 30: Senior Joe Wolstein started the 2006 high school tennis season with one thing on his mind - a fourth trip to the state tournament. Wolstein qualified for state the previous three years as a doubles player. At the beginning of the season, both the team's coaches and Wolstein were unsure if he'd compete in singles play or doubles.
Bigfork High School alum Ross Loeffler helped the Dickinson State track team to two top finishes. Dickinson won the 2006 DAC Indoor meet in Spearfish, S.D. and competed in the NAIA National Indoor meet in Johnson City, Tenn.
April
April 6: The Bigfork High School tennis teams started their seasons a little rocky. Both the boys and girls teams lost in their opening meets in Polson. The Pirates topped the Vikes 4-3 and the Vals 7-0.
Blacktail closed out its season April 15, after one of its best years in its short eight-year history. Final tallies of attendance numbers and season pass holders were predicted to surpass the ski area's largest attendance year to-date.
April 13: The Vikings and Valkyrie track teams did well at their own Bigfork Invitational. The Vikes finished fifth and the Vals were fourth.
The Valkyrie tennis team recorded its first win at home against Columbia Falls. The Vals beat the Kats 4-3. The Vikes also defeated Columbia Falls on the courts. Bigfork topped the Cats 5-2.
Mild weather drew golfers to the links at Eagle Bend Golf Course. Eagle Bend pro Mike Wynne said this spring's turnout was better than past years. He said he believed the good numbers were due to mild conditions and an early thaw.
April 20: Bigfork High School distance runner Brooke Andrus broke an MCHS Invitational meet record in the 800-meter run. She finished in 2:16.9, topping the record previously held by Polson's Kasey Harwood.
Bigfork track and field member Cayla Fox shined her senior year. Fox, who competed in the shot put and discus, adjusted her spin to improve her throwing her final year which helped her rise to the top of both events.
April 27: With two of their three previous meets rained out, the Vals were in action again on the tennis courts against Ronan. Bigfork beat the Maidens 5-2, while the Viking tennis team beat both Ronan and Kalispell but fell to Whitefish.
The Vals took first in six events at the Bigfork Relays. The Vikes placed in a number of events but did not take first in any.
Ravenwood Natural Science Center's Camp Corvid found a way to sneak in learning with a little bit of fun as well for one of Swan River School's fourth-grade classes.
Teacher Betty Darr signed her class up for the camp in hopes that it would build upon topics discussed in the classroom and would increase the children's curiosity and desire to learn.
"The endless mysteries of nature provides for us to create the perfect playground for learning in this way," Ravenwood director and instructor Brett Holmquist.
May
May 4: Shannon Smith was named Bigfork High School's new activities director. A first-year math teacher at BHS, Smith had previously coached football, rugby and baseball. Smith is also a native of the Flathead Valley and graduate of Flathead High School.
Brooke Andrus broke another distance record at the Top 10 track meet. She broke Townsend's Shannon Flynn's 800-meter record set in 2003.Andrus finished two seconds ahead of Flynn's record time.
Bigfork Gymnastics owners Bud and Kathy Gaiser prepared to move into a new facility after two years in its location along Hwy 35 in Bigfork. Kids ages 18 years to 16 months participate in the gymnastics program.
Bigfork high jumper Shaun Reed tied the school's record at the Stone Invitational in Frenchtown with his 6-foot 4-inch jump.
"It was a goal, but I didn't think I'd get it," Reed said. The high jump record was previously held by Ben Haugen, who graduated from BHS in 2003.
May 11: Bigfork seniors Brooke Andrus, Cayla Fox, Eric Wehrman and Shaun Reed all placed in individual events at the Archie Roe meet in Kalispell. Andrus was first in the 800, and 1,600 events. Fox was fourth in the discus with a throw of 109-7. Wehrman finished third in the 300-meter hurdles in 42.32. Reed was second in the high jump with 6-2.
Five BHS seniors were named Eagle Bend Jr. Golf Association Scholarship winners. Included in the scholarship recipients were C.R. Leisinger, Chris Richter, Chance Keller, Jonathan Thompson and Paula Trembath. The students received a combined total of $10,000.
The Valkyrie tennis team split its matches with conference foes Libby and Polson. The Vals topped Libby 5-2, but fell to Polson 1-6. Whitefish also beat the Vals 6-1 before Bigfork defeated Cutbank 4-3.
The boys tennis team had similar results on the courts, beating Libby 4-3 and dropping its meet with Polson 1-6. The Vikes were defeated by Whitefish 4-3 and beat Cutbank 4-3.
May 18: "It's an area my horses won't have to mow," Stage Ridge Inc. owner Joe Pastor said about the land he leased to the Bigfork School District. The district leased the land to create a practice field for BHS sports teams. The new practice field measures 220-by-300 feet. Work on the field was completed by Sandry Construction, owned by Mark Sandry.
Brittany Hall was the big winner for the Vals at the ABC meet in Polson. She finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles and second in the 300-meter hurdles.
The Viking tennis team finished strong with a win against Libby and a close loss to St. Ignatius. The Vikes beat Libby 5-2 and lost to St. Ignatius 3-4.
May 25: The Bigfork High School boys track team qualified for six events at divisionals in Polson. Andrew Whittaker, Chad Edwards, Eric Wehrman and Shaun Reed placed first in the 400-meter relay.
"I ran all the way across the field cheering (after his leg of the relay)," Wehrman said. "I didn't know we would win it. It was pretty even around the last turn, but Andrew pulled out of the crowd."
The Bigfork doubles team of Joe Wolstein and Owen Roberts claimed the championship at the Northwest A divisionals in Kalispell. Wolstein was happy with the results. He said his and Roberts' play in divisionals seeded them well for state.
"We played solid. I'm anxious. I want to do really good," Wolstein said.
Bigfork singles player Trisha Smith also qualified for the state tournament. Teammate Breanna Hughes just missed qualifying after losing her first round match and working back through the consolation bracket.
June
June 1: Owen Roberts and Joe Wolstein finished the Class A state tennis tournament in second place. Bigfork finished the tournament with 13 points and the doubles team ended the season with a 20-1 record.
Brooke Andrus finished her prep career with a stellar performance at the Class A state track meet. Andrus repeated as champ in three events - the 800-, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
". . . six gold medals in two years is not too bad," she said.
Trisha Smith ended her tennis season in sixth place at the Class A state tennis meet. Smith won her first match 6-1, 6-1, lost her second 6-1, 6-1 and came back to win the third match 6-1, 6-2. Smith's final match went into three sets. She lost 3-6, 6-4, 4-7.
June 8: Bigfork racer Dan DeMars raced in another season at Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, competing in the compact car division. DeMars races a 1974 Pinto that he and his crew members - Jerry Mortsen, Joe Moonen, Rory Cotnam, Chris Grilley and Trent Mortsen - try to keep in top shape despite crashes and occasional mechanical problems.
Bigfork High School held its second-annual All Sports Banquet in the high school gym. Among those honored were Brooke Andrus, Breana Brendsel, Caitlin Roberson, Mike, Bobbi and Joe Wolstein, Claude and Cathy Boiteau, Jamie Morgenstern, Amy Kuhn, Mary Hall, Cody King, Yvonne Peck, Paul Wallin and Cameron Clayton.
June 15: Bill and Sarita McKnight's dog Ham qualified for the American Kennel Club's National Amateur Retriever Field Trial National Championship in Klamath Falls, Ore. June 18-24. Ham, a 3-year old female yellow lab, is unique to the competition. It is usually older, male black labs that place high and win in the National Championship.
Bigfork and Ferndale residents found some unique ways to raise money for those in need.
Jamie Morgenstern began training for the Chicago Marathon in part with the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. The program helps raise money for AIDS research.
Ken and Lisa Campbell of Ferndale took to two wheels rather than their own two feet to raise money for Camp Mak-A-Dream. The couple participated in the Ride Around the Pioneers in One Day bike ride. The 157-mile ride began and ended in Dillon June 24.
June 22: Ten-year old Katya Snyder is well on her way to her goal of being a famous tennis player. Even though Snyder frequently plays older competitors she continues to win and place in junior tournaments across the northwest. She sees playing older opponents as way to improve her game.
The 13th annual Fishing Without Barriers went off without a hitch on Flathead Lake June 15, well there was one hitch - the constant rain that fell all day.
"Not all the anglers showed up because of the poor conditions," Fish, Wildlife and Parks Regional Fisheries Manager Jim Vashro said. Those that did attend found some success and enjoyed food, refreshments and music with family and friends.
June 29: Former members of the Bigfork Booster Club had a hard time letting go of one very important project. Kathy Boiteau, Patty and Vernon Smith and Bobbie Wolstein continued to work hard to get a new concession stand and rest room facility built at the BHS track complex. The complex previously received new bleachers, lights and all-weather track. The concession stand and rest rooms mark the last stage in the project.
Bird lovers, whether members of the Flathead Audubon or not, enjoyed a morning of bird watching around the Flathead. The trip is just one of many that the society offers throughout the year. The trip allowed the bird lovers to listen and test their song recognition abilities and learn about new types of birds and watch familiar and favorite ones as well.
Two Bigfork basketball teams competed in the Spokane Hoopfest June 24-25. Logan Lamm, Tyler Kirby, Austin Jordt, Caleb Cannaday, Evan Jordt, Keeten Jordt, Mike Van Arendonk and Travis Ozegovich all competed in the event.