Top C-Falls sports stories of 2012

Columbia Falls High School had another successful year in sports in 2012, beginning with Shonn Roberts winning the 98-pound crown at the state Class A wrestling tournament in Billings. The MatCats as a whole took ninth place.

The boys basketball team won the Northwest Class A divisional title and took second in the state Class A tourney, losing the championship game to Dillon, 54-39.

The speech and debate team had another great year, winning divisional and state Class A titles. It was the seventh straight title for the team.

In track, the boys won the Northwest Class A crown. Senior Daniel Jones set a divisional and school record in the javelin at 202 feet, 6 inches. Runner Derrick Williams took first in the 800, 3,200 and 1,600 meter runs, and Josiah Osborne won the 200.

At the state track tourney, Williams won titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Williams went on to Carroll College and ran well as a freshman. Jones took state titles in the javelin and shot put.

In fall sports, new head football coach Jackson Schweikert led the team to a state Class A playoff berth in his first year. Schweikert previously coached the Mount Vernon, Wash., football team before moving to the Flathead Valley, where his wife Suzy has family in Kalispell. The Cats lost in the first round to the Anaconda Copperheads, 32-14. They finished the season at 4-5.

In soccer, the Wildkats took second in the state Class A finals behind Billings Central. The Lady Rams buzzed Columbia Falls 6-0 in a final on a wet sloppy home field that saw about eight inches of snow the night before. It snowed on and off during the game as well. The girls ended the season 12-2-1 and won the conference title.