Cydney & Ciera Finberg
SCHOOL: Columbia Falls
CLASS: Sophomore | Senior
POSITIONS: Guard | Guard
HEIGHTS: 5’11’’ | 5’8’’
STATS: Northwestern A First Team, 7.2 points per game, 3.1 rebounds | Class A All State, 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds
Tight-knit teams can sometimes feel like a family. That was especially true in Columbia Falls this season as the Finberg sisters, Cydney and Ciera, led the well-rounded Wildkats through another thrilling season. Alongside a group of close friends and teammates, the sisters steamrolled opponents, averaging 64 points per game as a team and limiting opposing teams to 32 ppg. The girls captured their second Northwestern A divisional trophy and battled back after losing their opening-round game at the state tournament to claim third place for the second year in a row. They finished the season 22-2. It was bittersweet for the sisters, who played together one last time in front of their head coach father, Cary, and friends and family. “I had an opportunity to play for and with so many people I love,” says Ciera.
Isaac Martel
SCHOOL: Bigfork
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6’1’’
STATS: Western 7B First Team, 12.5 points per game, 4.5 assists
Isaac and the Bigfork Vikings pulled off an impressive sequel to last year’s undefeated championship season. The Vikes rolled through the regular season with a 19-1 record and captured yet another District 7B title — Isaac scored a team-high 16 points in the deciding game. At the Class B state tournament, Bigfork fell just shy of the title game, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion, Choteau. But it was still another hallmark year for the powerful program, which transitioned smoothly under new head coach Sam Tudor. Isaac provided consistency and leadership as the team’s veteran point guard. He scored a season-high 22 points against Class A state qualifier Polson at the Tip-Off tournament. This spring he’ll be competing on the tennis courts and hopes to play college basketball next year.
Ty Morgan
SCHOOL: Columbia Falls
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 5’11’’
STATS: Class A All State, 18 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 steals
One of the best all-around athletes in the state, Ty will graduate from Columbia Falls with quite the list of accomplishments. The Wildcat senior transitioned from football to basketball without missing a beat, scoring 25 points in the first game of the season against Corvallis and guiding Columbia Falls through another remarkable winter. He had 25 in three quarters against Whitefish. But likely nothing better reflected Ty’s abilities than the state tournament game against Belgrade. With the game tied with 1.4 seconds left in a loser-out contest, he nailed a pair of free throws to keep the Wildcats’ season alive. Columbia Falls went on to claim third place in a tight game with Billings Central. Ty scored the team’s final seven points in the low-scoring 34-30 affair. The Wildcats have finished third or better every year since 2009.
Tiana Johnson
SCHOOL: Flathead
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6’1’’
STATS: Western AA Second Team, 10.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds
Last month’s Les Schwab Shootout became a spectacular showcase of Tiana’s talent. Flathead’s skilled sophomore scored 34 points in the free throw and 3-point contests, the most of any athlete from around the valley. She nailed an eye-opening 17 3-pointers. The memorable performance reaffirmed what fans knew all season, that she’s an exceptional, burgeoning player. It helped growing up with three older sisters who were good athletes and taught Tiana how to hold her own in various sports. In her first full season as a starter for the Bravettes, Tiana scored 21 points against the top team in the state, Helena Capital, and netted 16 in back-to-back games against Missoula Big Sky and Sentinel. Her goal is to help rebuild Flathead into a state qualifier while garnering attention from college programs.
AJ Wetsch
SCHOOL: Whitefish
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6’4’’
STATS: Northwestern A Second Team, 11.1 points per game, 4 rebounds
A multi-sport athlete, AJ returned from an injury to help guide the Bulldogs in his first full season as a starter. He tallied 27 points against Anaconda in the Tip-Off Tournament and became a talented leader for new head coach Curtis Green. AJ averaged over 11 points per game, sixth most in the Northwestern A conference. He picked up postseason honors alongside teammate Cody Olson, another standout senior. While the Bulldogs continue to rebuild, AJ’s attention is now focused on baseball. He is an ace for the Glacier Twins and last season pitched the team to a state title. He tossed a no-hitter through six innings in the title game against Laurel. His talents are garnering the attention of college baseball teams throughout the region.
Katie Wiley
SCHOOL: Glacier
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6’0’’
STATS: Western AA Second Team, 7.2 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Four years ago, Katie was a freshman on the first Glacier girls basketball team that qualified for the Class AA state tournament. This winter she was on the first team to bring home a state trophy. After falling in the opening round, the Pack bounced back to win three consecutive loser-out games, including a rousing victory over Missoula Sentinel, the three-time reigning state champion. Glacier trailed 26-12 at halftime in that game, but the girls never gave up and won 49-48. Later that day, playing their fourth game in three days, Glacier topped Billings Senior to claim third place and finish the season with the program’s best overall record, 20-5. “There were no celebrations like that one,” says Katie, who became the first Glacier girl to play on all four state tournament teams. She plans to play volleyball at Montana Tech next year.
Matt Marshall
SCHOOL: Flathead
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 5’10’’
STATS: Western AA Honorable Mention, 11.3 points per game, 3.6 assists
Flathead and Great Falls C.M. Russell were tied 64-all with less than one second remaining when Matt stepped to the free throw line. In his first full season as a starter, the junior guard showed poise under pressure, sinking the game-winning free throw. He finished with 22 points that night, one shy of his season-high 23 against Coeur d’Alene. Head coach Fred Febach lost all five of his starters from the previous season but Matt quickly developed into a sharp-shooting leader for the Braves this winter. Growing up in the Flathead Valley, Matt first started playing in fifth grade at Fair-Mont-Egan. He had a natural shot from an early age and before this winter he spent a couple days a week in the gym practicing. The hard work paid off, and now Matt and his other teammates are motivated to prepare for next season with the goal of qualifying for the state tournament.
Jaxen Hashley
SCHOOL: Glacier
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6’4’’
STATS: Class AA All State, 10.8 points per game, 9.5 rebounds
Growing up in the Hashley family means growing up on a basketball court. Jaxen’s father, Doug, is a member of the Montana State University Hall of Fame and Jaxen’s three older sisters were all standouts in Kalispell. “I always wanted to be like my dad,” Jaxen says. The Glacier sophomore developed his own skills by playing against his talented older sisters and now he has emerged as the family’s latest standout on the hardwood. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons he grew over 3 inches, and his size proved powerful for the Glacier Wolfpack this winter. He led the team in scoring in nine games and notched a season-high 19 points against Whitefish. Now he’s working hard in the offseason with next year in mind, when he wants to lead the Pack to the state tournament.
Lana Berg
SCHOOL: Bigfork
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 5’10’’
STATS: Class B All State, 14.9 points per game
Basketball has been Lana’s favorite sport since third grade. And after moving to Bigfork her freshman year, she was happy to find out she had landed in a true basketball town. As a powerful junior, Lana led the Valkyries through a successful season that included district and divisional championships and the first state tournament appearance since 2012. Lana scored a season-high 25 points against Thompson Falls and became a go-to leader for new head coach Jami Grende. The well-rounded Vals finished with a 19-6 record. “We really pulled through divisionals and districts. We took it and ran with it,” Lana says. “The experience of playing at state was surreal.” The girls are motivated to be back next year but this time come home carrying hardware. The odds are looking good considering Lana will be one of four returning starters.
James Bouda
SCHOOL: Glacier
CLASS: Freshman
STATS: All State Second Place 100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle
James has swam since he could walk, and his underwater skills showed themselves this season. Only a freshman, he held his own against some of the top swimmers in the state, placing in the top three at several competitions. At the state meet, he finished runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle, barely one second behind the winner. He also earned second place in the 100-yard backstroke, a challenging event that demands endurance and skill. With one season under his belt, James is motivated to keep training and chase school records next season and bring home more state medals. His overall goal is to someday compete in college. But first he has his sights set on dominating the high school pools.
Olivia Gibson
SCHOOL: Glacier
CLASS: Freshman
STATS: All State Fifth Place 500 Freestyle, Third Place 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, Fourth Place 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
A passion for being in the pool developed into a successful freshman season for Olivia, who was one of the valley’s best all-around swimmers this winter. Competing in just about every event in the pool, she came close to breaking impressive school records in the 100 fly, 200 IM and 500 freestyle. At the state swim meet, she brought home an individual state medal in the 500-yard freestyle, one of the hardest endurance races of the meet, and helped the Wolfpack relay team bring home medals in the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle. This season she dropped 6 seconds off her best 100 fly time, and next season’s goal is to continue lowering her times with school records in mind.
Trae Vasquez
SCHOOL: Flathead
CLASS: Freshman
STATS: Class AA State Champion 113 pounds
The name Trae Vasquez is already a familiar one in Montana wrestling circles. It’s about to become well known on the national ranks as well. The Flathead freshman burst onto the scene this winter as a grappling prodigy resembling the great Brave wrestlers before him. Under the tutelage of his father, Rich, who was a standout prep wrestler for Columbia Falls, Trae went 38-2 in competitions this season and captured the Class AA state championship in the 113-pound division. “I wanted to show the state what I got,” he says, looking back on his dominating performance at the all-class state tournament. He hasn’t stopped yet, and continues to wrestle at meets across the country. He recently went 8-0 at the National Duals in Iowa, earning All-American status. His next big challenge will be in Akron, Ohio where he will compete at the U.S. World Team Trials in late May to try and earn a spot on Team USA.
Shonn Roberts
SCHOOL: Columbia Falls
CLASS: Senior
STATS: Class A Runner-Up 138 pounds
Over the last four years, Shonn developed into one of the all-time great Mat Cats, winning three Class A state championships and breaking numerous school records. A year after going 40-0 in the 126-pound division, he moved up to 138 pounds and powered through his final campaign in dominating fashion. He dropped his first match in two years after Belgrade’s Jarrett Degen defeated him in the finals of the CMR Holiday Classic, and his only other loss in the regular season was a narrow one against a Washington wrestler at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic. Shonn entered the state tournament with a 36-2 record and fell just short of winning his fourth consecutive state championship, losing to Degen late in the finals match. The ending might not have been what he hoped for, but his career was still a brilliant one. He also helped the Mat Cats place third as a team yet again. He will keep wrestling next year at the University of Great Falls, which has one of the top NAIA wrestling programs.
More Stars
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class AA
Sam McCamley, Glacier, Senior, Western AA Honorable Mention
Class A
Grant Wallace, Columbia Falls, Junior, All State
Jayce Fagerland, Columbia Falls, Senior, First Team Northwestern A
Grant Stenger, Columbia Falls, Senior, Second Team Northwestern A
Cody Olson, Whitefish, Senior, Second Team Northwestern A
Trevor Houston, Columbia Falls, Senior, Honorable Mention Northwestern A
Class B
Josh Sandry, Bigfork, Senior, All State
Jonathan Landon, Bigfork, Junior, First Team Western 7B
Ryder Trent, Bigfork, Senior, Second Team Western 7B
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class AA
Hailee Bennett, Glacier, Junior, All State
Taylor Salonen, Glacier, Junior, Honorable Mention Western AA
Class A
Winter Kemppainen, Columbia Falls, Senior, All State
Ellie Johnson, Columbia Falls, Junior, First Team Northwestern A
Kiera Burlage, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Second Team Northwestern A
Peyton Kehr, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Second Team Northwestern A
Sydney Grilley, Columbia Falls, Junior, Honorable Mention Northwestern A
Dani Douglas, Whitefish, Freshman, Honorable Mention Northwestern A
Class B
Mattison McAnally, Bigfork, Junior, First Team Western 7B
Miranda Campbell, Bigfork, Junior, Second Team Western 7B
Marissa Hiza, Bigfork, Senior, Second Team Western 7B
WRESTLING
Class AA
Dyan Guzman, Flathead, Senior, Fourth Place 126 pounds
Payton Hume, Flathead, Freshman, Fourth Place 132 pounds
Logan Wilson, Flathead, Junior, Fourth Place 182 pounds
Matt Gash-Gilder, Flathead, Sophomore, Sixth Place 170 pounds
Justin Gibson, Glacier, Sophomore, Fourth Place 103 pounds
Cody Decker, Glacier, Senior, Sixth Place 138 pounds
Quinn Barber, Glacier, Senior, Fourth Place 152 pounds
Class A
Haze Bell, Columbia Falls, Senior, Second Place 126 pounds
Kaleb Gravelin, Columbia Falls, Junior, Second Place 132 pounds
Spencer Ross, Columbia Falls, Senior, Third Place 285 pounds
Colton Gove, Columbia Falls, Senior, Third Place 145 pounds
Judah Prestegaard, Whitefish, Senior, Fifth Place 160 pounds
Storm Kemppainen, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Sixth Place 160 pounds
SWIMMING
BOYS
Colton Babcock, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Second Place 200 freestyle/ Third Place 500 freestyle
Zayne Friar, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Fourth Place 100 Butterfly
GIRLS
Emma Hornby, Glacier, Junior, Third Place 200 Freestyle Relay / Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Lauren Harmon, Glacier, Freshman, Third Place 200 Freestyle Relay
Bailey Smith, Glacier, Sophomore, Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay