Osweiler Takes Over as Starting Quarterback of Denver Broncos
Ever since he was a young, towering teenager in Kalispell, Brock Osweiler has seemed destined for big things. This year, the 25-year-old fulfilled that destiny. The former Flathead Brave, who is in his fourth year in the NFL, saw his life change dramatically overnight when the Denver Broncos called upon their backup quarterback to fill in for Peyton Manning. Entering the final weeks of the regular season, the Broncos have said this is Osweiler’s team for the near future, which includes a playoff run into 2016.
Braves Hometown Champions at State Track Meet
At only the second state track meet in Kalispell in history, the Flathead Braves achieved hometown glory and tied for the Class AA state championship with Helena in the spring. The two teams scored 83 points apiece. Glacier earned a third-place trophy with 49. The Braves won a share of their first state track championship since 2003 and eighth overall. But no doubt this was a special one as Flathead won on its home track for the first time in history. Jake Perrin won state titles in both track and cross country for the Braves.
Columbia Falls Captures First Volleyball Championship Since 1996
A year after finishing second, the Columbia Falls Wildkats dominated their way to the state title. Under new head coach Jessy Matthews, the team went 20-3 overall and claimed the program’s first championship since 1996, and only the second title ever. Columbia Falls defeated Corvallis 25-17, 25-22 and 25-15 in the finale at the Class A tournament in November.
Whitefish Unseats Champs to Win First Football Title Since 1979
On a frozen field in Beaverhead County on Nov. 21, the Whitefish Bulldogs triumphed over the Dillon Beavers 17-13 to win the Class A football state championship, capping their remarkable 11-1 season with the first title in 36 years. Built around a core group of talented seniors who have played together for years, these Bulldogs chased destiny all season, determined to claim their place in history. In front of a large crowd of Whitefish fans who made the trek, the boys achieved their dream.
Seattle Mariners Select Kalispell’s Joe Pistorese in MLB Draft
The Seattle Mariners selected Kalispell’s Joe Pistorese in the 17th round of the MLB Draft on June 10. The 2011 Flathead High School graduate earned the distinction of being drafted higher than any other player from the Flathead Valley. The left-handed pitcher was 6-0 with a 1.28 ERA at Class A Everett before being suspended 50 games after a positive drug test. He failed the test reportedly because of ADD medication.
Hill Develops into One of Nation’s Fastest Distance Runners
Annie Hill had quite a memorable year. During her freshman track season in spring, she became just the ninth high school girl in Montana history to break the 5-minute barrier in the 1,600-meter race. She clocked 4:51.35, the third fastest time on record. At the state track meet in Kalispell, Hill ran 4:48.11 but narrowly lost to Billings’ Christina Aragon, who set a new all-class record in 4:46.34. Hill went on to win the 3,200-meter state title in 10:31.54, only five seconds off Zoe Nelson’s all-class state record. This fall, the sophomore continued her blazing journey in the cross country season, winning every race and breaking the all-class state record in Great Falls, clocking 16:30.71. The fifth-ranked prep runner in the nation, she won the Nike and Foot Locker regional races before advancing to Foot Locker Nationals earlier this month. She placed 22nd.
Glacier Wins First Softball Championship
Clutch hitting. Strong defense. An ace pitcher. The Glacier Wolfpack softball team had the right recipe for championship glory. The Wolfpack defeated Missoula Big Sky 6-3 in May to win the Class AA state softball tournament in Missoula. The championship victory marked the end of a banner season and remarkable run through the state tournament that ended with a 20-3 record and the first title in the program’s history.
Valley Lacrosse Club Wins State Championship
The U15 Flathead Lacrosse team won the state championship in Billings in June. The local squad, made up of players under 15, defeated Helena 10-6 in the championship match. The Flathead Lacrosse U-13 squad earned second place in its respective division at the state tournament.
Stillwater Christian Claims State Basketball Title
The Stillwater Christian high school basketball team won the top trophy at the Montana Christian Athletic Association in Helena in February. The Cougars defeated Yellowstone County 46-39 in the championship game.
Kalispell Mountain Biker Named to Olympic Long Team
After a breakout season that included a national championship and a trip to Europe to compete for the world championship, professional mountain biker Rose Grant is among eight American women who could be chosen for the 2016 Olympic team. The 33-year-old Kalispell rider was named to the U.S. Olympic long team for women’s mountain biking in early December. Out of the eight women named to the mountain bike long team, up to two will be selected to compete at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Reilly Leads Eskimos to Grey Cup Victory
Mike Reilly, a 2003 Flathead graduate, rallied the Edmonton Eskimos past the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20 last month to win the Grey Cup, the championship of the Canadian Football League. The former Brave quarterback was named the most valuable player of the game after completing 21 of 35 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Vasquez Captures Title on the Mat
A new champion Flathead Brave has emerged on the mat. Trae Vasquez capped his brilliant freshman season last winter with a victory in the championship round of the Class AA state wrestling tournament in Billings. The title victory concluded Vasquez’s season with a 22-1 record and marked the latest state champion from one of the state’s all-time great wrestling programs. Flathead scored 112.5 points and placed sixth as a team, the best finish for the program since 2011.
Glacier 15U All-Stars Capture Regional Baseball Championship
The Glacier 15U all-stars captured the Babe Ruth Pacific Northwest Regional Championship in August and earned a bid to the World Series in Tennessee. The team, made up of players from Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Bigfork, achieved the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after another remarkable season together.