Nathan Riley
SCHOOL | Columbia Falls
CLASS | Senior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 5’8’’
STATS | Northwestern A first team all-conference, 13 points per game
Challenging times can illuminate someone’s character, and this season’s troubles shined a light on Nathan as a standout leader on and off the court. While Columbia Falls suffered a rare losing season, Nathan worked to keep his teammates inspired and banded together through thick and thin. “A leader is someone who is strong, honest and works very hard, and who has good character,” he says. In only his second year as a varsity player, Nathan averaged over 13 points per game, most on the team, and scored a season-high 20 against Whitefish. He picked up first-team all conference honors, accolades he earned the hard way.
Hailee Bennett
SCHOOL | Glacier
CLASS | Senior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 5’7”
STATS | Class AA all-state, 15 points per game, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
A natural-born leader, Hailee ended her standout prep career with another Class AA all-state season for Glacier. The Wolfpack’s multitalented point guard averaged over 15 points per game, four assists and four rebounds, one of the best all-around statistical seasons in the state. She led Glacier in scoring in 17 of the team’s 21 games. Although the Pack missed out on the playoffs this season, Glacier is now a perennial playoff contender thanks to players like Hailee, Taylor Salonen and others who helped build a strong foundation. Hailee said she learned her leadership skills from her father, Grady, a coach and teacher at Glacier. Being a good leader means “setting a good example and working hard,” she says. “It came natural to me. Coming in as a freshman, it was hard but each year as I got older, my role increased.” Now she’s taking her leaderships skills to Seattle Pacific where she will keep playing.
Matt Marshall
SCHOOL | Flathead
CLASS | Senior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 6’0’’
STATS | Western AA honorable mention, 11 points per game
When new head coach Ross Gustafson took over the Flathead boys basketball team barely a month before the season, he relied heavily on his veteran leaders, including Matt, to keep the program focused on making progress. The sharp-shooting senior answered the call, averaging nearly 11 points per game and was named Western AA honorable mention. Matt scored a team-high 21 points against eventual state runner-up Bozeman and hit a season-high 22 against the talented Class A Polson Pirates. The Braves finished the season 7-14 overall and missed out on the state tournament, but Matt remains proud of the time he spent on the court wearing a Flathead jersey as a three-year varsity player. “It was challenging this season but we made the best of it,” he says.
Dani Douglas
SCHOOL | Whitefish
CLASS | Sophomore
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 5’4’’
STATS | Northwestern A second team all-conference, 15 points per game
Since moving to Whitefish two years ago, Dani has become a familiar name on the basketball court for the Lady Bulldogs. The sophomore guard enjoyed a breakout season this winter, averaging over 15 points per game and guiding Whitefish to its most wins (seven) since the 2009-10 season. In the Western A divisional tournament, she scored 18 against Dillon and then 23 against Stevensville. Her efforts earned her second-team Northwestern A honors. Whitefish missed out on the state tournament, a fact that Dani is using as motivation this offseason as the girls work to rebuild the basketball program in a state contender.
Adam Jordt
SCHOOL | Bigfork
CLASS | Senior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 5’11”
STATS | Class B all-state, 12 points per game
In the last three seasons, the Bigfork boys basketball team was 72-6 overall. It takes a lot of variables to add up to something that remarkable, and Adam has certainly been a key part of the Vikings’ equation. This winter the multi-sport standout shined one last time as one of the Vikes’ veteran leaders alongside fellow seniors Jonathan Landon, Joseph Potkonjak and George Gibson, among other talented Bigfork players. Adam and Jonathan each earned all-state while Joseph and George were selected as second-team all conference. Bigfork’s remarkable season ended in the state title game, just shy of another trophy as Choteau capped its perfect season with a 67-59 win. Yet Bigfork came home holding its head high with a runner-up trophy and a 24-2 overall record. Adam scored a team-high 18 points in his final prep basketball game, ending a memorable run with a final few highlights.
Tiana Johnson
SCHOOL | Flathead
CLASS | Junior
POSITION | Wing
HEIGHT | 6’1”
STATS | Western AA second team, 14 points per game, 6 rebounds
One of the best all-around athletes in Montana, Tiana turned in another standout basketball season for the Flathead Bravettes. The versatile wing averaged 14 points per game and 6 rebounds, earning second team Western AA honors. She was Flathead’s leading scorer in all but two of the team’s 21 games, and scored a season-high 23 points against Helena. The team finished 4-17 overall and missed out on the state tournament, but instead of being discouraged, Tiana said she is using this season as a learning experience and motivation for work in the offseason to improve next year. “I set myself to a high standard,” she says. She is now playing with a talented AAU team based out of Coeur d’Alene with the goal of earning attention from top college basketball programs.
Derek Kastella
SCHOOL | Whitefish
CLASS | Junior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 6’1’’
STATS | Class A all-state, 14 points per game
There’s a long line of talented basketball players in the Kastella family. Derek’s grandfather, Steve, was an All-American sharp-shooter for Whitefish, and Derek’s father, Davin, and mother, Kate, were also standout players on the hardwood. Now it’s Derek’s turn. In his first year as a full-time varsity starter, the junior shooting guard had a breakout season, averaging over 14 points per game and earning Class A all-state honors. He scored a season-high 24 against Corvallis and helped Whitefish defeat Columbia Falls on the road with 19 points and had 17 at home to complete a rare season sweep of the Bulldogs’ rivals. Whitefish ended the season 7-14 overall. “I’m ready to start preparing for next season,” he says. “I’m super excited. We’re going to bring the winning tradition back to Whitefish.”
Mattison McAnally
SCHOOL | Bigfork
CLASS | Senior
POSITION | Guard
HEIGHT | 5’5’’
STATS | Western B first team, 11 points per game
Whether it’s in the classroom games or on the court, Mattison is hyper competitive. The speedy point guard has used that competitive nature to her advantage these past four years while playing basketball for Bigfork. As the team’s starter, she has been the glue that helped bind the Valkyries and turn the team into a state contender. This season she helped guide the Vals to a district championship and 19-5 overall record, a year after the girls were 19-6 overall. Against Thompson Falls she recorded a triple double and her season high scoring total was 17. She picked up first-team Western B honors while teammates Miranda Campbell and Lana Berg were named Class B all-state.
Isaac Neumann
SCHOOL | Stillwater Christian
CLASS | Junior
POSITION | Wing
HEIGHT | 6’3’’
STATS | MCAA State Tournament MVP, 21 points per game
Stillwater Christian has a rich tradition of standout basketball players. Meet the latest all-time great Cougar. With the ability to shoot lights out or throw down a slam dunk, Isaac showcased his versatility this season as the reigning state tournament MVP in the Montana Christian Athletic Association. He shot nearly 60 percent from the field and averaged 21 points per game, leading Stillwater to a 21-2 overall record. The team’s only two losses came against Glacier and Flathead’s Class AA JV teams. At the MCAA state tournament, Isaac led by example once again and guided the Cougars to a 82-57 win over Gallatin Valley in the title game. He scored 22 points in the chipper and was named MVP of the tournament once again.
Kiara Burlage
SCHOOL | Columbia Falls
CLASS | Junior
POSITION | Forward
HEIGHT | 6’0’’
STATS | Class A all-state, 15 points per game, 9 rebounds
Kiara and the Wildkats put together another historic season that concluded with a runner-up state tournament trophy and a 21-3 overall record. Columbia Falls finished in the top three at state in as many years and brought home a second-place trophy for the first time since 1986. Kiara was one of three Kats to earn Class A all-state honors along with fellow juniors Cydney Finberg and Peyton Kehr. As the team’s talented forward, Kiara led the girls in scoring with over 15 points per game and nearly nine rebounds. Against Class AA opponent Glacier, Kiara had a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds and led the Kats to a 56-47 victory. “(Coach Cary Finberg) tells us just to compete and be scrappy,” she says. “We all bonded together and that helps in the games.” Look for this group of girls to keep up its title pursuit again next season.
Colton Babcock
SCHOOL | Columbia Falls
CLASS | Junior
STATS | State champion 50 freestyle & 100 freestyle | Third place 400 freestyle relay
Growing up, as early as he can remember Colton loved to swim. He competed for club teams and developed into a state standout, but when he arrived at Columbia Falls High School, he was afraid he wouldn’t get to represent his school in the pool because there wasn’t a team. With the enthusiasm and support of Colton and others, the school added a swim program last year. And after only two seasons, they’ve already made their school and hometown proud. Colton won a pair of individual state championships this winter and guided the Columbia Falls boys team to its first title. Babcock won the boys 50 freestyle in 21.95 and the 100 freestyle in 46.91. The boys team trailed Billings Central by one point entering the final competition at state, the 400 freestyle relay. Columbia Falls — Babcock, Zayne Friar, Sage Wanner and Jacob Hohman — set a school record, taking third in 3:33.31.
AJ Popp
SCHOOL | Glacier
CLASS | Freshman
STATS | Third place 500 freestyle | Fourth place 200 IM | Fourth place 200 freestyle relay | Third place 200 freestyle relay
AJ swam every event in the pool this winter and excelled just about every stroke of the way. Only 13 years old, the freshman phenom rewrote every single individual swimming record at Glacier High School. This winter she swam the 200 freestyle in 1:59.21; the 200 IM in 2:13.47; the 50 freestyle in 24.50; the 100 butterfly in 1:02.08; the 100 freestyle in 55.21; the 500 freestyle in 5:22.94; the 100 backstroke in 1:00.21; and the 100 breastroke in 1:14.67. She also led the relays to school records; the 200 freestyle relay hit 1:44.22 and the 400 freestyle relay swam 3:49.28. At the state swim meet, she was her normal calm self and brought home a pair of individual all-state medals and another pair of relay medals. She continues to swim year-round with the goal of adding many more medals and records to her resume.
Mason Fetters
SCHOOL | Columbia Falls
CLASS | Junior
STATS | Class A second place 145 pounds
Growing up in Cut Bank, Mason came from a wrestling family. When he moved to Columbia Falls at 6, he was happy to find out he’d transferred from one community with a strong grappling pedigree to another. This past offseason, he was fiercely driven to improve on his previous success, which included a fourth-place state wrestling medal as a freshman. The hard work paid off and he cruised through the season, going 14-3 in his matches. At the state meet, he squared off against one of the best wrestlers pound for pound in Montana, Belgrade’s Jarrett Degen. Mason came away with his best finish ever. “It was something I thought I could achieve if I worked hard,” he says. “And the hard work was definitely worth it.”
Trae Vasquez
SCHOOL | Flathead
CLASS | Sophomore
STATS | Class AA state champion 120 pounds
On an average weekday, Trae wakes up around 6 a.m. and lifts weights and runs before school starts at 8:15 a.m. During his lunch break, he gets in a quick cardio workout in the school gym, and then after school goes to Flathead’s wrestling practice. Oftentimes he stays afterward to help younger grapplers or work on a few techniques with his father, Rich, the Braves’ head coach. This unrivaled regime helps explain how Trae has become one of the best wrestlers in America. He’s also fiercely motivated to be the best, something he’s already achieved in Montana. This winter, wrestling at 120 pounds, he went undefeated in 41 matches and captured the state championship, his second in a row. The reigning All-American wrestler is now competing in national tournaments seeking greater success before returning home to lead the Braves after a team title. “It really makes me feel good knowing no one else works as hard as I do,” he says. “Being the best is really motivating. That keeps pushing me.”
More Stars
Boys Basketball
Jonathan Landon, Bigfork, Senior, Class B All State
George Gibson, Bigfork, Senior, District 7B Second Team
Joseph Potkonjak, Bigfork, Senior, District 7B Second Team
Jacob Henry, Whitefish, Sophomore, Northwestern A Second Team
Luke May, Whitefish, Senior, Northwestern A Second Team
Noah Lindsay, Glacier, Junior, Western AA Honorable Mention
Girls Basketball
Taylor Salonen, Glacier, Senior, Western AA Second Team
Nikki Krueger, Glacier, Junior, Western AA Honorable Mention
Lana Berg, Bigfork, Senior, Class B All State
Miranda Campbell, Bigfork, Senior, Class B All State
Katie Thomas, Bigfork, Senior, District 7B Second Team
Cydney Finberg, Columbia Falls, Junior, Class A All State
Peyton Kehr, Columbia Falls, Junior, Class A All State
Ellie Johnson, Columbia Falls, Senior Northwestern A First Team
Coral Schulz, Whitefish, Senior, Northwestern A Second Team
Wrestling
Class AA
Hunter Rush, Flathead, Junior, Second Place 103 Pounds
Tucker Nadau, Flathead, Sophomore, Fifth Place 160 Pounds
Matt Gash-Gilder, Flathead, Junior, Fifth Place 170 Pounds
Logan Wilson, Flathead, Senior, Fifth Place 182Pounds
Michael Lee, Flathead, Sophomore, Fifth Place 285 Pounds
Payton Boyce, Flathead, Senior, Sixth Place 205 Pounds
Cody Devall, Flathead, Junior, Sixth Place 113 Pounds
Class A
Ben Windauer, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Third Place 126 Pounds
Hunter Peterson, Columbia Falls, Junior, Fourth Place 132 Pounds
Storm Kemppainen, Columbia Falls, Junior, Fifth Place170 Pounds
Winfield West, Columbia Falls, Junior, Fifth Place 113 Pounds
Colten McPhee, Columbia Falls, Freshman, Sixth Place 160 Pounds
Steven Quimby, Whitefish, Senior, Fifth Place 285 Pounds
Konrad Zinke, Whitefish, Senior, Sixth Place 170 Pounds
Boys Swimming
Zayne Friar, Columbia Falls, Junior, Fifth Place 100 Butterfly / Eighth Place 200 Freestyle / Third Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Sage Wanner, Columbia Falls, Junior, Third Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Jacob Hohman, Columbia Falls, Sophomore, Third Place 400 Freestyle Relay / 12th Place 100 Freestyle
Nate Burnham, Glacier, Junior, Third Place 500 Freestyle / Fourth Place 200 Freestyle / 400 Freestyle Relay
Anthony Clason, Glacier, Freshman, Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay / Third Place 100 Breastroke / Seventh Place 200 Intermediate
Keegan Mackenstadt, Glacier, Sophomore, Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Jon deHoop, Glacier, Freshman, Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Girls Swimming
Olivia Gibson, Glacier, Sophomore, Fourth Place 50 Freestyle / 100 Butterfly / Third Place 200 Freestyle Relay / Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Lauren Harmon, Glacier, Sophomore, Third Place 200 Freestyle Relay
Emma Hornby, Glacier, Senior, Third Place 200 Freestyle Relay / Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay
Malea Bauer, Glacier, Freshman, Fourth Place 400 Freestyle Relay