Page 61 - Flathead Beacon // 10.5.16

MONTANA SIDELINES
A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SPORTS NEWS
Libby’s Johnston Commits to Arizona State
Ryggs Johnston, a highly touted state champion and sophomore at Libby High School, has verbally committed to play golf at Arizona State University.
Johnston announced the decision on Twitter.
The 16-year-old set a new Class B state record last spring as a freshman, carding 68-63 — 131 on the Johnny Walker Course at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, and he frequently competes in elite national tournaments. Last summer, he tied for fth overall at the Junior America’s Cup in Mexico against many of the top ama- teur golfers in North America. He was the fourth-best golfer from the U.S. and nished only three strokes out of second place and ve out of rst.
Last June, as Johnston was on his way to shooting a tournament-low 6-under 66 on the nal day of the Western Junior Championship in Royal Park, Michigan to nish third overall, Yahoo! Sports National Columnist Dan Wetzel wrote about the herd of top college coaches fol- lowing this wonder kid from Northwest Montana, who “is probably the top rated uncommitted player out there.”
At the time, Johnston told the Beacon he had already received full-ride scholar- ship o ers from UNLV, Arizona, Michi- gan and Oregon, the reigning Division I national championship program.
White sh Girls, Polson Boys Take Second at State Golf
The White sh High School girls golf team, led by Gracie Young, placed sec- ond as a team while the Polson boys, led by Carson McDaniel, also brought home a runner-up trophy last weekend.
White sh tallied a team score of 761 to place second behind Sidney, 740. Lew- istown was third, 788.
At the Hamilton Golf Club, Young placed eighth, carding 92-89 — 181, and teammate Holly Hileman took ninth, 93-90 — 183. Hayley Hileman was 11th, 89-97—186. Paige Sproul was 27th, 112- 99 — 211.
Glendive’s Breilyn Riggin won the individual title, 83-90 — 163.
On the boys side, Polson’s McDaniel tied for third after shooting 79-78 — 157. Polson tallied a team score of 651. Hamil- ton won on its home course with 637. Lau- rel was third, 656.
White sh’s Brendan Buls tied for 11th, 82-80 — 162.
Polson’s Matt Hobbs tied for ninth, 81-80 — 161. Trey Kelley tied for 11th, 81-81— 162.
Max Toenjes of Hamilton won the individual title, 69-75 — 144.
At the Class AA state tournament in Billings, Glacier’s McKenna Tinseth tied for 12th, 90-81 — 171. The Bozeman girls, led by individual champion Meggie
Delaney, claimed the team title with a score of 641. Delaney shot 76-82 — 158.
Flathead’s Becca Knutson was 17th, 91-85 — 176.
On the boys side, Joey Moore of Bill- ings West set a new Class AA state record after shooting 68-66 — 134. Moore, a junior, bested the previous state record of 136 set by Glacier’s Larry Iverson in 2008. It was three strokes o the all-class mark held by Libby’s Ryggs Johnston.
Glacier’s Brayden Aurich was the top local nisher, shooting 77-82 — 159, fol- lowed by Flathead’s Rielly Manger, 74-86 — 160.
Thompson Returns as Flathead Wrestling Coach
A renowned wrestling coach is retak- ing the reins of the storied program at Flathead High School.
School o cials announced Sept. 28 that Je Thompson was selected to be the new head coach of the high school program. Thompson returns to a role he previously held from 2000-2008 when the Braves were a nationally ranked state championship dynasty.
Thompson, a business teacher at Flat- head, has served as an assistant with the high school and youth programs in recent years. He is replacing Rich Vasquez, who stepped down recently after three years due to medical issues.
“Je is passionate about kids and wrestling,” Flathead Activities Direc- tor Bryce Wilson said. “He has a strong desire and commitment to continue the Flathead Wrestling programs success. He outlined his vision during the inter- view and provided a portfolio about how he plans to run the program. He conveyed the need to continue to build upon Coach Vasquez’s hard work.”
Wilson said Thompson has reached out to Je Anderson, Dallas Stucker, Kelly Quinn and a host of other coaches to help lead the Flathead wrestling pro- gram this winter. Practices start in November. Thompson takes over a rising program this winter that placed third a year ago and will enter this season as the presumptive No. 1 ranked team.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association twice named Thompson the organization’s regional coach of the year. The Braves won four Class AA state titles under Thompson and went 126-19 in dual matches. The program produced 107 state placers, 48 state nalists and 13 state champions under Thompson, who was named Montana coach of the year in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, when Flat- head won titles. The Braves were ranked 10th nationally in 2008. Thompson was a three-time state champion wrestler at Great Falls High School in the early 1990s and wrestled varsity at the University of Minnesota.
downtown downtown
BY DILLON TABISH
WORLD RABIES DAY VACCINE CLINIC Saturday October 8th
LOW COST VACCINES
(Including Rabies) & Microchipping 11am - 3pm at the Flathead Spay and Neuter Clinic
$10 FOR ALL VACCINES EACH AND MICROCHIPPING!
Rabies for animals 3 months and older, other vaccines for animals 8 weeks and older. All vaccines are good for one year, unless there is proof of current vaccine; vaccines will then be good for 3 years. All animals must be in good health, dogs on leashes and cats in carriers.
Contact 892-7387 for more information
3491 Trumble Creek Road Columbia Falls
(1 mile west of HWY. 2
& 2 miles south of HWY. 40)
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OCTOBER 5, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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Business Owners: You don’t have to be located in Downtown Kalispell to support the heart of the community, but you CAN reap the bene ts of being a KDA member!
for more info, call or visit:
406-253-6923 DowntownKalispell.com