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Whitman earns X-C All-State honors

| October 25, 2007 11:00 PM

By CHRIS PETERSON - Hungry Horse News

Sophomore Shawn Whitman received all-state honors as the Columbia Falls boys cross country team took sixth in class A at the state meet in Helena last Saturday (Oct. 20).

Whitman, who earned 10th with a time of 16:57, is the first CFHS boy to receive all-state honors since 1996 when Camas Key and David Roell were both all-staters.

"We are pleased to see Shawn earn a well deserved outcome to his season," coach Steve Gasche said.

Patric Jessat finished in 19th (17.29) and Tripp Gimbel placed 23rd (17:40), just out of reach of all-state honors. The top 15 runners are named all-state.

Also doing well for the boys was junior Michael Kruse, who took 35th (18:03). Pascal Jessat was 76th (18:57) and Kodiak Gimbel finished 77th (18:57). Tim Chopper rounded out the boys team with a 96th-place finish (19:51).

All of the boys on this team are expected back next year.

The girls team took 12th, with frosh Nicki Moser finishing 25th with a 20:36 to lead the Wildkats.

Tessa Cowan came off a calf injury to take 66th (21:57). She was the Kats' second finisher. Rounding out the girls effort were Nicole Mickelson, 69th (21:59); Anna Downen, 71st (22:00); Madison Stolte, 83rd (22:22); Alexas Young, 89th (22:27); and Addie Houle, 108th (23:21).

Houle and Downen graduate this year, but the rest of the girls team is expected to return.

"We will return five of our top six runners which leaves us feeling very hopeful of improving our team performance next year even further," Gasche said.

Wildkat spikers split with Stevi, Dillon

By JOE SOVA

Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls swept Stevensville and lost in four games to Dillon in nonconference volleyball action last weekend on the road.

On Friday (Oct. 19), the Wildkats posted a 25-17, 25-12, 27-25 victory over Stevi.

"The first two games we played really well," Kats coach Addy Hines said. "We came out fired up. We applied a lot of what we'd been working on all week in practice. The third game we played their game, but we pulled it out."

CFHS had 20 service aces, six by Staci Pence. She led in digs with 11. Sarah Marcille had 11 set assists. Cedar Smith, Brooke Cady, Amanda Millard, Auttem Osborne and Alyssa Ladenburg each had three kills.

Dillon came away with a 24-26, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 win over the Kats on Saturday (Oct. 20).

"We had a great start," Hines said. "We played our game. We executed our passes. Our sets went where they needed to go."

But the second game, "The girls got frustrated. Our passing broke down. We had to use a back row attack more than I'd like," Hines said.

The coach said the Kats' play improved in the fourth game, but they fell short.

CFHS "got some good touches" on attacks by Dillon, according to Hines.

"I'm proud of them. They didn't back down," Hines said.

Alyssa Ladenburg led the Kats with 11 kills. Marcille had 23 assists. Pence had 10 digs and two aces. Sam Ladenburg served two aces.

The Kats host Whitefish for Senior Night on Thursday (Oct. 25), their final home appearance of the season. CFHS took one game from the Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago.