Spring sports are gearing up at Bigfork High School
Bigfork High School spring sports practices are underway, with competitions starting this weekend.
Golf
The Bigfork High School golfers start their season on Thursday at the Loyola Sacred Heart Invitational in Missoula.
The boys team, in particular, appears to be full of potential this year, filled largely with returning players and athletes with previous golf experience.
Players on the boys’ team include Colton Stodghill, who was the only Bigfork golfer to qualify for state last year.
Also returning are Jon Landon, Ryder Trent, Shade Youso, Ethan Olson, Sam Hilling, Levi Spanogle, Kyler Oster, Cody Cislo and Jacob Haberlock.
In addition to returning golfers, head coach Steve Hullett sees strength in some of his new athletes, including Joseph Potkonjak and Augie Emslie.
“It looks semi-promising,” Hullett said. “I expect Joseph to play really well, and Colton will do well.”
The girls’ team is again one player short of being able to complete as a team. There must be at least four athletes to receive a team score.
Senior Kallister Meagher is the only returning player for the girls.
“Kallister should be pretty decent,” Hullett said.
Freshman Melissa Parker might be new to the team, but she has some experience in golf, Hullett said.
“I think she’ll do pretty well once she plays a little more,” he said.
Freshman Ceciley Taylor is the third girl on the team, and is new to the sport Hullett said.
Bigfork will play in Missoula Thursday and Friday. Their next meet is at home, at Eagle Bend, on April 9.
Track
The Bigfork High School track team is loaded this year with seasoned veterans and talented newcomers.
With 22 girls and 25 boys out for track and field, head coach Sue Loeffler is hoping both teams will find themselves in the top three at state.
Last year the Bigfork Valkyries placed second in the state for Class B, and many of the key athletes are back this year, including Makena Morley, Marissa Hiza, and Mattison McAnally, who were all part of the state championship 1,600-meter relay team. Also back are Gabby Eaton, Rylee Coleman, Megan Pancoast and Miranda Campbell.
Some new athletes to keep an eye on for Bigfork track, Loeffler said, are Bryn Morley, Xiaoxiao Strong, Reese Nissen and Haile Norred.
The boys placed fourth at state last year, but also have a strong contingent of returning athletes for the 2015 season.
Logan Morley and Josh Sandry both have state titles to defend in the 1,600 meter and high jump. Throwing coach Dave Creamer also expects to see Tyler Iverson leave his mark this year in discus. Iverson is 10 feet away from setting a new school record in the event. Last year he placed fifth at state with a throw of 154.
Bigfork track will compete on Saturday in Eureka. They will compete April 7 at the Flathead Time Trials in Kalispell before their home meet on April 11.
TENNIS practices are also underway. The first tennis tournament is April 11 in Ronan. The first home tournament is the Bigfork Flight Tournament on April 18.