Condon
Condon, MT · Sports
totalhorsechannel.com
Lake County Leader
Flathead Lake Monsters host first and successful Queens Bay open swim event
The Flathead Lake Monsters welcomed swimmers from around western Montana to Polson this weekend for the Queens Bay Lake Monsters Open Water Swim, an event designed to bring the swimming community together while introducing athletes to a different side of the sport. The event drew 38 swimmers for 5K, 10K and 1-mile races in Flathead Lake. For the Lake Monsters, a relatively small program based at Mission Valley Aquatics, the turnout made the event a tremendous success as the team continues to develop its open-water tradition. “The biggest goal was to bring people together, have fun and give swimmers an opportunity to experience something different,” said Pat Gilmartin, Lake Monsters head coach and race director. “Swimming can sometimes feel like a lot of going back and forth in a pool. Open water shows kids that all of those skills they work so hard to develop can also take them to some pretty amazing places.” Open-water swimming is a competitive discipline, with sanctioned competitions held throughout the United States and internationally. The 10K open-water swim is also an Olympic event. Lake Monsters swimmers have qualified for regional open-water competitions, and the team hopes events like Queens Bay can introduce more local
Lake County Leader
Opinion: Ice rink crew appreciates community support
The board of the Mission Valley Ice Arena Association (MVIAA) extends sincere thanks to the many generous local donors, businesses and organizations whose support has helped realize the dream of an indoor ice arena. Thanks to this remarkable community effort, construction has begun. Following initial fundraising by our all-volunteer MVIAA directors, developer Mike Maddy generously donated a commercial lot by the Mission Valley Aquatics Center. Greater Polson Community Foundation and numerous other organizations are providing invaluable support. MVIAA qualified for a Montana Commerce construction grant funded through lodging taxes. Danell “Bumper” Thingelstad is managing the project with local service providers whenever possible, keeping our investment in the community. Bret Richardson of Stonefly Financial is our fiduciary. Mission Valley Ice Arena will provide programs for youth and adult hockey, ice dancing, skills clinics, curling, performances, tournaments and public skating during colder months. Off-season, the facility will accommodate a variety of non-ice community events. This project is truly a community achievement, made possible through the generosity, hard work and commitment of many. We are deeply grateful to everyone who's contributed time, resources, expertise and encouragement along the way. – Volunteer MVIAA directors: Jamie Buhr, Linda Greenwood, Devin Huntley, Hilary Lozar, Charlie Mizia,
Hungry Horse News
Football squad has a host of returning talent
The Columbia Falls football team has a lot of returning talent and should be right in the mix come the postseason. The Wildcats have a great core of returning players, including senior quarterback Banyan Johnston, linebacker and running back Trip Ross, and wide receiver and safety Jory Hill and all-state defender Daniel Contreras just to name a few. Other notable players include Jaxson Cadwell, Tristan Anderson, Hayden Strandberg, Christian Olvera at center and Rhett Lindskoog, who comes in at 6-5, 250 pounds and Kyler Voermans. “We’ve got a really good core, both on offense and defense,” coach Kelly Houle said. The Cats will feature four running backs, including Ross, Connor Davis, Kale Schaeffer and Connor Magnuson. Johnston is also a very mobile quarterback and is always a threat to run. Houle was also pleased with the turnout from the younger players, with 28 freshmen out this year. All told, the program has about 60 players. The Cats will have a memorable opener this year. On Thursday, Aug. 27, they’ll play Fergus County at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula. It will be considered a home game for the Cats and might just be the first game on the new turf at
Hungry Horse News
Boys soccer reloads for another season
The Columbia Falls boys soccer team has a solid core of five returning players and one of the best freshmen classes in years as it heads into the 2026 season. Coach O’Brien Byrd, in his 24th year as a head coach said the team welcomes back seniors Brady Bell, Eli Crockett and Logan Ruggerio and returning standouts White Albrecht and keeper Talon Bates. He said he’s also excited about the frosh class, referring to it as a “golden generation” of 12 talented soccer players who have been on the pitch since they were 5 years old. They’ve come up through the ranks of the Flathead Rapids youth program and he said some of them could even fill starting roles this season. “A couple have a chance to start,” Byrd said. The team retains all of its coaching staff, with longtime assistant Cory Pete coaching the junior varsity along with alumni Caleb Baumann, who is also now a teacher at Columbia Falls High School. Assistant Sage Wanner is also a teacher this year. One cool note about the JV schedule is they play Missoula Hellgate. Those who remember the early years of soccer will recall the Wildcats squaring off regularly against
Hungry Horse News
Swimmers do well in Plentywood
Columbia Falls Swim Team wrapped up their swim season at the state meet in Plentywood last weekend. The meet hosted nearly 500 swimmers from across Montana. Weather varied from high temperatures to high winds for the two-day outdoor meet. “We had a ton of really good swims and these kids were moving faster than they have all season. I am very proud of all the kids who made the long trip to Plentywood. Congratulations to all of our state champions: Raef Edwards, Hadley Edwards, Braydon Bigelow, Ben Opalka, Kaitlyn Daniels and Fjord Borgen. “A shout out of praise to the City of Columbia Falls and Pinewood Aquatic Center for a truly great experience this summer. The CFST Board of directors, coaches and families all thank you for a great pool to practice,” coach Kyle Babcock said.
Char-Koosta News
Area hoopsters make waves at Native American Basketball Invitational
In mid-July, a number of area athletes descended upon Phoenix to compete in the 23rd Annual Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI). Two of five teams from Montana competing among 80 in the Boys Division featured Mission Valley area players among their rosters. CSKT Hoops, coached by James and Lisa Bible, included a quintet from Polson, a trio from Ronan and one from Two Eagle River. Warrior Movement, coached by Zanen Pitts and Francis Brown, included a pair of Ronan Chiefs all-staters in Kolby Finley and Matiya Nenemay.
KPAX
Polson breaks ground on first ice arena, bringing new recreation to Mission Valley
Flathead Beacon
New Off-Trail Foot Race Sends Runners Bushwhacking Across Blacktail Mountain
Runners participating in the Blacktail Balderdash near Lakeside this weekend still do not know the course route because the inaugural foot race’s organizers refuse to reveal it. That’s by design, race organizers say, “to keep your imaginations active and your creative juices alive.”. But even after participants...
Flathead Beacon
Glacier Park College Showcase Returns for Third Year in Columbia Falls
While this may be the third year and largest edition yet of the Glacier Park College Showcase, the mission of the two-day showcase that brings high-level women’s soccer to the Flathead Valley has remained the same. “We don’t have college soccer anywhere near us and so literally bringing it...
Whitefish Pilot
Course deterioration causes cancellation of Whitefish gravel race
Whitefish’s annual gravel cycling race was cancelled last week due to challenges with safety on sections of the course that had deteriorated, race officials said. The seventh annual Last Best Ride was set to take place July 26 with several hundred participants signed up to ride either a 48-mile or 91-mile course up Werner Peak and Big Mountain. "This year’s decision came from a place of responsibility, not convenience," said Brian Grubb, race director. "We cared too much about this event and our community to deliver something that fell short of our expectations." The Last Best Ride is an entirely volunteer-run event, with all proceeds supporting the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award. The race planning process is complex, starting in September and running until the race takes off. According to Grubb, by June it looked like course changes would be required, and by July the "puzzle pieces didn't fit together.” "Within each permit with each agency ... you attach a safety plan, and ours is extremely comprehensive, because our goal is to make sure that no rider gets injured," Grubb said. "We say, these are the controls we have, and we want to confidently say we can administer those. "There's
bonnersferryherald.com
10 Bonners Ferry players compete in Superdraft tournament
WHITEFISH — There was no shortage of Bonners Ferry representation at the Montana Superdraft tournament last weekend. Ten players from Bonners made the trip out to compete in the unique tournament hosted by Blades Athletic Performance Academy. Before arriving at Smith Fields in Whitefish, players have no idea which teams they'll be playing for and are randomly assigned a new team for the weekend. The Bonners Ferry players were divided amongst six of the tournament's teams as follows — Dillon Brimhall joined the 10U Dodgers, Mason Kunsky played for the 12U Mariners, Brooks Reichart and Isaac Dickson played for the 12U Marlins, Slider Reichart and Colton Larsson competed for the 15U Red Sox, Gordon Woelfle joined the 15U Padres and Will Mackey, Baylor Sheets and Landen Dickson played for the 15U Marlins.
Flathead Beacon
Ryggs Johnston, Jonny Cielak Win 18th Flathead Beacon Pro-Scratch Invitational
Pro golfer and Libby High grad Ryggs Johnston, playing with amateur partner Jonny Cielak, notched a first place finish Tuesday at the 18th annual Flathead Beacon Pro-Scratch Invitational. The duo finished with a score of 127 across two days of play in the better-ball tournament, with Johnston finding the top...
Char-Koosta News
Warrior Challenge Hike Set for Aug. 6 at Mollman Lake
RONAN — CSKT Wildland Recreation and Tribal Health will host a Warrior Challenge hike to Mollman Lake on Aug. 6. The challenging route is approximately 10 miles round trip and includes about 3,300 feet of elevation gain. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. on Hammer Dam Road, a left...
Fairfield Sun Times
Kalispell skatepark launches therapy-based skateboarding program
KALISPELL, Mont. — A skatepark in Kalispell launched the city's first therapeutic skateboarding program to support children and young adolescents. Serious Juju Skatepark started the program, called the Balance Project, by combining skateboarding with evidence-based mental health practices. The approach was designed to help participants build emotional resilience, self-confidence...