Great Falls
Great Falls, MT · Sports
Great Falls Tribune
Tristan O'Leary bringing efficiency, stability to Great Falls High football
Great Falls High head football coach Coda Tchida describes his team as “battle-tested” this season as it has endured contests against two of the top teams in the state in consecutive weeks. The term could also apply to Bison quarterback Tristan O’Leary as he continues his second season as the starter. The signal-caller navigated the ups and downs of his first year on varsity in 2025 as he helped guide Great Falls High to a playoff win, and this season has kept the continuity rolling as a leader. “The leadership is the bigger thing, where now that he’s a captain, he’s a senior,” Tchida said of O’Leary. “All the guys look to him in the huddle. That’s the big thing with the quarterback: Are they looking to the running back? Are they looking to the wide receiver? No, they’re looking to him. And he’s done a good job there.” More: Vote here for Prep Athlete of the Week, Sept. 15-18 More: Great Falls’ Reed Harris scores twice for Arizona State football O’Leary and the Bison (0-3 overall, 0-1 Eastern AA) face a crucial conference contest at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, playing host to Bozeman High (2-1, 1-0) as
theelectricgf.com
By the numbers: GFPS fall sports, activities
During the Sept. 8 Great Falls Public Schools board meeting, Superintendent Heather Hoyer detailed student participation in fall sports and activities as the data for the day. Total participation this year is 1,017, up from 962 during the 2025-2026 school year and 977 during the 2024-2025 school year. High school...
Great Falls Tribune
WATCH: Highlights of Bozeman High football's win over Great Falls High
swxlocalsports.com
Cascade is off to its best start since 2016 under a new head coach
CASCADE — The Cascade Badgers (3-0) have a perfect record through three weeks for the first time in over a decade under first-year head coach Brian Davison. In 8-man football, it is a luxury to have eight seniors like the Badgers have this season. Cascade has paired that experience with Davison, who spent the previous 11 seasons as the head coach of Centerville.
swxlocalsports.com
Billings Skyview sweeps Great Falls in boys and girls doubleheader
GREAT FALLS — Billings Skyview's boys and girls soccer both picked up road soccer wins against Great Falls in a Thursday doubleheader at Siebel Soccer Field. The boys Falcons squad entered the matchup on a three-game unbeaten run (2-0-1) after losing eight straight, dating back to last year. The boys and girls Bison squads have yet to pick up a win during the 2026 season.
mattalkonline.com
Mike Zadick: Built on Montana Dirt – SFTR13
Subscribe to this show via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | Deezer | RSS. Mike Zadick built his career on uncompromising forward pressure, suffocating hand-fighting, and an intense, edge-of-the-cliff competitive drive. A three-time USA World Team member, 2006 World silver medalist, 2008 Olympian, and three-time All-American at the University of Iowa, Zadick spent a decade matching up with the most dangerous 60 and 66-kilogram freestylers in the world. He was trained in the relentless environment of Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the Dan Gable and Jim Zalesky eras, taking on an intense, us-against-the-world mindset that defined his run through the college ranks and onto the international stage.
Great Falls Tribune
Vote here for Prep Athlete of the Week, Sept. 15-18
It’s time again to vote for the Tribune’s Prep Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to last week’s poll winners, Felicity Young of C.M. Russell High volleyball and Jackson Hageman of CMR boys’ golf. Each week during the competition, two girls and two boys will be nominated, and the audience will choose the winner via a poll posted below. Nominations for future Athlete of the Week polls can be sent to sports reporter Grady Higgins at ghiggins@greatfallstribune.com. Voting on this week’s poll will be open until Friday, Sept. 18, at 11:59 p.m., and the winners of the vote will be announced in the following week’s Athlete of the Week story. More: Great Falls’ Reed Harris scores twice for Arizona State football More: Takeaways as CMR football shines in Eastern AA opener, behind defense, QB's first start Boys’ Athlete of the Week nominees Ryland Crane, Great Falls High cross-country: The senior finished third at the Havre Invite as the Bison took third as a team. Grant Golik, CMR golf: The freshman earned fourth at the Billings Invite, shooting 149 (69-80) as the Rustlers won the tourney. Girls’ Athlete of the Week nominees Brooklynn Hageman, CMR golf: The sophomore earned a top-15 finish
NBCMontana
Great Falls Tribune
C.M. Russell High special teams powers win over Belgrade in conference opener
Note: This story has been updated to add a quote, video, and statistics. The C.M. Russell High special teams were just that on Thursday, Sept. 10, as the Rustlers cruised to a 28-3 Eastern AA victory at Memorial Stadium. Cornerback Carson Hollern returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game before Gage Allen recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score and recorded a blocked punt himself in the second quarter as CMR built the four-possession lead at halftime. Defensive end Ryan Gilbertson knocked down the Belgrade punt leading to the Allen touchdown and also recorded a sack, while quarterback Beckett Crouch slung a pair of first-half scores. Crouch hit receiver Devyn Smith for a 25-yard catch-and-run score early in the second quarter prior to finding Nick Stimac in the end zone from 22 yards out late in the second frame. The Panthers’ lone first-half score came on a Cooper Holland 22-yard field goal in the first quarter, capitalizing on a Rustlers’ muffed punt at their own 20. Belgrade drove down to the CMR 1-yard line in the fourth quarter but the Rustler defense held on downs, and corner Kawiwo’ole
Great Falls Tribune
Captain Mason Cannon the 'spearhead' for Great Falls High football team
Mason Cannon earned a captaincy last season for Great Falls High, an honor not often bestowed on juniors in high school football. As a two-way starter and the honorary No. 40 for the Bison this season, the senior is making the most of his opportunities on and off the field. “It really means a lot to see what my teammates think of me and what the prior class thought of me, too, as being a leader of the program,” Cannon said. “But it’s honestly surreal to be in the position that I am, to help lead younger kids and inspire younger kids to be the best versions of themselves.” More: Donavin Scribner an 'every-down back' for C.M. Russell High football VOTE: Volleyball, golf, football stars up for Athlete of the Week, Sept. 8-11 Cannon and Great Falls (0-2) open up the Eastern AA schedule at 7 p.m. against one of the state’s top teams in Billings West (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 11, at the newly christened Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis. Cannon was the leading rusher for the Bison last season, as he averaged over six yards per carry along with five touchdowns. He is also the team’s top returning
swxlocalsports.com
No. 7 Providence sweeps Valley City State, finishing off a perfect first home stand
GREAT FALLS — The Providence Argos (10-2) volleyball team made quick work of the Valley City State Vikings (3-9) with a sweep on Saturday afternoon at the McLaughlin Center Gymnasium. The Argos were led by 11 kills from Great Falls native Bree MacDonald and senior outside Martyna Fiedler. The...
vcsuvikings.com
Vikings Head West for Montana Road Trip
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Valley City State University volleyball team continues Frontier Conference play this weekend with a pair of road matches in Montana. The Vikings open the trip Friday, Sept. 11, against Montana State University-Northern at 7 p.m. MDT in Havre. VCSU will then travel to Great Falls to face No. 7 University of Providence on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. MDT.
swxlocalsports.com
8-Man Football: Belt races past Fort Benton, 64-30, spoiling the Longhorns' homecoming
FORT BENTON — The Belt Huskies (3-0) blasted their rivals, the Fort Benton Longhorns (2-1), 64-30, on the road to stay undefeated on Friday night. Both Belt and Fort Benton held their first two opponents to just 12 total points. The Huskies hounded the Longhorns early, bouncing out to a 22-0 lead in the first half.
swxlocalsports.com
Volleyball: Billings Senior knocks off CMR in five sets in conference opener
GREAT FALLS — The Billings Senior Broncs (3-3) opened AA conference play with a five-set road win over the previously unbeaten CMR Rustlers (4-1), after falling behind through three sets. The Broncs and the Rustlers met in the one-loss side of the bracket and the '4th place game' a...
Great Falls Tribune
Volleyball, golf, football stars up for Athlete of the Week, Sept. 8-11
As we move past the Labor Day holiday, it’s time again for the Tribune’s Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to last week’s winners of the polls, Gwen Kakalecik of Great Falls High girl’s cross-country and Ash Groshelle of Great Falls High boys’ soccer. Each week during the competition, two girls and two boys will be nominated, and the audience will choose the winner via a poll posted below. Nominations for future Athlete of the Week polls can be sent to sports reporter Grady Higgins at ghiggins@greatfallstribune.com. Voting on this week’s poll will be open until Friday, Sept. 11, at 11:59 p.m., and the winners of the vote will be announced in the following week’s Athlete of the Week story. More: Last second touchdown lifts C.M. Russell football over Missoula Sentinel More: Senior-laden CMR volleyball looking to make another deep run Girls’ Athlete of the Week nominees Madi Timmons, Great Falls High golf: The senior had a season-best round of 89 on Monday, Aug. 31, finishing 12 th overall at the Belgrade Invite. Felicity Young, CMR volleyball: The senior spiked a team-high 10 kills and added three blocks as the Rustlers swept Helena High. Boys’ Athlete of the Week nominees Jackson