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Podcast No. 309: Bridger Chambers
Bridger Chambers is a native of Stevensville, but we are doing our best to claim him hear in the Mining City.
He is a world-class cowboy who made two appearances in the National Finals Rodeo, making folks in his home state proud from Eureka to Ekalaka.
Bridger was a three-sport star at Stevensville High School, and his favorite sport was usually the one that was in season. But he fell in love with rodeo at a young age.
He could have played quarterback in college, but he first opted to join the rodeo team at the University of Montana. Eventually, the 6-foot-5 Bridger transferred to Montana Western in Dillon, where he played basketball for coach Steve Keller while rodeoing for Olie Else.
At Western, Bridger became the first — and perhaps still the only — athlete to compete in the NAIA National Men’s Basketball Tournament and the College National Finals Rodeo.
After college, Bridger taught for a year in Three Forks before going into business with his father, Keith, who was a long-time boys’ basketball coach at Stevensville. Then he settled into family life in Butte with his wife, Kristen (Tuttle), and their children, Mattie, Hudson, Crew and Chase.
He still rodeoed, but it was not a full-time gig. In 2018, though, Bridger found some early success on the circuit, and that led him to go all in to chase his dreams of competing in the NFR. He said he was going to swing for the fences as he competed in more than 100 rodeos that year.
That December, Bridger finished as the No. 2 steer wrestler in the world at the 10-day rodeo in Las Vegas. To prove it was no fluke, he did it again the next year, even if it was more of a grind to qualify for the NFR.
Today, Bridger, 36, is busy selling real estate with the McLeod Real Estate Group. He is also following around his young sons, Crew and Chase, in their activities while watching his step his step-son Hudson Luedtke star for the Butte High Bulldogs.
Bridger is also an ambassador for the sport he loves so much. He helped lead the effort this past Montana legislative session to successfully make rodeo the official sport of Montana.
He is still competing in steer wrestling, though not quite like he did in 2018 and 2019. He will be back in action in January.
Listen in as he talks about playing basketball for his father and how he and his other coaches helped shape the athlete he is today. Listen in to hear about Bridger’s run to the NFR and how he was fulfilling a goal that he made in a letter to himself that he had to write in school.
Listen to hear why rodeo cowboys do not sit out a competition with a pulled hamstring or strained calf muscle like your favorite stars in other sports.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Download the TLC app and start saving today. This episode is also available on YouTube:
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Winter sports swing into action
Dogs split with Belgrade on mat; hoops, swimming ready to go
Butte High’s wrestling teams made their 2025-26 home debut Tuesday night at the old gym, giving their home fans a taste of what is to come at this week’s Mining City Duals Jim Street Classic.
Belgrade won an exciting girls’ battle 39-36, while the Bulldog boys stuck it to the Panthers 57-15.
Butte High’s boys were nothing short of dominant in their first home performance of the season.
Renzy LeProwse (103 pound), Conner Crew (110), Keegan Hunt (118), Ryder McEwen (150), Cameron Fleege (175), Bridger Brancamp (190) and Caden Phillips (215) all won by way of the pin. McEwen needed just 58 seconds on the mat to get his pin.
Hunt is looking for his second straight state title. He won at 103 pounds in February.
Darryn Rossiter won by a major decision at 138, and Bradey Doyle won by technical fall at 144. Reveles McEwen (126) and Bridger Garrison (165) went the distance and won by decision.
The match of the night came at 157 pounds, where Belgrade’s Brody Dooley edged Bode Hazlett in an 11-10 thriller. Hazlett won the 144-pound state title last season.
Cody Westlake (132) and Nash Gentry (285) picked up pins for the Panthers.
On the girl’s side, Peyton Liva (105), Lilyi Malone (115), Adalie Hazlett (120), Sage Queer (145) and Matti Neighbor (155) each won by pin. Brooke Johnson picked up a forfeit victory at 140.
At 125 pounds, Belgrade’s Amelia Steinmann won a 1-0 battle over Butte High’s Jessica Blow.
Belgrade’s Quinn Lindsley (110), Rebekah Henke (130), Charlee Lund (135), Yamileh Ruiz (170) and Isabela Rangel (235) all won by pin. Bree Brings Down The Sun-Bullshoe-Williams picked up a forfeit victory.
The Bulldogs opened the season against the three Billings Class AA schools Saturday, and the Bulldog boys went 2-1. Bute High beat Billings Senior 48-20 and the Bulldogs topped Billings Skyview 48-34. The Dogs fell 35-18 to defending Class AA State champion Billings West 55-18.
Individual results from the duals were not available, but Bulldog coach Cory Johnston noted that Hazlett and Garrison each went 3-0.
Scores and individual results from the girls’ action are not available. Butte girls’ coach Geno Liva pointed out that junior Johnson went 3-0 with three pins.
The Mining City Duals will begin 10 a.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday. Action on both days will be at the Butte Civic Center.
The Bulldogs will also send a squad to compete in the Whitehall Duals, which begin at 9 a.m. both days.
Butte High’s girls, meanwhile, will head to the two-day Flathead Invitational in Kalispell. Matches begin at 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
For more detail on Tuesday’s duals, check out Bruce Sayler’s story on ButteSports.com.
BOYS
Butte High 57, Belgrade 15
103 — Renzy LeProwse, Butte, pinned Ian Dooley,1:55
110 — Crew O’Connor, Butte, pinned, Luke Flack, 4:18
118 — Keegan Hunt, Butte, pinned Carson Wortham, 5:55
126 — Reveles McEwen, Butte, dec. Cohen Green 9-6
132 — Cody Westlake, Belgrade, pinned Joey Ward, 1:17
138 — Darryn Rossiter, Butte, maj. dec. Gage Young 18-5
144 — Bradey Doyle, Butte, tech fall George Roth 19-4
150 — Ryder McEwen, Butte, pinned Sam Smith, 0:58
157 — Brody Dooley, Belgarde, dec. Bode Hazlett 11-10
165 — Bridger Garrison, Butte, dec. Jacob Hahner 7-4
175 — Cameron Fleege, Butte, pinned Evan Rogers, 5:53
190 — Bridger Brancamp, Butte, pinned Michael Spears, 3:35
215 — Caden Phillips, Butte, pinned Noah Franscioni 3:47
285 — Nash Gentry, Belgrade, pinned Waylond Hicks, 1:28GIRLS
Belgrade 39, Butte High 36
105 — Peyton Liva, Butte High, pinned Elizabeth Baca :46.
110 — Quinn Lindsley, Belgrade, pinned Brooklyn Hettick :50.
115 — Lilyi Malone, Butte High, pinned Ashlyn Sanderson 1:05.
120 — Adalie Hazlett, Butte High, pinned Violet Turnquist-Linn 2:00.
125 — Amelia Steinmann, Belgrade, dec. Jessica Blow 1-0.
130 — Rebekah Henke, Belgrade, pinned Addison Bohrman, won by forfeit.
135 — Charlee Lund, Belgrade, pinned Loretta Matteson 1:04.
140 — Brooke Johnson, Butte High, won by forfeit.
145 — Sage Queer, Butte High, pinned Peyton Main 2:58.
155 — Matti Neighbor, Butte High, pinned Kylia Daniels 5:52.
170 — Yamileh Ruiz, Belgrade, pinned Rylee Radcliffe 5:11.
190 — Bree Brings Down The Sun-Bullshoe-Williamson, Belgrade, won by forfeit.
235 — Isabela Rangel, Belgrade, pinned Chyanne Robinson :36.
Exhibition matches
Morgan Hunter, Belgrade, pinned Deearea Naugle, 3:27
Charlee Richter, Butte, pinned Synnore Nees, 3:21
Sarri Ruiz, Belgrade, pinned Reaghan Denning, 1:20
Mattie Stepan, Butte, pinned Kyla Daniels, 1:25
Bella Rangel, Belgrade, pinned Allie Ballensky, :38
Holmes first in Havre
Butte Central’s wrestling teams got out the gates in strong fashion at the Havre Invitational.
Junior Jack Holmes led the way, claiming first place in the 132-pound division. He pinned Max Holdorff of Havre, topped eighth-grade teammate Brekyn Armstrong 8-1 and topped Cutbank’s Chase Clift 3-0 to win the title.
Armstrong finished in third place. He fell to Holdorff and beat Clift 11-5.
Eighth grader Jace Rauch placed second at 103 pounds. He went 2-1 with a 18-5 win over teammate Jampel Hanley and a 16-0 technical fall over John Caven of Havre. Hanley finished third.
Freshman Kohler Sparks placed fourth at 125 pounds, and eighth grader Braydon Armstrong took fifth at 118.
Central’s boys’ wrestling team also includes freshmen David Sandoval and Tyge Meneses, and sophomores Connor Kachmarik and Kelson Brackett. Girls wrestling for the Maroons are freshman Felicity Stevens and junior Amira Gonzales.
The Maroons will host a mixer at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Maroon Activities Center. Central’s wrestlers will compete at the Whitehall Duals Friday and Saturday.
Maroons open in Frenchtown
Butte Central’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be in Frenchtown Friday and Saturday to open the season with a tip-off tournament.
The Maroons will take on Browning on Friday and Columbia Falls on Saturday. The girls play at 1 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. The BC boys play at 2:45 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.
On the girls’ side, Central is looking to build off last year’s strong finish that led them to the Western A Divisional tournament.
The Maroons will have a pair of seniors to lead the team in Caden Tippett and Arika Stajcar. The roster also includes juniors Marly Mansanti, and Rylee Forbes; and sophomores Jaedyn Maldonado, Evyn Smith, Kenzie McQueary, Zayonna Otherbull, Natalie Soterman and Braelynn Schelin. All those players bring back varsity experience for head coach Quinn Carter’s team.
Carter also added promising eighth graders Lucy Fantini and Jordyn Samson to the varsity roster.
Central’s boys will be looking to return to the Class A State tournament after a very rare absence last year.
Head coach Brodie Kelly’s squad will be led by senior Ryan Peoples and juniors Cade Kelly, Joshua Sutton, GG Fantini, Burkley Lakkala and Gunnar O’Brien. The BC varsity roster also includes junior Jaxon Hiatt and freshmen Noah Sutton and Jaxon Hiatt.
Joshua Sutton is BC’s leading returning scorer. He averaged 17.0 points per game last season.
The Maroons will host the East vs. West Tipoff tournament Dec. 19-20 at the Maroon Activities Center. That tournament will include Glendive, Whitefish and Sidney along with the Maroons.
Bulldog cagers head to Bozeman
The 2025-26 basketball season will begin Saturday in Bozeman for the Butte High Bulldogs. The Bulldogs and Hawks will play a doubleheader.
The girls will play at 2:30 p.m., with the boys following at about 4.
Butte High’s girls are looking to improve on their fourth-place finish at last year’s Class AA State tournament in Bozeman.
Franki Salusso and Emma Johnson are the only seniors on coach Bryan Arntson’s team. The roster, however, is still packed with experience and grit.
That roster includes juniors Cadence Graham, Allie Becker, Ellie Yates, Reese Johnson, Autumn Clary, Avery Barsness and Kendallyn Schad; sophomores Evie Smith and Stella Callaghan; and freshmen Elli Graham and Saege Grey.
Cadence Graham ranked No. 2 in the Class AA with 18.0 points per game last season. She has been a varsity fixture since she was in the eighth grade.
On the boys’ side, the Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after missing the State tournament for the first time under head coach Matt Leudke.
The team is led by senior Hudson Luedtke, who broke the school’s all-time scoring record midway through his junior season. He led the Class AA with 19.2 points and 6.1 assists per game last season.
Butte High’s current team also features the return of seniors Cayde Stajcar and Mitch Verlanic to the mix.
Other seniors on the team are Kaleb Celli, Rhett Arntson, Josh Liston, Howie Pearston, Kendel Noctor and Ryan Hanson.
The roster also includes juniors Brady Walsh, Beau Henderson, Matt Weldon, Koda Schleeman, Brayden Giop and Raeder Grey, and sophomores Noah Powers, Kodye Kjersten, Brady Hanson, Matt Marsenich and Troy Samson.
The Bulldogs will play their home openers in a doubleheader with Dillon next Tuesday.
Swimmers dive in Friday
Butte High’s swimming team will host the season-opening December Splash Friday at the Butte Family YMCA. Action begins at 4 p.m.
The meet will include the Helena schools and Butte Central. It is one of just two meets for the Bulldogs and Maroons before the Christmas break. Butte High and BC will also compete in the Missoula City Meet on Dec. 20.
Butte High’s girls’ team will include decorated seniors Olivia Thurmond and Tatum Trefts, along with junior Alaina Grochowski; sophomores Bella Corrales, Elaine Fuller, Elliot Longtin and Elly Rumler; and freshmen Bryher Fitzpatrick and Adalie Grochowski.
Nathan Stone is the lone senior on the Butte High boys’ team. He is joined by juniors Nathan Knopp, Ayvahn Mann and Gage Plum; sophomores Gunnar Benson, Alex Cranny, Elgin Hoar, Tucker Kissell, Grayson Lynch, Mason Pullman and Jorden Sonnemann; freshmen Alex Sonnemann, Sam Cunneen, Gabriel Cranny and Aaron Christensen; and eighth graders Rody Johnson and Cruz Kissell.
Competing for the Maroons will be Emmett Foley, Connor Hardy, Conan Holmes and Shamus Peck for the boys and Tessa Ganzenmueller, Morgan Hardy, Arwen Regester and Tia Thompson for the girls.
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Dylan Cook’s bad break might have turned out to be good
With the crack of a bone, Butte High’s promising 2015 football season turned into a nightmare.
The team entered the season with a 6-foot-5, 258-pound senior quarterback named Dylan Cook. Boy did he throw a beautiful deep ball. I watched the likes of Ryan Leaf and Dave Dickenson throw the ball in Montana high school football, and Dylan was at least their rival.
While he did not quite put up the wins and the statistics like his older brother Dallas, who led the Bulldogs to the 2012 Class AA State title, Dylan offered so much promise as the fall approached for the Bulldogs.
Those high hopes came crashing down in the first quarter of Butte High’s first game of the season at Naranche Stadium on Aug. 28, 2015. It took a handful of Billings Skyview players to bring Dylan down when he ran with the ball for a gain.
The weight of those players landing on top of him snapped his collarbone in half. To add even more injury to the Bulldogs, backup quarterback and potential star receiver Paul Campbell tore an ACL in the same quarter.
So, Bulldog fans who were looking for big things — literally — at quarterback, were suddenly watching 5-8, 140-pound sophomore Ty Peterson behind center.
Peterson, who went on to Bulldog legend in the pole vault, put up a good fight. The 2015 Bulldogs were fun to watch. They played hard every game, just like every team coached by Arie Grey does.
But the season did not end in storybook fashion like it did with Dallas Cook three years earlier.
From the second the 2014 season ended, we were looking forward to the 2015 campaign. Dylan passed for 3,124 yards and 30 touchdowns during the 2014 season, which ended with an inspired home win over Bozeman to end the regular season.
Butte High did not qualify for the playoffs.
Only Dylan’s brother Dallas passed for more yards and TDs in a season for the Bulldogs.
Dylan had so much potential at quarterback that Dallas was only halfway joking when he said he was not sure he could hold him off to keep his starting job as the Bulldogs began their title defense in 2013. Dallas told me that knew he better play well or his brother just might replace him.
We all figured Dylan would draw some bigtime attention from college coaches looking for a quarterback. But it is hard to earn a scholarship when your arm is in a sling and you are standing on the sideline.
So, Dylan ended up signing with MSU-Northern to play quarterback.
At the time, the Northern program was in shambles, and Dylan never got much of a chance to prove himself as a passer. So, after two seasons in Havre, Dylan transferred to the University of Montana before the 2018 season.
He also moved from quarterback to the offensive line, a move that is almost unheard of. There really is no other position switch in sports that compares to it.
It was an unselfish move, too. In making the transition, Dylan knew he was moving to a position where your name is pretty much only called when you make a mistake. His new position was all guts and very little glory.
In 2019, Dylan played in 13 games for the Griz, earning a starting job early in the season. That is when he made another transition. This time he went from a walk-on player to a scholarship athlete.
After the COVID year of 2020, Dylan returned to the Griz line in 2021, and he was one of the top offensive tackles in the Big Sky Conference. He also earned a nomination for the William Campbell Trophy, which is known as the “Academic Heisman.”
In 2022, Dylan went to camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning a spot on the practice squad. The next year, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the all-time great franchises in professional sports.
He spent the 2023 season with the Steelers before bouncing off and on the roster in 2024. Late in camp this past August, the Steelers released Dylan, only to bring him back to the practice squad.
Through the ups and downs and the hard knocks of NFL life, Dylan just kept his head down and worked hard, hoping that his day would come.
It finally did.
On Saturday, Dylan was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the Steelers’ showdown for first place in the AFC North in Baltimore. The move was made because of an injury to Calvin Anderson, and Dylan was slated to back up both starting tackles.
In the third quarter Sunday, Andrus Peat, who was starting in place of left tackle Broderick Jones, suffered an injury in the third quarter against the Ravens. I heard about that injury when my brother, a Steelers fan, called me.
“Dylan Cook is going in,” he said.
I rushed back to the television to watch as No. 60 settled in at left tackle for a key third-and-5. It was his first official NFL snap.
A few plays later, the Steelers were in the end zone. Jaylen Warren scored on a 38-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers, and the Steelers held on to beat the Ravens 27-22.
Dylan, who grew up a Bears fan probably cursing the quarterback he was now protecting, played the rest of the game. He more than held his own in what is one of the most important positions in football. Quarterback, of course, is the most important position. Next comes the guy who protects the quarterback’s blind side. That was Dylan.
Since Dylan was protecting the 42-year-old Rodgers, his job even more important. And he nailed it.
As I watched No. 60 for the Steelers play with the big boys, I could not help but think about the great guy Dylan is. During the offseason, you can often find him at Butte High sporting events, cheering on the Bulldogs.
He will sit down and talk with just about anybody who recognizes him. Even though he has been an NFL player the past four seasons, Dylan has the humility of a janitor at the games.
You can also often find Dylan in the Bulldog weight room, working out and offering encouragement to some of the current Bulldogs who want to follow in his footsteps.
I thought about that with every snap he took for the Steelers. I thought about that season-opening game at Naranche Stadium in 2015.
As I roamed the sideline taking photos that night, I kept an eye on Dylan. He had his football pants still on, but his jersey and shoulder pads were off, replaced by a sling. He was cheering on his teammates.
Even though he had to know his season was over and his football dreams could be heading down the drain, he was still upbeat and positive as the Bulldogs pulled out a 24-21 win over Billings Skyview in double overtime.
I thought about how that was the only win of the season for Butte High. I thought about how Dylan could only watch as the next nine games fell into the L column.
If Dylan felt sorry for himself, though, he never showed it. He kept that positive attitude all season long. He was always a team-first guy.
I could not help but think of where Dylan would have been had he not suffered that injury so early in the first game of his senior year. I wondered if a better college team would have given him a real chance to play quarterback.
I wondered what would have happened if they saw that beautiful ball he would throw.
I could not help but wonder if that bad break led him to Pittsburgh, where he helped the Steelers beat an archrival in the heat of a playoff race.
I could not help but wonder if that promising 2015 Butte High season had a storybook ending after all.
— Bill Foley, who for the first time in his life is hoping the left tackle protects Aaron Rodgers, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74 or Bluesky at @foles74.bsky.social. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
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Podcast No. 308: The KC 50 Club with Jim Michelotti and Bernie Boyle
The Knights of Columbus building is in the heart and soul of Uptown Butte.
It is the place where kids and adults play basketball and work out. It is a place to celebrate and mourn. It is a place where we can learn about Butte sports history and maybe find a photo of your parents or grandparents when they were athletes.
It is a place where hungry people can get a free lunch every Tuesday and Thursday.
All of that is possible thanks, in large part, to the generosity of the donors to the 50 Club. That club was started by Bernie Boyle in 1979, and it is about to hit a major milestone. Within the next few months, the KC is expecting the 50 Club to reach $500,000 in donations, $50 at a time.
The Club raised nearly $470,000 through some 9,300 pledges.
That paid for renovations to the gym where the Little Kids Hoops Program is held on Saturday mornings during basketball season. So many young boys and girls got their start playing basketball in the KC. Many turned out to be state champions and college players.
The Club helped pay to renovate the kitchen to feed needy families through their Tuesday and Thursday free lunches.
The plan now is to move up the building with renovations and fix up the top two floors of the 108-year-old facility so that the KC can offer even more to the community.
Bernie began keeping track of the donations by painting the names of donors on the walls around the gym. Later, Jim Michelotti joined the cause to help keep track of the donations.
Earlier today, I met with Jim and Bernie at the KC to talk about the 50 Club, how it began and where it is going.
Listen in to hear how Bernie proved one early doubter wrong. Listen in to hear how your contributions have helped better a community. If you have not joined the 50 Club yet, you can do so by mailing $50 (or much more if you wish) to the KC at 224 W. Park St., Butte, MT, 59701.
Today’s episode is presented by Leskovar Honda of Butte, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back.
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Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Bridger Garrison and Brooke Johnson
Butte High wrestlers Bridger Garrison and Brooke Johnson are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honors come after the Bulldogs opened the wrestling season competing in an event with the Helena and Billings Schools Saturday in Billings.
Garrison, a junior, takes home the boys’ honor after going 3-0 with three pins while competing in the 157- and 165-pound divisions. One of his pins came over a state placer from last year.
That is a strong opening to the season for Garrison, who placed fourth at 138 pounds at the Western AA Divisional tournament last season.
Johnson, also a junior, takes home the girls’ award after going 2-0 with a pair of pins on the day. “She continues to improve every day,” Bulldog coach Geno Liva said. “She did some great things on Saturday.”
That outstanding start to the season comes shortly after Johnson was named second-team all-conference while playing linebacker for the Butte High flag football team.
For the third year, Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back, is teaming up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
Photos of Garrison and Johnson were provided by Alycia Holland Photography.
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Sottosanti, Larson win Ryan/Bersanti
Sam Sottosanti and John Larson captured titles at the 40th Annual Bill Ryan and Al Bersanti Memorial Handball tournament Saturday at the Elks.
Sottosanti, a former Butte resident now living in his native Ohio, defeated Butte’s Marcus Madrazo 21-3, 21-13 to claim the open division title. The win marked Sottosanti’s second Ryan/Bersanti tournament title.
Larson, of East Helena, defeated Butte’s Mike Hitchcock 21-9, 21-5 in the final of the Super Golden Masters division. That is Larson’s second consecutive title in the tournament and third in the last four years.
Complete Results:
Open
(Round Robin)1st – Sam Sottosanti, Ohio (3-0) d. Nick Piazzola, Butte 21-12, 21-20; d. Don Foley, Butte 21-5, 21-6; d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-3, 21-13
2nd – Marcus Madrazo, Butte (2-1) d. Foley 21-16, 21-18; d. Piazzola
3rd – Don Foley, Butte (1-2) d. Nick Piazzola 21-18, 21-13
Super Golden Masters
Quarterfinals – Dan Bersanti, Butte d. Scott Salo, Butte 21-9, 21-9; Tom Madrazo, Butte d. Eric Howe 20-21, 21-14, 21-13
Semifinals – John Larson, East Helena d. Bersanti 21-14, 16-21, 11-0; Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Madrazo 6-21, 21-13, 11-4
Consolation – Salo d. Howe 21-15, 21-15
Final – Larson d. Hitchcock 21-9, 21-5
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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of Dec. 8. Teams can still sign up by calling or texting Dan Boyle at (406) 491-2529.
Monday
7 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Poi Time
8 p.m. — Hoopballas vs. JellyfamTuesday
7 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. ButteSports
8 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. Washington GeneralsWednesday
7 p.m. — Hoopballas vs. Kenworthy
8 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Washington Generals
9 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. Poi TimeThursday
7 p.m. — City Boys vs. Someday Starters
8 p.m. — City Boys vs. Kenworthy
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Luedtke, Verlanic named All-State
Grey, Hansen picked all-conference
The Class AA All-State and all-conference football teams were released to the media Friday evening, and four Butte High Bulldogs made the grade.
Seniors Hudson Luedtke and Mitch Verlanic led the way, taking home All-State accolades. Juniors Raeder Grey and Jaeger Hansen both received second-team all-conference recognition.
Luedtke closes his career as a four-time All-State player for the Bulldogs. He took home a first-team All-State and all-conference selection at receiver. He was also named second-team all-conference as a nickel back on defense.
Luedtke, so far a three-time All-State basketball player, hauled in 73 passes for 763 yards and six touchdowns this past season. On defense, he registered 50 total tackles, recorded three sacks and picked off a pass.
Verlanic took home All-State honors at two positions — as a special teams player and as an all-purpose defensive player. The linebacker, who seemed to be in on every tackle, led the Bulldogs with 104 total take downs. He picked off three passes.
Grey received a second-team nod as an all-purpose offensive player. He started the season at receiver but moved to full-time quarterback midway through Butte High’s fourth game. Grey completed 56 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions for the Bulldogs, who made a late-season run to qualify for the playoffs.
Hansen was named second-team all-conference at outside linebacker. He ranked second on the team with 74 total tackles. He got in on two sacks and picked off a pair of passes.
Several other Bulldogs received all-conference honorable mention accolades. They all received certificates at Wednesday’s Silver B’s banquet, but the Class AA does not release their names.
Glacier’s Jackson Presley was named Offensive MVP of the Class AA. Teammate Jack Robinson was named Defensive MVP.
Click the links below to see all the Class AA players to receive All-State and all-conference recognition.
The Bulldogs pictured above are, from left, Luedtke, Verlanic, Grey and Hansen. The photos were provided by Alycia Holland Photography.
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No. 307: Blake Hempstead returns
You will never find someone who cares more about and does more for his hometown than Blake Hempstead.
Blake is all about Anaconda and the Anaconda Copperheads. He announces the Copperheads sporting events and writes about them on his website, CopperheadCountry.org, and he produces Copperhead apparel at his store, Anode Designs.
While they are looking to sell their business, Blake and Melissa Hempstead have used their store to help lift their community. They produce some high-quality clothing, too.
This fall, Blake was there to bring us the action as the Anaconda football team made a return trip to the Class B playoffs. While Anaconda fell to Malta in the first round, the season under head coach Dan Lacey, a Butte native, was one that captivated Anacondans of the past and present.
These Copperheads came along just at the right time, galvanizing a community that was still reeling from the horrific shooting at the Owl Bar.
Blake is also a photographer for Skyline Sports, which extensively covers the Big Sky Conference. He has traveled to the last three FCS National Championship games to cover Montana State and Montana.
Today mark’s Blake’s second appearance on the ButteCast. Listen in as Blake talks about that great run by the Copperhead football team and the success of other Anaconda High programs.
Listen in as he talks about the latest Cat-Griz football game, some poor behavior by some fans and the possibility that the two teams will meet again in the playoffs. Listen as he talks about covering Montana kids playing on Montana teams in the National Championship Game. Listen in as he talks about the very real possibility that the Bobcats will lose head coach Brent Vigen.
Listen as Blake talks about being a small business owner and how he is looking forward to a fun winter sports season in Anaconda. This is one you do not want to miss.
Today’s episode is brought to you by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life.
Watch this episode on YouTube:
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Fans of the Bobcats and Grizzlies could learn a lot from a handball legend
The late Rocky Williams was a pressman at The Montana Standard and a legendary character among handball players at the Butte Elks.
One day, Rocky entered the stag bar at the Elks after playing handball downstairs. He was eager to tell everyone about the young player he just battled in the court.
Rocky, who passed away at the age of 78 in 2012, assured everyone that this player was incredible. He could kill the ball with both hands, and he could get to everything. This player, Rocky said, was going to be a state champion someday. He was that incredibly good.
Those guys in the bar should have seen this young man play, Rocky said. They should have seen him.
Eventually, one of the other guys at the bar interrupted Rocky’s praise of this unknown player, saying, “Well, Rocky, how did you do against this kid?”
Rocky smiled and said, “I beat him.”
It is hard to say how much Rocky was joking and how much he was being serious. I assume it was a little bit of both. No matter the rational, Rocky was on to something. You should always heap praise upon your opponent.
If your opponent is no good, then who cares if you beat him?
That is something that we do not see enough. Often when a team is beating — or even competing with — a highly-ranked team, its fans will chant “overrated” at the team. When they do that, they are also raining on the parade of the inspired performance by the team they are rooting for.
If they are truly overrated, then the upset really is not that big of a deal.
More importantly, respecting your opponent is the right thing to do.
For the most part, athletes respect their opponents, even if they might be a league below them. They know the commitment and sacrifice the players on the other side give. They know their opponents are also in the weightroom early in the morning, and they know they are studying film late at night.
They know that they are giving everything they have to win that game.
Fans, though, too often seem to forget that when it comes to high school and, more often, college sports. We particularly see that every time the Montana State Bobcats play the Montana Grizzlies.
Fans seem to lose all their sense of respect and decency when it comes to the Cat-Griz game.
In November of 2022, Butte High graduate Tommy Mellott led the Bobcats to a win over Montana in Bozeman. Seeing that some Bobcat fans were really razzing the Grizzlies, Tommy tried to stop it during a live on-field television interview right after the game.
“Quit trying to dehumanize those guys over there, trying to get in their bus,” he said. “Don’t be messing with them.”
Tommy, who remembered what it felt like to come out on the wrong side of that rivalry just 52 weeks earlier, had too much respect for his Grizzly opponents to let that go on unchecked.
“I know what it feels like. We felt it last year,” Tommy said. “Those guys work harder than 90 percent of the people just to put themselves in position to play this game. Please just respect them and take care of those guys.”
Tommy drew statewide praise for those comments. Bobcats’ fans loved it. Grizzlies’ fans loved it. People who don’t know who the Bobcats and Grizzlies are loved it.
And, just like that, they forgot his words. They put on their FTC or FTG gear, and verbally tore apart student-athletes who work harder than most can possibly comprehend.
This Nov. 22, the Bobcats beat the Grizzlies 31-28 in an emotionally-charged battle in Missoula. It was one of the best Cat-Griz games of this century, and it was so much fun to watch.
Unlike most Montanans, I am mostly neutral when it comes to the Cats and the Griz, even though I graduated from the University of Montana. My years as a sportswriter mean that I know players and coaches on both sides, and I have tremendous respect for them.
Sure, I leaned toward the Grizzlies this year because the Griz roster includes former Butte High Bulldogs Jake Olson, Tanner Huff and Cameron Gurnsey. Not only am I a big fan of those young men, I am also big fans of their parents and grandparents.
Still, I was happy to see Bobcat Zac Crews block the field goal that proved to be the difference in the game. A few years ago, I sat at Zac’s dining room table for a long talk with the former Missoula Sentinel star.
I left his house that day feeling that Zach is a genuinely good person who is headed toward great things in life. I feel that way even more today.
So, even though I was sad for Jake and Tanner, I was happy for Zac as I watched the end of that great game in Missoula. Even if you come up short in a game like that, what a tremendous honor it is to have been a part of it.
Some Grizzly fans, though, did not see it that way. Instead, they decided to continue to trash the players on the other side, yelling and cussing at them as they celebrated their giant win on the Washington-Grizzly Stadium turf.
One fan even posted a video as Twitter of proof, as he saw it, that the Bobcats were “trash.” The video showed a couple of Bobcat players clapping back at the fans who were yelling and throwing things at them on the field shortly after the game.
The since-deleted video captures the monumental hypocrisy of the guy filming the incident. At one point, he tells the players to shut up because they are “not even from here,” as if a player must be a native of a state care about the football team he plays for.
Of course, it was easy to see through the not-so-thinly veiled reason the man with the camera phone said that. Was he staring at a roster as he filmed? Or was he maybe judging them by the color of their skin?
The clincher of his video that proved the Bobcats were “classless” was when the guy panned the camera over to his wife, who screamed profanities at the players.
The morning before the game, this righteous man who identifies himself as a teacher, coach, dad and grandpa, posted “(bleep) the Cats” on Twitter.
I am not saying this guy is a bad guy. I just think he got caught up in all this FTC and FTG nonsense. You know what that means. “TC” stands for “The Cats,” and “TG” stands for “The Griz.”
You do not have to have much of an imagination to guess what the “F” stands for, and it is not “class.”
We see these hats, shirts and hoodies way too often, and it is time to knock it off for good. The schools should lead the way in this by refusing to license merchants who sell the junk.
It is time for people to tell their fellow fans who rock the FTC and FTG to knock it off, too. Ask them how they would feel if someone was wearing a hat that said that about the team their son works so hard to play football for.
Ask them how they would like people filming while swearing at their son. Ask them how they would like it if someone told their son, “You’re not even from here.”
Tell people who are attacking a college athlete for a mistake he made when he was 16 or 17 is only proving that their actions are a thousand times worse than any mistake the athlete ever made. I’m looking at you, Brian Laegreid.
Tell them to ask the players on the team they are rooting for what they think of their rivals from the other side of the Great Divide. I think they would be shocked when they heard the response.
The players are clearly emotional during the rivalry game, and they might not like their opponents very much. But you better believe that they respect them.
They might not praise their opponents to the degree Rocky did in the Elks stag bar, but they know that this FTC and FTG nonsense is just that. It is nonsense.
It is time for the fans to realize it, too.
— Bill Foley, who wears hoodies for the Bobcats and Grizzlies, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74 or Bluesky at @foles74.bsky.social. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 