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Omission: Maroons place in top 10
Three Butte Central place winners were inadvertently omitted from a story about Saturday’s Montana Classic swimming meet.
Butte Central’s Tessa Ganzenmueller placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke. Morgan Hardy took seventh place in the 100 freestyle, and Tia Thompson finished 10th in the 200 freestyle.
The Butte Central swimmers will compete again Friday in a meet at the YMCA.
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Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Tatum Trefts and Gage Plum
Butte High swimmers Tatum Trefts and Gage Plum are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honors come as the Bulldog swimmers head into crunch time after a strong start to the season.
Trefts is a senior who has been a fixture on the Bulldog team for the four seasons. She takes home the girls’ honor.
Trefts placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley at the Montana Classic Saturday at the Butte Family YMCA.
She competed in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay for the Bulldogs at the state meet last February in Great Falls.
Plum takes home the boys’ honor. He is off to a solid start to his junior season. He placed fourth in the 200 individual medley at the Montana Classic. He also swam to a fifth-place showing in the 100 freestyle.
At the state meet last February, Plum competed in the 200 freestyle relay for the Bulldogs. He is looking for a return trip to state this year.
The Bulldogs will compete in Butte on Friday before heading to Missoula for a competition on Saturday. The State meet is Feb. 12-14 in Great Falls.
For the fourth 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.
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Podcast No. 318: Kevin Peoples
Kevin Peoples is a 1989 Butte Central graduate who has been a college football coach for the past 30 years.
He has coached at places like Indiana, Tulane, Arkansas, and Missouri. For the past two seasons, he has coached the edge rushers at LSU. He joined the Tigers program under Brian Kelly and will continue under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
Peoples was a three-sport standout for the Maroons, competing in football, basketball and track, before going to Carroll College to play football for the Saints.
He got into coaching under Carroll legend Bob Petrino in 1993. Peoples then moved to Blinn Community College in 1995, and started moving up in the world of college football. He coached successful teams and players who went on to play in the NFL.
Someday, Peoples is hoping to join the ranks of the NFL, too. First, though, he is committed to helping the Tigers capture another national title.
Listen in to this episode as Coach Peoples he talks about playing for the Maroons and Saints. Listen as he talks about getting into coaching.
Listen in as Coach Peoples talks about the changing landscape of college football and how the game will never be the same.
Listen as he talks about the time he got his brother, Doug, evicted from his place in Helena.
Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda of Butte, home of the sales staff that always has your back. This episode is also available on YouTube:
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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of Jan. 26.
Monday
7 p.m. — Poi Time vs. JellyfamTuesday
7 p.m. — Kenworthy vs. Someday Starters
8 p.m. — Hoopballas vs. JellyfamWednesday
6 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Everett-Cook Law
7 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. Hoopballas
8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. KenworthyThursday
7 p.m. — City Boys vs. ButteSports
8 p.m. — City Boys vs. Poi Time
9 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. Washington Generals
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Bulldogs place second, fifth in pool
Butte High’s boys’ swimming team placed second at the Montana Classic Saturday at the Butte Family YMCA.
The Bulldog girls, meanwhile, took fifth in the nine-team meet.
Billings West swept the team titles. On the boys’ side, the Golden Bears scored 430 points. Butte High was second at 345, followed by Billings Skyview at 253. Butte Central placed ninth at 25.5.
The West girls ran away with the title, scoring 538 points. Belgrade was second at 25, and Missoula Hellgate placed third at 224.
The Bulldogs scored 149 points. BC scored 38 for ninth place.
“Everyone is swimming hard,” Bulldog coach Lynn Shrader said. “It is coming to the end of the season and they are working hard to make state.”
Shrader said her boys showed great improvement.
Senior Nathon Stone placed third in the 100-yard freestyle and ninth in the 50 freestyle for the Bulldogs. Junior Gage Plum paced fourth in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 freestyle.
Sophomore Tucker Kissell took 4 seconds off his best time in the 200 freestyle to place fifth. Junior Ayvahn Mann placed third in the 100 backstroke with a personal record, and sophomore Gunnar Benson placed sixth in the 200 freestyle. Freshman Alex Sonneman placed fifth in the 500 freestyle.
Benson, Kissell, Sonneman and Stone took second in the 200 freestyle, just getting out touched. Plum, Kissell, Mann and Sonnemann finished third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Grayson Lynch, Stone, Benson and Plum swam to fourth place in the 200 medley relay.
Central’s Connor Hardy placed eighth in the 100 freestyle.
Shrader said her girls’ team was hit hard by illness this week, but still competed well.
Seniors Olivia Thurmond and Tatum Trefts led that fight. Thurmond placed third in the 100 freestyle and fifth in the 50 free. Trefts finished second in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley.
Junior Alaina Grochowski placed fourth in the 50 free, and sophomore Bryher Fitzpatrick placed ninth in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke. Sophomore Bella Corrales finished eighth in the 200 freestyle.
Thurmond, Trefts, Grochowski and Corrales swam to third place in the 200 medley relay.
The Bulldogs will be back in Butte for a meet on Friday. They head to Missoula on Saturday. The Maroons will join Butte High in Friday’s meet.
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BC boys roll streak to six in Corvallis, girls fall at home
Butte Central’s boys’ basketball team extended its winning streak to six games Saturday, beating Corvallis 72-38 in Corvallis.
At the same time, the Blue Devils knocked off the Maroon girls xx at the Maroon Activities Center.
Central’s teams are back in action next Saturday against Stevensville. The boys will play at home, while the girls hit the road.
BOYS
Butte Central 72, Corvallis 38
CORVALLIS — BC’s sixth straight win was an easy one.The Maroons jumped out to a 26-12 lead at halftime and blew the doors off the Blue Devils with a 27-7 run in the third quarter.
Joshua Sutton scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter to lead the Maroons. He hit four 3-ponters on the game. Ryan Peoples added three treys and scored 14 points, and Jaxon Hiatt tossed in five points.
Eight Maroons scored in the win. Noah Sutton tossed in nine, Cade Kelly netted five, Burkeley Lakkala scored four, and Henly Mansanti and Grady Button each tossed in three.
Teaghan Sparks, GG Fantini and Gunnar O’Brien also contributed to the Maroons, who improved to 10-1 overall and 5-0 in conference. Central is undefeated against Class A competition.
Connor Jessop scored 16 points to lead the Blue Devils.
BUTTE CENTRAL (10-1, 5-0) — Ryan Peoples 4 3-4 14, Cade Kelly 1 2-2 5, Joshua Sutton 7 4-6 22, GG Fantini 0 0-0 0, Jaxon Hiatt 5 2-4 12, Noah Sutton 4 -0 9, Burkley Lakkala 1 2-2 4, Grady Button 1 0-0 3, Henley Mansanti 1 1-2 3, Teghan Sparks 0 0-0 0, Gunner O’Brien 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 14-20 72.
CORVALLIS (2-9, 1-4) — Tanner Sorensen 2 1-3 5, Easton Jessop 1 0-0 2, Connor Jessop 6 6-6 16, Dexter Harper 2 0-0 4, Dylan Wirt 3 3-4 10, Drew Harper 0 0-0 0, Cole Murdock 0 0-0 0, Trevin Epling 0 0-0 0, Branson Bucholz 0 0-0 0, Nathan Xeller 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 11-15 38.
Central 15 11 27 19 — 72
Corvallis 8 4 7 19 — 38
3-point goals — BC 10 (J. Sutton 4, Peoples 3, N. Sutton, Button), Corvallis 3 (C. Jessop 2, Wirt). Fouls — BC 13, Corvallis 17. Fouled out — De. Harper, Wirt. Technicals — none.
GIRLS
Corvallis 46, Butte Central 35
The Blue Devils outscored the Maroons 15-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.Ava Loran turned scored 14 points and added intense defensive pressure to lead Corvallis in the win. Kate Allen added eight points.
Eighth grader Luci Fantini hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points to lead the Maroons. Zayonna Otherbull scored seven points, while Rylee Forbes and Braelynn Schelin both tossed in six. Arika Stajcar sank a 3-pointer.
Kenzie McQueary, Marly Mansanti and Evyn Smith also contributed for the Maroons.
CORVALLIS (6-6, 3-2) — Ava Loran 5 3-4 14, Ella Varner 1 0-2 3, Kate Alle 5 2-3 12, Kaia Benson 2 2-3 6, Lauryn Holmberg 1 1-2 3, Ellie Knapp 0 0-0 0, Briella Epling 2 2-2 8, Savanna Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-16 46.
BUTTE CENTRAL (3-8, 1-4) — Kenzie McQueary 0 0-0 0, Zayonna Otherbull 2 2-4 7, Rylee Forbes 3 0-0 6, Braelynn Schelin 1 3-4 6, Arika Stajcar 1 0-0 3, Evyn Smith 0 0-0 0, Marly Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Luci Fantini 4 0-4 13.
Corvallis 10 7 14 15 — 46
Central 8 7 15 5 — 35
3-point goals — Corvallis 4 (Epling 2, Loran, Varner), BC 6 (Fantini 3, Otherbull, Schelin, Stajcar). Fouls — Corvallis 14, BC 14. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none. -
Butte High girls’ subvarsity report
Following are the Butte High girls’ basketball subvarsity reports for the first several games of January, as provided by Bulldog coaches.
The reports include games against schools from Kalispell, Helena, Ennis and Deer Lodge.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Butte High 39, Flathead 33
KALISPELL — All 10 Bulldogs who played score points as Butte High opened the road trip with the Jan. 9 win.Kendallyn Schad scored seven points for Butte High. Stella Callaghan and Evie Smith each scored five points, and Ellie Yates, Saege Grey and Avery Barsness each scored four. Butte High also got three points apiece from Elli Graham and Berkli Salusso, and two points apiece from Reese Johnson and Wakely Burleson.
Salusso was named Junkyard Dog of the game.
Lexi Herion scored 14 to lead the Bravettes. Reese Rosenberg tossed in 11.
Butte High 39, Glacier 31
KALISPELL — Evie Smith scored nine points to led the Bulldogs in the Jan. 10 victory. Elli Grham, Reese Johnson and Berkli Salusso each added six points.The Bulldogs also got five points from Stella Callaghan, four from Saege Grey and three from Kendallyn Schad. Ellie Yates and Avery Barsness contributed, too.
Clara Ahner and Ava Grady each scored nine to lead Glacier.
Helena Capital 28, Butte High 14
The Bruins used a strong defensive performance to turn pack the Bulldogs Jan. 15 at the Richardson Gym.Reese Johnson and Saege Grey each scored three points to lead the Bulldogs. Evie Smith, Avery Barsness and Kendallyn Schad scored two, while Ellie Graham and Berkli Salusso tossed in one.
Helena High 50, Butte High 41
HELENA — Jessie Leland scored 12 points, and Maddie McCullough tossed in 11 to pace the Bengals in the Jan. 17 win.Reese Johnson netted nine points to lead the Bulldogs. Saege Grey added seven for Butte, which got six from Berkli Salusso, five from Stella Callaghan, four from Avery Barsness, three from Elli Graham and Taylor Reagan and two from Wakely Burleson. Sage Leber and Brea Henderson also contributed for the Bulldogs.
SOPHOMORES
Butte High 52, Deer Lodge 21
DEER LODGE — Eight Bulldogs dented the score book in the Jan. 5 road victory.Ava White, the Junkyard Dog of the game, scored 10 points to lead the Way for the Bulldogs, who got nine points from Rylee Erickson and eight apiece from Wakely Burleson and Kaydee O’Connor.
Sage Leber and Milee Stillwagon each scored five points, Kenzie Rowe tossed in four, and Megan Chiamulera netted three in the win. Persaius Findlay also played in the Bulldog win.
Butte High 36, Flathead 29
KALISPELL — Rylee Erikson tossed in 13 points to pace the Bulldogs, who battled through adversity to get the win in the physical game.Erickson scored seven of those points from the free throw line. She was named Junkyard Dog of the game for that, diving on 50/50 balls and rebounding. Kenzie Rowe added eight points for Butte High, which got six from Kaydee O’Connor, four from Wakely Burleson, two apiece from Ava White and Megan Chiamulera, and one from Sage Leber. Miley Stillwagon and Aly Verlanic also contributed to the Butte win
June Stickney scored 12 to pace the Bravettes.
Glacier 51, Butte High 38
KALISPELL — Butte High battled back from a 17-point deficit, but the Bulldogs could not get close enough in the loss.Kenzie Rowe scored 10 points to lead Butte High. Rylee Erickson tossed in nine points, and Milee Stillwagon netted seven. The Bulldogs also got four from Megan Chiamulera, three from Sage Leber and Wakely Burleson and one from Aly Verlanic, and Ava White. Kaydee O’Connor also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Erickson took home Junkyard Dog of the game. Coaches cited her rebounding.
Butte High 30, Ennis 29
The Bulldogs got the last stop they needed to hold off Ennis in a physical game Jan. 12 at the old Butte High gym.Rylee Erickson scored nine points to lead the Bulldogs. Milee Stillwagon added five points. She also received the Junkyard Dog of the game award thanks to her hustling and getting deflections.
Aly Verlanic scored six points, while Ava White and Megan Chiamulera each scored four, and Sage Leber netted two. Kenzie Rowe, Persaius Findlay, Wakely Burleson and Kaydee O’Connor also contributed in the Bulldog win.
Butte High 45, Helena Capital 30
Milee Stillwagon tossed in 10 points to lead a balanced Bulldog attack in the win over the Bruins.Sage Leber scored nine points for Butte High, and Megan Chiamulera tossed in four. Chiamulera was named Junkyard Dog of the game for her rebounding and hustle for loose balls.
The Bulldogs also got five from Kenzie Rowe and four apiece from Wakely Burleson, Ava White and Kaydee O’Connor. Aly Verlanic contributed in the Bulldog win, too.
Helena High 44, Butte High 41
HELENA — A rally by the Bulldogs came up just short in this one.Milee Stillwagon was the Junkyard dog of the game after pouring in a game-high 19 points. She sank four 3-pointers.
Wakely Burleson and Kaydee O’Connor each scored seven points, and Megan Chiamulera and Sage Leber each scored four. Kenzie Rowe, Persaius Findlay, Aly Verlanic and Ava White also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Andee Rowe scored 10 points to lead the Bengals in the win. Hayden Oliveria added nine.
FRESHMEN
Flathead 34, Butte High 30
KALISPELL — Issie Kilduff’s 11 points led Flathead in the victory.Junkyard Dog of the game Brea Henderson scored eight points to lead the Bulldogs. She was also cited for her hustle, diving on loose balls. Taylor Regan, Karlee Jeffery and Sara Whitaker each scored six for Butte High. Lilly Sandoval and Kynslee Wrampe each tossed in two.
Jordy Giop, Franki Allred and Bella Schrapps also contributed to the Butte effort.
Butte High 51, Glacier 27
KALISPELL — Sara Whitaker and Taylor Regan reached double figures scoring as the Bulldogs rolled to the win.Whitaker scored 12 points, while Regan netted 11. Whitaker also took home Junkyard Dog honors for her rebounding.
The Bulldogs got nine points from Brea Henderson, seven from Kynslee Wrampe and Lilly Sandoval, six from Karlee Jeffery, two from Bella Schrapps and one from Franki Allred. Jordy Giopp also pitched in for the Bulldog win.
Butte High 32, Helena Capital 23
Karlee Jeffery did it all for the Bulldogs in this win. She scored a game-high 15 points while earning Junkyard Dog of the game for her aggressive defense.Taylor Regan added seven points for Butte High, while Lilly Sandoval scored six, and Brea Henderson tossed in four.
Kynslee Wrampe, Sara Whitaker, Jordy Giop, Franki Allred and Bella Schrapps also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Joan Ross scored seven points to lead Capital. Parker Skinner added six.
Butte High 48, Helena High 6
HELENA — All nine Bulldog players to see the floor scored points as Butte High rolled in this one.Karlee Jeffery scored 10 points to lead the way. Lilly Sandoval, Sara Whitaker and Brea Henderson each added eight points. Taylor Regan scored five, Kynslee Wrampe tossed in three, and Jordy Giop, Franki Allred and Bella Schrapps tossed in two.
Schrapps was named Junkyard Dog of the game for her rebounding.
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Maroons split in Dillon
DILLON — Butte Central’s boys’ basketball team pulled out a tough win over Dillon Thursday night at the B.W. Lodge Gym.
The Maroons grabbed a 50-44 win over the Beavers in the nightcap of a doubleheader. Dillon’s girls beat Central 65-35 in the opener.
BC’s teams will take on Corvallis Saturday. The boys will hit the road, while the girls will play at home.
BOYS
Butte Central 50, Dillon 44
BC overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to knock off the Beavers 50-44.The win ran the Maroons’ record to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Central is undefeated against Class A competition.
Dillon fell to 5-5 and 1-1. Statistics for this game are not available.
GIRLS
Dillon 65, Butte Central 35The Beavers dialed in from down town to take down the Maroons.
Cassie Keller sank six 3-pointers, and Landri Martin added five to lead the way for the Bevers. Both scored 23 points in the victory that ran Dillon’s winning streak to six.
Shannon Martin added two long balls and scored 10 points for Dillon, which got four points from Kenna Sampson, two apiece from Baylor Malesich and Brynna Gibson, and one from Kaitlyn Konen.
Rylee Forbes scored 15 points, and Zayonna Otherbull tallied 12 to lead the Maroons. Kenzie McQueary, Braelynn Schelin, Luci Fantini and Arika Stajcar each scored two. Jordyn Samson, Evyn Smith, Marly Mansanti and Jaedyn Maldonado also contributed for the Maroons.
BUTTE CENTRAL (3-7, 1-3) — Jordyn Samson 0 0-0 0, Zayonna Otherbull 4 3-4 12, Rylee Forbes 6 3-3 15, Braelynn Schelin 1 0-0 2, Arika Stajcar 1 0-0 2, Evyn Smith 0 0-0 0, Marly Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Kenzie McQueary 0 2-2 2, Jaedyn Maldonado 0 0-0 0, Luci Fantini 1 0-0 2. Totals 8-9 35.
DILLON (9-1, 2-0) — Cassie Keller 8 1-4 23, Shannon Martin 4 0-0 10, Landri Hartman 9 0-0 23, Kena Sampson 2 0-0 4, Kaitlyn Konen 0 1-2 1, Brynna Gibson 1 0-0 2, Kenndyl Meine 0 0-0 0, Baylor Malesich 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 2-6 65.
Central 8 8 8 11 — 35
Dillon 14 16 22 13 — 65
3-point goals — BC 1 (Otherbull), Dillon 13 (Keller 6, Hartman 5, Martin 2). Fouls — BC 7, Dillon 24. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none. -
Knights take two from Bulldogs
Missoula Hellgate took a pair of Western AA games from Butte High Thursday night.
The Knights topped the Butte High girls 58-47 in Missoula, while the Hellgate boys beat the Bulldogs 50-38 at the Richardson Gym.
The games are the only action of the week for the Bulldogs, who take on Missoula Big Sky on Tuesday. The girls will be at home, and the boys will be on the road.
GIRLS
Missoula Hellgate 58, Butte High 47
MISSOULA — One quarter sunk the Bulldogs.Hellgate outscored Butte High 18-3 in the second quarter, and the Knights did not look back in the victory that rolled their record to 7-2 on the season and 4-1 in Western AA play.
Gianna Passuccio led three Hellgate players in double figures with 17 points. Texas Gilman came off the bench to score 12, and Elly Reed tossed in 11.
Cadence Graham’s 22 points led the Bulldogs, who saw their four-game winning streak end. Ellie Graham and Allie Becker each scored seven points, while Franki Salusso and Autumn Clary each scored four. Saege Grey knocked in three points.
Emma Johnson and Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs, who fell to 6-4 and 4-1.
BUTTE HIGH (6-4, 4-1) — Allie Becker 2 2-2 7, Cadence Graham 7 6-8 22, Autumn Clary 2 0-0 4, Franki Salusso 1 2-2 4, Emma Johnson 0 0-0 0, Elli Graham 3 0-0 7, Saege Grey 1 0-0 3, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-12 47.
MISSOULA HELLGATE (7-2, 4-1) — Paisley Johnson 3 1-1 7, Elly Reed 3 5-5 11, Ryan Meservy 3 1-1. 9, Lucy Hutchins 1 0-0 2, Gianna Passuccio 6 4-5 17, Texas Gilman 5 1-2 12. Totals 22 12-14 58.
Butte 13 3 13 18 — 47
Hellgate 10 18 8 22 — 58
3-point goals — Butte 5 (C. Graham 2, Becker, E. Graham, Grey), Hellgate 4 (Meservy 2, Gilman, Passuccio). Fouls — Butte 14, Hellgate 12. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none.BOYS
Missoula Hellgate 50, Butte High 38
Hellgate’s defense stymied the Bulldogs, who dropped their second game of the season.Zane Gillhouse and Spencer Wayland combined for 31 points to lead the Knights, who improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. Gillhouse scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the first half, while Wayland tossed in 14. The Knights also got nine points from Parker Link, four from JT Klimkiewicz and three apiece from Liam Dick and Vince Paffhausen.
Cayde Stajcar scored 13 points, and Rhett Arntson came off the bench to drain three 3-pointers and score 11 points for the Bulldogs. Hudson Luedtke tossed in seven, Brady Hanson scored four, and Mitch Verlanic netted three.
Brady Walsh, James Pearson and Kendel Noctor also contributed for the Bulldogs.
MISSOULA HELLGATE (7-2, 4-1) — Liam Dick 0 3-4 3, Sam Cohea 0 0-0 0, ane Gillhouse 8 0-0 17, Spencer Wayland 6 0-0 14, Evan Pyron 1 2-2 4, Vince Paffhause 1 1-2 3, Parker Link 2 4-7 9, Will Petrino 0 0-0 0, JT Klimkiewicz 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 10-15 50.
BUTTE (8-2, 3-2) — Cayde Stajcar 6 1-4 13, Hudson Luedtke 4 0-2 11, Mitch Verlanic 3 0-0 7. Josh Liston 0 0-0 0, Brady Hanson 2 0-0 4, Rhett Arntson 4 0-2 11, Kendell Noctor 0 0-0 0, James Pearston 0 0-0 0, Brady Walsh 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 1-6 38.
Hellgate 13 11 10 16 — 50
Butte 8 9 5 16 — 38
3-point goals — Hellgate 4 (Wayland 2, Gillhouse, Link), Butte 5 (Arntson 3, Luedtke, Verlanic). Fouls — Hellgate 16, Butte 13. Fouled out — Pyron, Verlanic. Technicals — none. -
No. 317: Susie Hogart-Harrington
If Susie (Briney) Hogart-Harrington was born 10 years later, we would all probably know her name from her prowess in the athletic arena. She was just good at everything she did.
Unfortunately, Susie came along before Title IX, the 1972 landmark civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funds.
Susie graduated from Butte Central in 1973, and girls’ sports were an afterthought, to say the least. But Susie kept playing.
She went to Eastern Montana College, which is now called MSU-Billings, and competed in volleyball, basketball and track & field for the Yellowjackets. She was particularly good in the javelin. She launched the javelin 152 feet, which was 2 feet better than the Olympic qualifier at the time.
However, Susie could not get the sponsorship needed to pursue a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. So, she said she breathed a sigh of relief when the United States boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980. It just might have saved her from a lifetime of regret.
While Susie did not get the attention or notoriety she deserved, her daughters sure did. Thanks to pioneers like Susie, girls’ sports were a big deal by the time her three girls, Jackie, J.J. and Jodi came along to star for Butte Central.
Susie was there to coach them in every sport in which they competed. She even coached Butte Central’s volleyball team for four years.
Today, girls’ sports are as popular as ever. Little girls grow up dreaming of being the next Caitlin Clark. That is because of women like Susie. They never believed they were lesser athletes. They just kept playing.
Listen in to this episode as Susie talks about growing up and playing sports before Title IX. Listen as she talks about playing at Eastern and knowing she was good enough to try out for the Olympics.
Listen as she talks about how times have changed and how much fun she had watching her daughters play sports. Listen to hear how she is now living the good life watching her young grandchildren compete.
Today’s episode is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. It is also available on YouTube:
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 