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Luebke leads Dogs at Mountain West
MISSOULA — Senior Bridger Luebke broke 18 minutes Saturday to lead a strong showing of Butte High runners at the Mountain West Classic. (Results)
Luebke finished the 5-kilometer race on the University of Montana Golf Course in 17 minutes, 56 seconds. He placed 118th out of 461 runners who completed the event.
Taylor Neil of Bozeman won the race in 15:14. Darrel Dickson of Sugar City, Idaho took second in 15:21. He was followed by Becks Bird of Spokane in 15:39 and Milo Kauffman of Helena High in 15:46.
Luebke was one of three Bulldog boys to break 19 minutes on the day. Junior Isaac Zell finished in 18:15 for 144th place. Sophomore Jason Real crossed in 18:59 for 225th.
Senior Kai Shuler ran in 19:11, senior Colton Yoakum finished in 19:31, and junior Jack Taylor posted a time of 19:57. Junior Lyric Haston crossed in 21:50.
Butte Central senior Joe Bradshaw finished in 20:37 to lead three Maroons. Eighth grader Ryan Byrne finished in 21:02, and freshman Roman Terry crossed in 22:51.
Bozeman topped boys’ team standings with 85 points. Helena was second at 98, and Hardin placed third at 181. The meet included 86 teams with 59 of those teams having enough for a score.
Butte High placed 36ths at 839.
Sophomore Sophia Houchin led the Butte High girls. She crossed in 21:35 to place 119th. It was the second race Houchin, who has been battling a hip injury, finished this season.
Morgan Delaney of Polson won in 17:50. Phoebe Maixner of Bozeman took second in 17:50, and Reed Stromberg of Missoula Hellgate finished third in 17:58.
Junior Penelope Luebke finished in 21:44 for the Bulldogs, and classmate Wakely Burelson crossed in 23:00.
Sophomore Ashley White led Butte Central with a time of 24:37. Freshman Linnora Howard also ran for the Maroons. She finished in 31:25.
Helena won the girls’ team title in 122. Bozeman took second in 146, and Gallatin placed third at 153. Butte High and Butte Central did not have enough varsity runners for a team score.
The Bulldogs and Maroons will run at the Butte Invitational, which is Thursday at the Highland View Golf Course.
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Eagles nip Bulldogs, 22-21
Senior quarterback Eli Kasberg hit Tristan Miller for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute, 38 seconds left Friday night, and Missoula Big Sky beat Butte High 22-21 in a Western AA football game at Naranche Stadium. (Stats)
Butte High responded Kasberg’s strike by driving down to set up a 32-yard field goal attempt as time expired. The kick sailed wide right, and the Eagles pulled out a win on a night in which Butte High was celebrating Homecoming and Silver B’s Night.
Kasberg, who has committed to play football at the University of Montana, had a hand in all three scores to keep the Eagles undefeated.
The night started off in fine fashion for the Bulldogs. After the newest members of the Silver B’s, Golden B’s, Platinum B’s and Diamond B’s were introduced, senior Brady Walsh returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.
After Bradey Doyle’s point after, the Bulldogs led 7-0.
Kasberg scored his first touchdown in the second quarter. After hitting Mason Ramos for a long connection, Kasberg scampered nine yards for the score. Kasberg ran in the 2-point conversion that proved to be the difference in the game.
Senior Raeder Grey found sophomore Ryan Bache for a 58-yard score to make it 14-8 in favor of Butte High with 4 minutes, 55 seconds left in the first half.
The lead changed hands three times in the second half. Kasberg scored on a 1-yard plunge to make it 15-14 Big Sky.
Second later, Brady Walsh caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from Grey to make it a 21-15 Butte lead. Then Kasberg and the Eagles go the last laugh.
Bache picked off a pass at the goal line and returned it the distance for a touchdown that seemingly put the Bulldogs in command. The play, however, was called back by a block in the back after the pick.
Kasberg passed for 229 yards and ran for 141 more. He hit Ramos eight times for 116 yards.
Grey threw for 215 yards and the two scores. Bache and Lee each caught three passes.
Finn Wortham led the Bulldog defense with 16 total tackles. Maxximus Pearston got in on 11 tackles, while Jaeger Hanson collected 10. Reese Cunneen added nine take downs, Evan McEwen got in on eight, and Lee and Colt Stenson each were credited with seven tackles.
Butte High fell to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Eagles are 4-0 and 2-0. The Bulldogs will play Missoula Sentinel next Friday in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Soccer player Aiden Maesar was named Homecoming King, and volleyball player Allie Becker was named Homecoming Queen at halftime.
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Muhlestein, Yelenich, Lisac, DeShaw crack top 10 at Butte High Invite
McGrees finish just outside
GREGSON — Four members of the Butte High golf team finished in the top 10 on leaderboards at the Butte High Invitational.
The final round wrapped up Friday at the Fairmont Hot Springs Golf Course, and Bulldogs Jack Muhlestein, Teagan Yelenich, Lane Lisac and Kate DeShaw finished among the top.
John Gilbert of Helena Capital won boys’ medalist honors with a 2-under-par total of 142. He followed Thursday’s 70 with a final-round 72 to beat Joseph Meusey of Missoula Sentinel by four shots. Meusey shot a 73 each day.
Cole Jenkins of Sentinel and Ustin Kaufman of Helena High tied for third at 147.
Muhlestein, a junior, improved four shots for a 73 to tie for seventh place at 150. Yelenich, a junior, and Lisac, a freshman, tied for 10th at 153. Yelenich improved three shots for a 75 Friday. Lisac slipped one shot for a 77.
Butte Central’s Beau McGree placed 13th at 156. The junior followed a 77 with a 79.
Sentinel won the team title with a 603 total. The Spartans followed a 301 with a 302. Capital, the first-day leader, took second at 604. The Bruins slipped four shots for a 304 on Friday.
Butte High improved three shots for a 312 and third place at 627. The Maroons placed 10th at 715.
Beckham Kinsey followed an 84 with a 78 for a 171 total for the Bulldogs. Teammate Miles Choquette matched 87s for a 174.
Connor Kachmarik hit an 88 after a first-round 86 for a 175 for BC. Teammate Cohen Stajcar improved 18 shots for an 83 and a 185, and Maroon Ganon Button followed a 97 with a 104 and a 201 total.
Girls’ medalist honors came down to the wire with Dillon’s Skylar LaPierre edging Missoula Big Sky’s Charlotte Dale by one shot. LaPierre followed an 83 with an 80 for a 163 total. Dale shot 82 each day.
Maci Reiff of Sentinel placed third at 168, hitting an 86 after Thursday’s 82.
DeShaw, a senior, placed sixth at 184. She hit a 93 Friday and a 91 on Thursday.
Butte Central freshman Mya McGree finished 11th, one shot out of 10th place. She improved three shots for a 95 and a 193 total.
The girls’ team race came down to one shot, too. Big Sky fired a final round 377 for a 752 total, edging Sentinel’s 753. The Spartans hit 382 on Friday. Capital and Flathead tied for third at 796, and Butte High placed fifth at 841.
The Bulldogs improved five shots for a final-round 418.
Sage Leber matched 105s for a 210 for the Bulldogs. Lilly Sandoval improved 17 shots for a 101 and a 219, and Lilly Carden shot a 119 for a 228 total. Also, Julia DeShaw came in at 251 after a final-round 121.
The tournament was the final tuneup before the Western AA Divisional tournament. That event is Monday and Tuesday at the Butte Country Club, and Bulldog coach Cory Johnston said the same players who played at Fairmont will make up his divisional teams.
Butte Central will play at the Hamilton Invitational on Saturday. The Maroons will head to Polson Sept. 26 for the Western A Divisional tournament.
Complete results for the Butte High Invitational are available on the Golf Genius app. The GGID is BUTTE26.
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DeShaw fifth, Lisac third at Fairmont
GREGSON — A handful of Butte golfers sit among the leaders halfway through the first round of the Butte High Invitational.
Butte High senior Kate DeShaw sits in fifth place on the girls’ side, while Bulldog freshman Lane Lisac is in a tie for seventh place on the boys’ leaderboard.
Lisac fired a 76 on the par-72 Fairmont Hot Springs Course to lead Butte High to 315 team score and third place in the two-day tournament.
John Gilbert of Helena Capital holds the first-round lead. He fired a 2-under 70 to take a one-shot lead over Jack Schaefer of Missoula Sentinel. Austin Kaufman of Helena High holds down third at 72.
Butte High junior Jack Muhlestein and Butte Central junior Beau McGree are tied for 10th at 77. Butte High’s Teagan Yelenich followed with a 78. That is one out of the top 10 and good for a tie for 15th place.
Butte’s Beckham Kinsey shot an 84, and Bulldog Miles Choquette hit an 87.
Konnor Kachmarik shot an 86 for the Maroons. Ganon Button added a 97, and Cohen Stajcar shot a 101.
Capital leads the team race at 300, which is one shot better than Missoula Sentinel. Butte Central is in ninth place at 361.
DeShaw carded a 91 to take sole possession of fifth place on the first round. She is one shot behind Nora Kosena of Missoula Sentinel.
Charolett Dale of Missoula Big Sky and Maci Reiff of Sentinel are tied for the lead at 83. Dillon’s Skylar LaPierre is one shot back.
Butte Central freshman Mya McGree is in the hunt for a top-10 spot at 98. She is the lone Maroon girl playing.
Sage Leber added a 105 for Butte High. Lilly Carden shot a 109, Lilly Sandoval carded a 118, and Julia DeShaw shot 103.
Sentinel leads the girls’ team race at 371. Big Sky is second at 385, followed by Capital at 396 and Flathead at 397. Butte High’s girls are fifth at 423.
The tournament concludes with 18 holes on Friday. Play begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m.
Follow along on the Golf Genius app. The GGID is BUTTE26.
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A pair of Diamonds in the rough
Former Bulldogs Williamson, Serigstad join exclusive company
The road to football was an unlikely one for Butte High’s two newest Diamond B’s.
Don Williamson’s father died when he was 6 months old. He was raised mostly by his grandmother while his mother worked long hours as a waitress.
Bruce Serigstad had polio as a boy, and that left him with a bum leg that kept him from reaching his full speed.
“It didn’t stop me that much,” Serigstad said, downplaying the polio battle in a phone interview from his home in San Marcos, California. “It was deformed. I was not as fast as I could have been, but I wasn’t slow either. Things worked out.”
Things also worked out for Williamson, who credits his teachers and coaches for filling in his giant parental gap.
“My whole life centered around teachers and coaches,” he said.
Williamson and Serigstad will officially join one of the most exclusive clubs in sports Friday night when they are inducted as Diamond B’s. Serigstad will be the 23rd member of the Diamond B’s, and Williamson will become No. 24 during the Silver B’s banquet. The event precedes Friday’s 7:30 p.m. football game between Butte High and Missoula Big Sky at Naranche Stadium.
The distinction of Diamond B comes 75 years after a Butte High football player earned his first varsity letter.
The newest Diamond B’s were standouts on some great Butte High teams coached by Harry “Swede” Dahlberg. Both lettered three times, and that includes earning a varsity letter on Butte High’s co-State championship team of 1951.
Butte High tied with Kalispell 7-all in the championship game in 1951. Neither Williamson nor Serigstad played in that championship game, but they were part of the team. They were also key contributors on the Butte High team that advanced to the Class AA State championship game in 1953.
In front of a crowd of more than 12,000 at Naranche Stadium, the Bulldogs fell 14-0 to Missoula in that title game.
After the season, Serigstad was named Class AA All-Conference by the Associated Press. That is the equivalent to a modern-day All-State selection, but only one player received the honor from each position.
Serigstad played center. At 160-pounds, he was the smallest player to receive the AP honor on the line. Like most players in those days, he played offense and defense.
Williamson played running back for the Bulldogs. He joined Serigstad and sixth Bulldog teammates in the 1954 Montana East-West Shrine Game.
Harrison Freeborn, Darrell Park, Charles Stack, Glen James, Jay Sullivan, Dick Roche also represented the Mining City in the Shrine Game that year.
At 90, Williamson still remembers his first football uniform, when he was in the fourth grade. He said he begged his Greeley School principal, Julia Shea, until she finally found something he could use.
“She went back in the closet and gave me this old, raggedy uniform,” Williamson remembered. “I took it home, and my grandmother sewed it together. I had my first football suit.”
He also had a uniform from the University of Montana. He played three years of varsity football for the Grizzlies. Williamson, a member of Butte’s 1953 American Legion state championship baseball team, also played two years of varsity baseball and ran two years of varsity track.
In Missoula, Williamson was awarded the Grizzly Cup, which was in recognition of his academic and athletics contribution to the school. Only one person received the honor each year.
The real impact of his days in Missoula, though, came from his work with the Army ROTC. In October of 1957, Williamson was one of the 10 people selected as Distinguished Military Students in the ROTC program at the Missoula school.
That led to a 35-year career in the Army. He retired as a Major General in 1993. He retired because of the Army’s 35-year mandatory retirement.
“That’s why I ended, or I’d still be there,” Williamson said on a phone call from his home in Polson. “We had a wonderful group of people all dedicated for a common cause.”
To call Williamson’s military career remarkable would be a major understatement. The former Bulldog’s career spanned through the Vietnam war and the first Gulf War.
“I was not a combat aviator, but everybody in Vietnam was in combat,” Williamson said. “Your daily activity is to survive and take care of your troops.”
He went to infantry school at Ft. Benning, Georga. He went into airborne, became an Army Ranger and a master Army aviator. He was a member of the First Calvery Division in Korea, flying planes on the Demilitarized Zone.
He was a member of the 82nd Airborne division. He served in the Pentagon for four years as a staff officer for utility and attack aircraft. He was an aviation battalion commander in Europe, and an attack Cobra helicopter manager.
Eventually, Williamson became the Commanding General of the Army Aviation Systems Command, where he was responsible for research development, production, contracting and supports.
All of that, Williamson said, was possible because of athletics, and football in particular.
“It gave me a work ethic that was phenomenal,” he said. “It helped me get through those classes and those schools. Everybody came together and they set the standard. If you’re going to play on this team, this is how they do it.
“Coaches set the standard and supported the activities that would get you to the highest standard that was achievable in those days.”
Williamson married a Butte girl, Sue Trboich, in the summer of 1958, and they have been together ever since. She handed him the phone for this interview.
“We got married one day and went to Ft. Benning the next day,” he said. “She was a trooper.”
That same summer, Williamson was selected to coach in the Shrine Game along with Mining City legend Sam Jankovich. However, the Army would not let him leave Ft. Benning for the game.
While Serigstad plays down the impact that polio and his bum leg, others clearly took notice. In 1954, the Bulldogs started their first season in four years without Williamson and Serigstad on the varsity squad.
In a story about that team, The Montana Standard called Serigstad “one of Butte’s finest inspirational players in many years.”
Like Williamson, Serigstad did not stick around the Mining City after high school.
His father, Ingolf Serigstad, was the manager of the North Butte Mining Company. With the Anaconda Co. taking over all mining operations in a post-war Butte, the Serigstad family moved to Downey, California, near Los Angeles, to open a sewing machine store.
He attended Los Angeles City College before going to Call-State Fullerton, where he played one season of football.
Eventually, Serigstad made his way to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
“I was so impressed with the all the faculty and the people up in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo,” he said. “I graduated from there.”
Serigstad earned an electrical engineering degree and set out on his career path. What that path might not have garnered him the military honors of his teammate Williamson, it was still quite the prestigious career.
“I did OK,” he said, modestly. “I got into the field engineering business. I didn’t want to sit behind a desk. I wanted to be where the action was.”
That field work to him to Maine and then Arkansas, where he worked on Airforce bases. In Arkansas, he also met Nancy, his wife of 65 years.
After working with the Airforce, Serigstad eventually moved to work at a Navy base in New Hampshire.
“I went on the first submarine nuclear patrol,” he said. “Then I wound up going to Guam for three years.”
Serigstad will be able to attend Friday’s Silver B’s 87th Meeting and Induction Ceremony this Friday. Williamson was looking to see if traveling to Butte for the event would be possible, but he said it is unlikely.
Both, though, are highly impressed with the Silver B’s and the work of organization’s historian, Scott Paffhausen. Both received their Diamond B’s plaques in the mail.
“It’s amazing,” Serigstad said of the Silver B’s organization. “I’ve never heard of that at any high school having that kind of a following.’
Williamson and Serigstad are the only living members who first lettered in Butte High football in 1951. They will be representing a class that also included first-time letter winners Don Crain, Clark Doran, Don Duffy, Jim Freshman, Bud Maxson, Tom Pomroy Sr., Bill Salonen, Bill Tarrow, Al Vega, Bert West, Jerry Winkler and Bob Zorik.
All were lucky enough to play for Dahlberg, the coach who was a legend among legends.
“The kids loved him, and I did too,” Serigstad said. “He was an excellent human being and a good coach. When I look back at the people I meet, Swede Dahlberg is right there.”
Williamson credits Dahlberg, Addis McGrath, his first coach at Greeley, and a handful of other coaches and teachers for setting him on the path to his prestigious military career. They also helped turn an unlikely football player into a success story.
“The whole bunch of them, they were my father figures,” he said. “They set the standard. They set the goals. They set the standard to be on time and do your best. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it. I’d still be in Butte bartending at the … whatever.”
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St. Clair, Duclos lead Week 3
Larry St. Clair and Seth Duclos each posted perfect scores of 50 to lead all shooters during Week 3 of the Butte Trap Club’s fall league. (Results)
Riley Rigby, Kale Anzik and Dave Vicevich each shot a 48 on the night, and Garrett St. Clair, Bryce Thomas and Will Davies shot 47. Gillian Clark’s 42 paced women shooters. Anna Ledden was next at 40.
Jake Taverna and Alex Schneider both broke 49 targets during wobble shooting. Roger Terry shot a 47, and Chris Anderson came in at 46.
Through three weeks, Triple S Construction leads team scratch standings at 586. Wolverine Systems is second at 577, followed by Cooney’s Locksmith at 555 and Baker Auto at 554.
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Sutton takes place in Maroon history; Bulldog set for Homecoming
Silver B’s Night is Friday
Butte Central’s football team made quite the statement as the Maroons celebrated Homecoming Friday on Montana Tech’s Bob Green Field.
Highlighted by a record-breaking performance from sophomore quarterback Noah Sutton, the Maroons scored 40 points in the first half on their way to a 54-0 win over Ronan. Sutton fired six touchdown passes in the win — five of which came before the intermission.
The six TD tosses set a school record for a team that has been playing football for well over a century.
Sutton got the party started with a 67-yard pass to his brother, junior Joshua Sutton. He also threw three TD passes to senior GG Fantini and two to sophomore Henly Mansanti.
Seven BC quarterbacks previously shared the school record with five touchdown passes, including Ryan Peoples. Peoples tossed five touchdowns against Ronan in just over a quarter of play last season at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.
The game was called by lightning with the Maroons up 40-0. Had Mother Nature not intervened, Peoples, who is now a member of the Montana Tech football team, very well could have set the record high enough that it never would have been broken.
According to stats compiled in part by Brian Reed and the late Pat Kearney, others who shared the record were Danny Peoples (2014 vs. Stevensville), Jack Keeley (2022 vs. Browning), Tomas McGree (2019 vs. Browning), Tanner Kump (2015 vs. Stevensville), Brady Tippett (2011 vs. Corvallis) and R.J. Olson (1993 vs. Browning).
Fantini, who bounced back from a medical scare the week before, scored four total touchdowns. In addition to two 4-yard TD receptions and one for 12 yards, he broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run.
Mansanti scored on catches of 34 and 4 yards, and freshman Braydon Armstrong scored on a 5-yard run.
Of course, none of that would have been possible if it wasn’t for the play off the offensive line — Jack Nylund, Bobby McCarthy, Grady Boyer, Hayden Salmonsen and Gunnar “Goo” O’Brien — along with tight ends Palmer Kellicut and Burkley Lakkala.
Nylund, McCarthy, O’Brien and Lakkala are seniors. Kellicut, who also went 6 for 8 on extra points, is a junior, and Salmonsen and Boyer are sophomores.
Many of those same names mentioned above also led a BC defense that held Ronan to just 42 yards of total offense.
Central improved to 1-2 on the season, and the Maroons have this week off. They play at Corvallis Sept. 25 before heading to Stevensville on Oct. 2.
BC’s next home game is Oct. 9 against Frenchtown.
Double celebration for Bulldogs
Butte High will host a pair of celebrations Friday night at Naranche Stadium.
The Bulldogs will be reveling in Homecoming festivities as Missoula Big Sky comes to town for a Western AA football game. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
The late start to the game is because of Butte High’s other celebration. Friday will be Silver B’s Night. Following the 87th Meeting and Induction Ceremony of the Silver B’s, Bulldogs of the past will take the best seats in the house to cheer on the Bulldogs of today.
Players who first lettered in 2001 will be inducted as Silver B’s. The 1976 Butte High fist-year lettermen will be honored as Golden B’s, and the new class of Platinum B’s (1952 through 1961) will be honored.
Butte High will also welcome the 23d and 24th Diamond B’s in Bruce Serigstad and Don Williamson.
Silver B’s Night has typically turned out well for the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Butte High holds a 55-29-1 record on the special night. Last year, Helena High snapped Butte High’s eight-game Silver B’s winning streak with a 35-28 win.
The 2026 Bulldogs (1-2 overall, 0-1 conference) are in serious need of a win after opening Western AA play with a 37-0 loss at defending Class AA State champion Kalispell Glacier last Friday.
Glacier held Butte High to just 104 yards of offense. Senior Raeder Grey passed for 72 yards, while junior Troy Samson saw time at quarterback.
Grey also ran for 29 yards, and senior Miner Lee ran for 17. Senior Koda Schleeman caught three passes, and sophomore Ryan Bache grabbed two. Lee, Samson, seniors Evan McEwen and Brady Walsh also caught passes, as did junior Kodye Kjersten.
Senior linebacker Jaeger Hansen had another big game for the Bulldog defense. He racked up a team-best 11 tackles, including eight that were solo. Grey got in on nine tackles, while senior Finn Wortham racked up six, and McEwen got in on five. Senior Maxximus Pearston registered four, and classmate Bradey Doyle got in on three.
Junior defensive lineman Colt Stenson was credited with three quarterback hurries. Classmate Tegan Duffy had another solid day handling the punts and kickoffs for Butte High. He averaged 41.4 yards on five punts. That includes a long of 58 yards.
Big Sky comes in at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference. The Eagles opened Western AA play last week with a 24-21 home win over Helena Capital. That came after the Eagles won 60-0 at Billings Senior and 28-14 at home against Great Falls High.
Dual-threat senior quarterback Eli Kasberg is completing 59 percent of his passes for the Eagles, who advanced to the semifinals of the Class AA playoffs last fall. He has only passed 51 times through three games, though. He’s thrown for five touchdowns, and he’s been intercepted three times, including twice last week.
Kasberg has particularly been a weapon in the ground game. He averages 6.7 yards per carry while racking up 248 yards and six touchdowns.
Big Sky has used 10 different ball carries so far this season. Senior Mason Ramos leads the team in receptions with 11 grabs for 183 yards and five touchdowns.
The Bulldogs will play at Missoula Sentinel and Helena High the next two weeks. Butte High’s next home game is Oct. 9 against Kalispell flathead.
Dogs spike Eagles in four
After two near misses in Kalispell, Butte High’s volleyball team got on the board with a 3-1 win over Missoula Big Sky Tuesday in Missoula.
The Bulldogs gutted out a 25-17, 16-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory. (Stats)
Senior Allie Becker had a huge night at the net, pounding 21 kills to lead the way. Classmate Cadence Graham added 11 kills, while junior Stella Callaghan killed seven, and senior Brittyn Klima spiked four.
Senior Ellie Yates led the backcourt with 25 digs. Sophomore Elli Graham dug 18, and Cadence Graham and Becker each dug 10. Elli Graham also ran the Bulldog offense, setting 42 assists.
The Grahams, Becker and junior Kalee Wright each served an ace in the win.
The victory came after Butte High played 10 sets in two days in Kalispell. The Dogs fell 14-25, 17-25, 25-12, 25-19, 15-6 at Glacier on Friday. (Stats)
Less than 24 hours later, Butte High fell 22-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-19, 15-9 at Flathead. (Stats)
The Bulldog spikers will celebrate Homecoming Thursday when they welcome Missoula Sentinel to the Richardson Gym. The varsity match is set to begin at 7 p.m. It will mark Butte High’s first home varsity action since they took on Belgrade Aug. 27.
Next week, the Bulldogs will host Helena Capital on Thursday and play at Helena High on Saturday.
BC volleyball looks for win
Butte Central will gun for its first win of the volleyball season Thursday when the Maroons welcome Corvallis to the Maroon Activities Center.
The varsity match is set for 7 p.m., and it will be just the second Southwestern A showdown of the season for BC. Central fell in three sets to Stevensville last Thursday at the MAC. Stevi won 25-14, 25-21, 25-19. (Stats)
Junior Jaedyn Maldonado paced the BC attack with nine kills against Stevensville. Sophomore Evyn Tippett added five, while senior Rylee Forbes and junior Olivia Scott each spiked three.
Freshman Blake Smith added a pair of kills. Junior Kodee Badovinac and freshman Luci Fantini each served an ace. Forbes, Maldonado, freshman Jordyn Samson and senior Presli Smith also served an ace for BC.
Maldonado (nine digs), Badovinac (eight) and Presli Smith (six) led the BC backcourt in the match.
The Maroons will head to Frenchtown to take on the Broncs in a 3 p.m. match on Saturday. Next Saturday, the Maroons will play in Hamilton.
BC will not play again on the MAC court until the Oct. 9-10 Blocktober Classic.
Bruins run past Bulldogs
It is also Homecoming week for the Butte High flag football team.
The Bulldogs will play Saturday when they take on Helena High and Helena Capital at Naranche. The varsity game with Helena begins at noon, with the JV game following at 1.
Butte High will battle Capital’s varsity at 2. The JV game will begin at 3.
First, the Bulldogs started the week Tuesday at Helena Capital, where the Bulldogs fell 31-0 to the Bruins.
Despite the lopsided score, the Bulldogs has some bright spots, Butte High coach John Stenson said.
Senior Kolbie Ericson led the Bulldogs with three receptions. She also pulled a team-best seven flags. Senior Brooke Johnson registered a pair of sacks, while junior Addison Lambrecht got one.
In the junior game, sophomore Molly McGillan pulled four flags, while junior Danika Walker grabbed three. Eighth grader Jerzi Nichols hauled in three passes from freshman quarterback Rebekkah Hanke.
Runners head to Mountain West
The University of Montana Golf Course will set the scene for one of the premier cross country meets of the season Saturday.
Butte High and Butte Central will send runners to the Mountain West Classic, which begins at 9:30 a.m. with the junior varsity girls’ race. After the JV boys’ run at 10:15, the varsity boys will run at 11.
The girls’ varsity race is set for 11:45, and that will be followed by middle school races.
Sophomore Sophia Houchin returned to action to complete her first race of the season Saturday in Bozeman. That highlighted the performance by a short-handed Butte High squad in the Bozeman Invitational.
Junior Penelope Luebke was the only other runner for the Bulldog girls, who were hit by sickness and injury. Three boys ran for Butte High — sophomore Jason Real and juniors Jack Taylor and Lyric Haston.
Butte Central ran in Pony last Thursday. Eighth grader Ryan Byrne and senior Joe Bradshaw competed for the BC boys. Sophomore Ashley White ran for the Central girls.
Butte High hosts golf tourney
For the second time this season, Butte High will host a golf tournament at Fairmont Hot Springs.
This time it is the two-day Butte High Invitational. Play begins at 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and the tournament will include Butte Central.
Butte High is seeing its first action since the Kalispell Invitational, which was last Wednesday and Thursday. Junior Jack Muhlestein led the Bulldog boys with a 10th-place showing in a loaded field.
Freshman Lane Lisac, junior Teagan Yelenich and sophomores Miles Choquette and Beckham Kinsie also competed for the Bulldogs, who appear to have the makings of making a nice run this postseason.
Senior Kate DeShaw placed 14th to lead the Bulldog girls. Junior Sage Leber had one of her best tournaments for Butte High, too. Freshmen Lilly Carden and sophomores Lilly Sandoval and Julia DeShaw round out the BC lineup.
Those Golfing McGrees continue to lead the Butte Central golf teams. Freshman Mya McGree won a tournament at Eagle Bend last Thursday. Junior Beau McGree placed third in a crowded field Tuesday in Polson.
Connor Kachmarik, Cohen Stajcar and Ganon Button round out the BC boys’ lineup. Mya McGree is the lone Central girls’ golfer.
Knights kick past Bulldogs
Butte High’s soccer teams will have a week off after dropping Homecoming matches to Missoula Hellgate Tuesday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.
The Knights won the boys’ match 8-0, while the girls won 10-0. Hellgate improved to 4-0 on the boys’ side and 3-1 for the girls.
Butte High’s girls fell 9-0 at home to Helena High on Thursday, and they dropped a 6-0 decision at Helena Capital on Saturday. Bulldog coach Geno Liva pointed out that Butte High surrendered just one goal in the second half against the Bruins.
“We were more offensive in the game as well,” Liva said. “Elly Rumler did a great job possessing the ball and moving it into our offense. Kloe Dickinson made some great runs.”
Liva said the Bulldogs are improving as they completed one trip around the Western AA.
“We are taking advantage of these learning opportunities and taking advantage of every day concentrating on getting better,” he said. “Matti Neighbor came off the bench and played some great minutes for us.
“We are excited to move into the second half of the season.”
Butte High’s boys fell 7-0 at Capital and 4-0 to Helena High.
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Registration open for 11th Rock League
The 11th season of the Rock 3 on 3 Youth Basketball League will be played this fall, and registration is now open.
Two divisions will be held. One is for boys in the third and fourth grade, and one is for boys in the fifth in sixth grade. Cost is $100 per player. Games will run 25 minutes, and players from the Montana Tech men’s basketball team will officiate.
The league will run from Oct. 18 through Nov. 25, with games being played each Sunday from 2 to 4 pm. at the Maroon Activities Center. Limited spots for the league will be filled on a first-come basis, and it usually fills up quickly.
Registration deadline is Oct. 7. In a change this year, all players will register individually. Once the league fills up, players will be placed on teams.
This year, players in encouraged to sign up individually so they can build teams that are balanced, competitive and fun for everyone. One of the best parts of Rock League is the chance for kids to meet new teammates, grow in different roles, and develop skills in competitive games — and individual sign-ups help make that possible.
The goal of the league is to teach all players how to play using simple concepts where everyone develops offensive scoring skills. Three-on-three hoops puts players in a position where everyone should handle the ball and participate on offense.
Each team will need a coach, and coaches are encouraged to organize their own practices by finding a time and location that works for their team.
The registration form includes a place to indicate whether you are willing to coach or if you know someone who is willing. With individual registration, having enough parents and coaches is especially important.
If you are interested in coaching but don’t have much experience, please reach out to league director Brodie Kelly. He will provide guidance, structure, fundamentals, and concepts that work well at this age.
The focus is on fundamentals, teamwork and fun. The schedule and results will be posted each week on ButteCast.com.
Click the links below for registration forms and league information.
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Pair of eagles lift Beau McGree to third
POLSON — It seems like we’ve told this story before.
A McGree from Butte Central plays in a golf tournament and finishes near the top of the leaderboard. Well, that rang true again Tuesday as Butte Central junior Beau McGree tied for third place at the Polson Invitational.
McGree matched par of 72 on the Polson Bay Golf Course to tie with Whitefish golfer Mason O’Neill. He shot a 36 on each nine, and he made an eagle on holes No. 14 and No. 18.
He started his day on No. 2 in the shotgun start. He knocked a shot in from 52 yards for his first Eagle. He made a short putt for his second.
Polson junior Max Milton has been tearing up courses all season. He did not have mercy on his home course. Milton carded an 8-under-par 64 to top a field of 79 boys and 17 teams. Milton carded a 31 on the front nine and a 33 on the back.
Carson Emerson of Polson placed second at 69.
The Pirates shot a 290 to win the team title. Whitefish placed second at 306, and Livingston took third at 318. Butte Central placed 10th at 341.
Connor Kachmarik hit an 85 for the Maroons, while Cohen Stajcar finished at 89. BC’s Ganon Button hit a 95.
Hamilton star Cameron Burnett shot a 77 to win medalist honors. She beat Karlee Brown of Whitefish by one shot. Dillon’s Skylar LaPier took third at 81, one shot better than Jillian Wagner of Whitefish.
BC freshman Mya McGree carded a score of 100 to tie for 22nd place in a field of 64. That came five days after she won the Bigfork Invitational on Eagle Bend.
Whitefish won the team title at 340. Polson placed a distant second at 378, and Corvallis took third at 390.
Next up for the Maroons is the Butte High Invitational, which is Thursday and Friday at Fairmont Hot Springs.
Full results from the Polson Invitational can be found on the Golf Genius App. The GGID is 26PHSINVITE.
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Episode No. 383: Jason Salmon
Today we begin Season 5 of the ButteCast with a very special guest.
Comedian Jason Salmon will be performing at the Covellite Theater in Butte on Oct. 2. (Tickets) The night before, he will do a show in Missoula.
This is the most excited I’ve been to see a comedian perform live since I sat in the front row to see Bill Burr in Bozeman in 2013.
I have the Facebook algorithm to thank for introducing me to Jason. He started showing up in my reels early in the second Trump term as president with his videos starting with the words “Another weird week.” I have watched everyone since, and they truly are the highlight of every Friday.
I have watched tons of his standup videos, too, and I even saw him on an episode of Orange is the New Black. However, I am going to have to go back and find that episode so I can recognize him this time.
Jason grew up in Texas and studied engineering at Texas A&M. He moved to New Jersey for a job in that career field. That is also where he signed up for an acting class, in part to meet women. He realized that he just might be pretty good at acting, and he then got into the New York City standup scene. He sometimes opens for Chris Rock, and he performs regularly at the Comedy Cellar.
In a little more than two weeks, we get the chance to see him in Butte. Or Missoula.
Early this afternoon, I caught up with Jason over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about getting into comedy and to hear that this will not be his first trip to the Mining City.
Listen in to hear about the origin of his weekly videos and how much work he puts into them. Listen in to hear his take on the New York comedy scene, and to hear how he doesn’t get starstruck even when he’s working with people like Jodie Foster.
Listen in to hear that his last name is not pronounced like the fish.
Today’s episode is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. This episode is also available on YouTube:
