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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of Feb. 16.
This is the final week of the Winter season. The season-ending double-loss tournament will begin next week, and the Spring league will open shortly after that.
Monday
7 p.m. — Kenworthy vs. Washington Generals
8 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. Poi Time
9 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. HoopballasTuesday
7 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. ButteSports
8 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. JellyfamWednesday
7 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Poi Time
8 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. KenworthyThursday
7 p.m. — City Boys vs. Washington Generals
8 p.m. — City Boys vs. Hoopballas
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Four Maroons qualify for State
DILLON — Four Butte Central wrestlers have qualified for the last weekend of the season.
Junior Jack Holmes and eighth graders Braydon Armstrong, Jace Rauch and Jampel Hanley extended their season Saturday at the Western A Divisional meet at the B.W. Lodge Gym.
Hanley led the way for the Maroons, placing second at 103 pounds. He fell to Caleb Weldon of Frenchtown in the first period of the title bout. The top eight in each weight class move on to the All-Class State tournament next Thursday through Saturday in Billings.
Armstrong placed seventh at 118 pounds, Rauch took eighth at 103 pounds, and Holmes took eight at 132 pounds.
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Six Dog wrestlers win divisional title
Butte High qualifies 15 boys, 10 girls for State tournament
MISSOULA — Four boys and two girls from Butte High claimed divisional wrestling titles during the Western AA Divisional tournament Saturday at Missoula Sentinel.
Crew O’Connor, Keegan Hunt, Ryder McEwen and Bridger Garrison won crowns on the boys’ side. Adalie Hazlett and Mattie Stepan delivered titles for the girls.
In all, the Bulldogs will send 15 boys and 10 girls to next week’s All-Class State Tournament in Billings.
O’Connor, an eighth grader, took home the title at 103 pounds. He pinned teammate Reny LeProwse in 1 minute, 48 seconds in the title bout. The top eight in each weight class move on the boys’ side.
Hunt, a senior who won state title a year ago, claimed the 110-pound crown. He pinned Dayton Naldrett of Kalispell Flathead in 51 seconds in the championship match.
McEwen, a senior, won at 150 pounds, pinning Jasper Bench of Flathead in 1:44 in the title match. Junior Bridger Garrison won at 165 pounds, with a 6-3 decision over Connor Lamping of Helena High in the chipper.
Hazlett, a junior and 2025 state champion who has been wrestling through an injury, took second at 157 pounds. He dropped an 8-1 decision to Flathead’s Brett Chivers.
Bradey Doyle (132 pounds), Kuley Queer (110) and Bridger Brancamp (215) placed third, and Reveles McEwen (118), Darryn Rossiter (126) Waylond Hicks (285 limit) placed fourth. Kasen O’Keefe (175) placed fifth, Aiden Maesar (118) took seventh and Blaise Perez (138) finished eighth.
For the Bulldog girls, Hazlett, an eighth grader, continued her remarkable first year with the Bulldogs by winning the 125-pound title. She pinned Trinity Stoner of Helena Capital in 2:21. The top three move on automatically on the girls’ side. The rest are based on a formula.
Stepan, a senior, won the 155-pound division. She stuck Kassidy Lingle of Glacier in 2:46 in the title bout.
Butte High senior Peyton Liva took second at 100 pounds. She fell to Katelyn Sphuler of Glacier in 3:53 in the championship match.
Eighth grader Loretta Matteson finished second at 140 pounds. She fell to Addison Clixby of Missoula Big Sky in 2:00.
Lilyi Malone (110), Jessica Blow (125), Sage Queer (145), Rylee Radcliffe (170) and Chyanne Robinson (235 limit) placed third for Butte High. Allie Ballensky (235 limit) placed fourth, while Irelynn Cullen (105), Deearea Naugle (120), and Mattison Neighbor (155) placed fifth.
Brooke Johnson (145) took sixth place, and Chalie Richter (130) and Brooklyn Hettick (110) placed eighth. Even though they placed, Cullen, Naugle, Neighbor, Richter, Johnson and Hettick will be left out based on the predetermined formula to qualify.
The State meet runs Thursday through Saturday at the Billings Metra.
Complete results can be found at trackwrestling.com.
Note: this story was updated to reflect the six Butte High wrestlers who placed in their weight classes but will miss out on State based on the formula to qualify.
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Bulldog girls swim to sixth place with six earning All-State honors
GREAT FALLS — The Bulldog swimmers ended the season on a high.
With six All-State performers, the Butte High girls placed sixth in the Class AA at the 57th Annual Montana High School State Swimming Meet, which concluded Saturday at Great Falls High School.
All-State honors go to the top six place winners. Those who place seventh through 12th are considered all-conference.
Freshman Adalie Grochowski led the way for the Bulldogs, maintaining her third place in the 50-yard freestyle race. She also stayed at fifth place in the backstroke, making her a two-time All-State swimmer in individual events.
Junior Alaina Grochwoski took sixth in the 100 butterfly for an All-State nod. She also took eighth in the 100 breaststroke.
Senior Tatum Trefts wrapped up her stellar Bulldog swimming career by placing sixth in the 100 breaststroke to claim an All-State mention. Senior Olivia Thurmond took 12th in the 100 freestyle.
The Bulldogs also captured All-State in a pair of relays. Another earned all-conference.
Adalie Grochowski, Trefts, Alaina Grochowski and Thurmond placed fifth in the 200 medley relay. Alaina Grochowski, Bella Corrales, Thurmond and Adalie Grochowski took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
Bryher Fitzpatrick, Trefts, Ely Rumler and Corrales placed eighth in the 400 freestyle relay.
Butte High’s boys saw four all-conference swims.
Senior Nathan Stone moved up one place from the prelims to take 11th in the 100 butterfly. Freshman Alex Sonnemann took 12th in the 100 backstroke.
Sonnemann, Stone, Gunnar Benson and Gage Plum took 10th in the 200 medley rely, and Benson, Tucker Kissell, Sonnemann and Stone moved up one spot for eighth place in the 200 freestyle relay.
“We ended the season on a really good note,” Bulldog coach Lynn Shrader said. “I am proud of everyone.”
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Ganzenmueller swims to state title, Maroons place fifth
GREAT FALLS — Butte Central has another state champion.
Junior Tessa Ganzenmueller won the Class AB 100-yard breaststroke Saturday at the 57th Annual Montana High School State Swimming Meet at Great Falls High School. Ganzenmueller finished the race in 1 minute, 14.38 seconds for the victory, which is the first for a Maroon girl this century.
“Tessa dropped 4.77 seconds and stood on the top step of the podium,” BC coach Mariya Peck said. “That swim will be remembered for a long time.”
As a team, the BC girls placed fifth in the meet.
“In a field that included Billings Central, Havre, Hardin, Whitefish, and Bigfork, the Maroons finished fifth in the state,” Peck said. “There were time drops across the board. There were podium finishes. There was a state championship. This group did not just attend state. They competed.”
Ganzenmueller also placed third in the 200 freestyle in 2:14, one place ahead of teammate Morgan Hardy, who tapped in 2:14.30. Ganzenmueller dropped nearly nine seconds in that race, while Hardy dropped time and “raced tough” in the finals.
The top six swimmers in each event earn All-State honors.
BC’s girls’ 200 freestyle relay team placed fifth in 2:04.35. That team is made up of Ganzenmueller, Alex Morey, Hardy and Tia Thompson. The team cut 2.80 seconds from the prelims to score valuable team points.
Hardy, Tompson, Arwen Regester, Ganzenmueller and Alex Morey make up the 200 medley relay team, which placed sixth in 2:15.79, also dropping time from the prelims.
BC’s boys saw a handful of Maroons just miss the finals Saturday. They are Shamus Peck, Connor Hardy, Joe Bradshaw and Conan Homes.
(The 2025 State Butte Central swimming team is shown in the top photo, which is provided by Mariya Peck.)
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Bulldogs battle back, sweep Bengals
Valentine’s Day was a good day for the Bulldogs. But it took a while for them to get going.
Butte High’s varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams swept Western AA games with Helena High Saturday. Both were come-from-behind wins.
The Bulldog boys went to the Capital City for a 52-42 victory, rallying in the fourth quarter. Butte High’s girls stormed back to erase a double-digit deficit — and then some — for a 63-47 victory at the Richardson Gym.
The Bulldog boys will travel to Missoula Hellgate on Thursday before hosting Missoula Sentinel next Saturday. Butte High’s girls will play host to Hellgate for Senior Night on Thursday before heading to Sentinel on Saturday.
Butte High’s teams close out the regular season Feb. 27 against Missoula Big Sky. The boys will play at home, and the girls will be on the road.
GRILS
Butte High 63, Helena High 47
It might have been the best second half of the season for the Bulldogs.Butte High outscored Helena 40-16 after the intermission, overcoming a 31-23 halftime deficit for the victory. Butte High trailed by double digits multiple times in the first half.
Elli and Cadence Graham led the way for the Bulldogs. The sisters combined for 33 points in the win. Elli Graham, a freshman, scored 11 of her team-leading 17 points in the second half. That includes two of her 3-pointers.
Cadence Graham, a junior, scored 16 in the victory that lifted the Bulldogs to 10-6 overall and 8-3 in the Western AA.
Seven different Butte High player scored points in the win. Franki Salusso and Emma Johnson each poured in nine points. They both scored seven of their points in the second half. Saege Grey tossed in seven, Avery Barsness drained a 3-pointers, and Allie Becker netted two.
Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Lauren Lieberg scored 24 points to pace the Bengals, who fell to 7-9 and 5-6. Dakota Lieberg added 12 points for Helena, which got six from McKenna Pipinich, four from Cassidy Smith and one from Emmie Bermingham.
HELENA HIGH (7-9 and 5-6) — Lauren Lieberg 9 6-8 24, Dakota Lieberg 3 5-6 12, Alexa Lundstrom 0 0-0 0, McKenna Pipinich 2 1-2 6, Cassidy Smith 2 0-1 4, Emmie Bermingham 0 1-2 1, Kortney McKay 0 0-0 0, Presley Swenson 0 0-0 0, Greta Peterson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 13-19 47.
BUTTE HIGH (10-6, 8-3) — Allie Becker 1 0-4 2, Cadence Graham 4 7-12 16, Elli Graham 4 4-5 17, Franki Salusso 4 1-4 9, Emma Johnson 4 0-0 9, Saege Grey 1 4-8 7, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0, Avery Barsness 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 16-33 63.
Helena 21 10 8 8 — 47
Butte 13 10 22 18 — 63
3-point goals — Helena 2 (Lieberg, Pipnch), Butte 7 (E. Graham 3, C. Graham, Johnson, Grey, Barsness). Fouls — Helena 22, Butte 12. Fouled out — none. Technical — Butte High coach.
BOYS
Butte High 52, Helena High 42
HELENA — The Bulldogs erased a 37-33 deficit with a 19-5 run in the fourth quarter.Hudson Luedtke scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the final frame, and Brady Hanson had a big dunk as the Bulldogs closed out the game in style.
Butte High trailed 14-10 after the first quarter and 28-25 at the half.
Mitch Verlanic scored 11 points for Butte High. That includes six points in the fourth quarter. Josh Liston tossed in nine, and Hanson finished with four. Cayde Stajcar, who played even after aggravating his ankle injury, tossed in two while serving as a force on the boards.
Rhett Arntson, Kendel Noctor and James Pearston also contributed for the Bulldogs, who improved to 14-3 and 8-3.
Tyse Todorovich scored 18 points to lead the Bengals, who fell to 8-7 and 5-5. Seth Lieberg tossed in four points for Helena, which got four from Gracen Silvonen and Chase Foster, three from CJ OneSpot-Danforth and one from Reece Silvonen.
BUTTE HIGH (13-3, 8-3) — Cayde Stajcar 1 0-1 2, Hudson Luedtke 7 9-15 26, Mitch Verlanic 3 3-4 11, Josh Liston 3 1-2 9, Brady Hanson 2 0-2 4, Rhett Arntson 0. 0-2 0, Kendel Noctor 0 0-0 0, James Pearston 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 13-26 52.
HELENA HIGH (8-7. 5-5) — Pacer Lybert 0 0-0 0, Reece Silvonen 0 1-2 1, Seth Lieberg 5 1-2 12, Tyse Todorovich 7 3-3 18, Gracen Silvonen 11-2 4, CJ OneSpot-Danforth 0 3-4 3, Kale Day 0 0-0 0, Seth Kiser 0 0-2 0, Chase Foster 2 0-0 4, Cole Beaver 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Laboy 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 9-15 42.
Butte 10 15 8 19 — 52
Helena 14 14 9 5 — 42
3-point goals — Butte 7 (Luedtke 3, Verlanic 2, Liston 2), Helena 3 (Lieberg, G. Silvonen, Todorovich). Fouls — Butte 16, Helena 20. Fouled out — Stajcar, G. Silvonen. Technical — Stajcar. -
Bulldogs, Maroons swim into finals
GREAT FALLS — Butte High and Butte Central’s swimmers had a nice day Friday at the 57th Annual Montana High School State Swimming Meet at Great Falls High School.
Butte High is competing in the Class AA competition, while the Maroons are in the Class AB meet.
Butte High will have 14 swimmers in the finals on Saturday, with a strong contingent of girls leading the way. Those who make the top-six finals have already secured All-State honors. Those who make the finals for seventh through 12th place are all-conference.
Six girls for the Bulldogs have already secured All-State recognition.
Freshman Adalie Grochowski dropped tine off her personal best in the 50-yard freestyle and is seeded third. She also dropped 3 seconds in the 100 backstroke to sit in fifth place.
Senior Tatum Trefts finished secured the fourth seed in the 100 breaststroke, shaving 4 seconds off her best time.
Bulldog coach Lynn Shrader said the most exciting moment of the day was when junior Alaina Grocowsky cut more than 3 seconds off to tie for sixth place in the 100 butterfly. She had to do a swim-off to break the tie and earn All-State, dropping another tenth of a second to win.
She also is sitting seventh in the 100 breaststroke.
Senior Olivia Thurmond had best times in the 50 and 100 free. She is sitting in eighth in the 50 free and 12th in the 100 free.
The 200 medley relay team of Adalie Grochowski, Trefts, Alaina Grochowski, and Thurmond dropped 4 seconds to claim the fifth seed in the finals. In doing so, they broke a 15-year-old school record in this event.
The 200 freestyle relay team made up of Alaina Grochowski, Bella Corrales, Thurmond, and Adalie Grochowski dropped time to be sitting in fifth place. In the 400 freestyle relay, Bryher Fitzpatrick, Trefts, Elly Rumler, and Corrales are sitting in eighth place.
For the Butte High boys, senior Nathon Stone is sitting in 12th place in the 100 butterfly, and freshman Alex Sonnemann sits in 12th in the 100 backstroke.
Butte High’s 200 freestyle relay team of Gunnar Benson, Tucker Kissell, Sonneman Stone are sitting in ninth place. In the 200 medley relay, Gage Plum, Stone, Benson and Sonneman are seeded 10th.
“We had almost all best times today, with swimmers moving up places and some just missing out into the top 12,” Shrader said. “I am proud of how everyone swam and how hard they worked throughout the season. This has been the most swims that Butte High has had in finals for a long time. I am looking forward to seeing how they do in the finals.”
For the Maroon girls, Tessa Ganzenmueller had a great day. She is seeded first in the 100 breaststroke and in the top six of the 200 freestyle.
Morgan Hardy also qualified for the finals in the 200 freestyle, while Tia Thompson, Hardy and Alex Morey also made the 200 freestyle finals.
Hardy, Thompson, Ganzenmueller and Arwen Register qualified in the 200 medley relay.
BC’s boys saw a handful of swimmers just miss the top six. Shamus Peck took seventh in the 200 individual medley and eighth in the 100 butterfly.
Connor Hardy placed ninth in the 100 backstroke and 10th in the 100 breaststroke, and Joe Bradshaw finished 10th in the 500 freestyle.
Bradshaw, Conan Holmes, Hardy and Peck placed seventh in the 200 individual medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
Results will not be available until the meet after the meet concludes on Saturday.
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Podcast No. 324: Ray Jay Johnson
Back in August of 2023, Butte Central basketball legend Ray Johnson appeared on episode No. 117 of the ButteCast with his lifelong buddy Steve Schulte.
Today, Ray Jay is back for a solo appearance.
In 2022, Ray Jay was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. He is best known for his role on the 1978 Class A State championship Butte Central boys’ basketball team. Those Maroons beat Glendive 55-48 in the title game on March 11 at the Billings Metra.
It was just the second loss of the season for Glendive, and Butte Central finished the season at 22-4 under coach John Thatcher. Ray Jay made the All-Tournament team. He then went on to play basketball at the College of Great Falls, which is now the University of Providence.
After his induction to the Hall of Fame, Ray Jay joined the selection committee, which has the impossible task of picking the next group of inductees. He said the night of the selection vote is like the Butte High-Butte Central game. He gets that fired up for the legends of sports in the Mining City.
Earlier today, I met with Ray Jay inside the Vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation. Listen in as Ray Jay talks about the latest class of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame, which was elected and introduced to the public earlier this week.
Listen as he talks about playing for Thatcher and what it was like to get that finger saying, “Come here.” Listen as he talks about playing Butte High his senior year and how he helped lead to Bulldog star Jim Anderson fouling out that night.
Listen to hear his love for his hometown, his teammates and pretty much everyone he ever met.
Ray Jay said he only told one lie in this episode. Only his son Marcus will know which one.
Today’s episode is presented by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life. This episode is also available on YouTube:
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Bulldog boys avenge loss to Bruins, Butte girls fall on road
Butte High split varsity Western AA basketball games against Helena Capital Thursday night.
The Bulldog boys knocked off the Bruins 58-43 at the Richardson Gym, turning the tables on a team that beat them last month in Helena. The Bulldog girls, meanwhile, fell in a 42-33 thriller in Helena.
Butte High will take on Helena High Saturday. The Bulldog boys travel to the Capital City, while the girls host the Bengals at the Richardson Gym. Both games are set to begin at 3 p.m.
BOYS
Butte High 58, Helena Capital 43
The Bulldogs avenged the Jan. 15 loss at Capital, and they did it in convincing fashion.Hudson Luedtke poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the way for the Bulldogs. He sank three 3-pointers and score 13 points in each half as the Bulldogs broke a tie with Capital for third place in the Western AA.
Butte High is now 12-3 overall and 7-3 in conference.
Cayde Stajcar and Mitch Verlanic each scored 10 points for the Bulldogs. Stajcar, who missed last week’s two games with a sprained ankle, also dominated on the glass and was a leader for a stellar Bulldog defensive performance.
Verlanic sank a pair of 3-pointers.
Brady Hanson scored nine points for Butte, and Josh Liston knocked in three. Rhett Arntson and Kendel Noctor also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Landon Levang scored eight of his team-leading 10 points in the first quarter for the Bruins, who fell to 9-6 and 6-4. Kobe Gamradt and Wil Spotorno each scored nine points for the Bruins. Drew Almquist tossed in six, Carson Toivonen tallied three, and Joey Mergenthaler and Brett Buehler each scored two.
HELENA CAPITAL (9-6, 6-4) — Kobe Gamradt 4 0-0 9, Carson Toivonen 1 1-2 3, Landon Levang 3 2-2 10, Drew Almquist 3 0-2 6, Wil Spotorno 2 5-6 9, Joey Mergenthaler 1 0-0 2, Brett Buehler 1 0-0 2, Keanen Green 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 8-12 43.
BUTTE HIGH (12-3, 7-3) — Cayde Stajcar 4 2-2 10, Hudson Luedtke 9 5-9 26, Mitch Verlanic 4 0-0 10, Josh Liston 1 0-0 3, Brady Hanson 3 3-4 9, Rhett Arentson 0 0-0 0, Kendel Noctor 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 10-15 58.
Capital 12 6 9 16 — 43
Butte 13 11 21 13 — 58
3-point goals — Capital 3 (Levang 2, Gamradt), Butte 6 (Luedtke 3, Verlanic 2, Liston). Fouls — Capital 7, Butte 9. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none.GIRLS
Helena Capital 42, Butte High 39
HELENA — Avery Mergenthaler stole an inbounds pass with to help preserve the Capital victory.The Bruins were up three when she stole the ball and was fouled with 4.5 seconds left. After her two free throws did not fall, Butte High’s Cadence Graham got off a desperation shot from just inside the halfcourt line at the buzzer.
Butte’s prayer was not answered. It would have capped a strong comeback effort by the Bulldogs, who trailed 30-19 after scoring just one point in the third quarter.
Madi Emmert scored 14 points to pace the Bruins, who improved to 8-7 overall and 7-3 in conference. Mergenthaler tossed in 13 for Capital, which got six from Ali Miller, five from Chloe LaFromboise and four from Cailin Mohar.
Despite playing in heavy foul trouble, Graham and Allie Becker combined for 29 points to lead the Bulldogs. Graham scored 12 of her 15 points in a 20-point Butte fourth quarter. Becker tossed in 14.
Franki Salusso scored four for Butte High, while Elli Graham tossed in three, Saege Grey scored two, and Emma Johnson knocked in one. Autumn Clary and Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs, who fell to 9-6 and 7-3.
BUTTE HIGH (9-6, 7-3) — Allie Becker 5 3-5 14, Cadence Graham 4 3-4 15, Autumn Clary 0 0-0 0, Franki Salusso 2 0-0 4, Emma Johnson 0 1-2 1, Elli Graham 1 0-0 3, Saege Grey 1 0-0 2, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 7-11 39.
HELENA CAPITAL (8-7, 7-3) — Chloe LaFromboise 1 3-7 5, Ali Miller 3 0-0 6, Madi Emmert 3 0-0 6, Tatum Campbell 2 0-0 4, Cailin Mohar 2 0-0 4, Avery Mergenthaler 5 3-6 13, Eva Dahlquist 0 0-0 0, Brynn Lawler 0 0-0 0, Andreah Bachmeier 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 12-21 42.
Butte 10 8 1 20 — 39
Capital 9 12 8 10 — 42
3-point goals — Butte 6 (C. Graham 4, Becker, E. Graham), Capital 1 (Mergenthaler). Fouls — Butte 17, Capital 15. Fouled out — Becker. Technicals -
Butte High, BC swimmers head to State
Wrestlers ready for divisionals; Bulldog cagers battle Helena teams
The pool at Great Falls High School will set the scene the next three days as Butte High and Butte Central athletes compete in the 57th Annual Montana High School State Swimming Meet.
Butte High will compete in the Class AA meet, while BC will take part in the Class AB event. Action begins at 4 p.m. Thursday with the 500-yard freestyle preliminaries. The meet will then run two full days on Friday and Saturday.
In all, the meet will see 25 teams and 436 athletes compete.
Coach Lynn Shader’s Bulldogs will send 11 boys and seven girls to Great Falls, while coach Mariya Peck’s Maroons will bring six boys and three girls
Swimming for the Bulldog boys will be Gunnar Benson, Elgin Hoar, Cruz Kissell, Tucker Kissell, Nathan Knopp, Grayson Lynch, Ayvahn Mann, Gage Plum, Alex Sonnemann, Jorden Sonnemann and Nathan Stone.
Bella Corrales, Bryher Fitzpatrick, Adalie Grchowski, Alaina Grochowski, Elly Rumler, Olivia Thurmond and Tatum Trefts will swim for the Butte High girls.
Tea Thompson, Tessa Ganzenmueller and Morgan Hardy will represent the BC girls. Connor Hardy, Shamus Peck, Joe Bradshaw, Arwen Regester, Alex Morey and Conan Holmes will swim for the Central boys.
These swimmers had to post fast enough times to qualify for the State meet. The Top 32 in each individual event are seeded to compete in Class AA events. The top 16 in each event swim in the AB.
The three-day meet will wrap up a season that began with the first day of practice on Nov. 20.
Grapplers hit postseason
The wrestlers from Butte High and Butte Central will put their seasons on the line this weekend. They will also be eyeing berths in the All-State Wrestling tournament next weekend in Billings.
Central’s wrestlers will travel to Dillon for the Western A Divisional meet on Friday and Saturday. Butte High, meanwhile will be in Missoula Saturday for Western A Divisional Qualifying tournaments.
The AA events will be held at Missoula Sentinel.
Bulldog coach Cory Johnston said his lineup for the weekend was not set by Wednesday night. Butte High was still holding challenges.
Reveles McEwen, Darryn Rossiter, Bradey Doyle, Ryder McEwen, Bode Hazlett, Keegan Hunt, Renzy LeProwse, Joey Ward, Daniel Fraser, Ryder McEwen, Cameron Fleege, Kasen O’Keefe, Kuley Queer, Bridger Brancamp, Caden Phillips and Waylond Hicks picked up wins for the Bulldogs as they competed last Tuesday against the Bozeman schools at Butte High’s old gym.
Hunt and Hazlett are looking for their second straight individual state title.
Butte High girls’ coach Geno Liva said Peyton Liva, Brooklyn Hettick, Irelynn Cullen, Lilyi Malone, Jessica Blow, Deearea Naugle, Adalie Hazlett, Charlie Richter, Loretta Matteson, Sage Queer, Brooke Johnson, Mattie Stepan, Mattison Neighbor, Rylee Radcliffe, Chyanne Robinson and Allie Ballensky will compete in Missoula.
Butte Central’s roster features Felicity Stevens and Amira Gonzales for the girls and Jampel Hanley, Braydon Armstrong, Brekyn Armstrong, Jace Rauch, Kohler Sparks, David Sandoval, Tyge Meneses, Connor Kachmarik, Kelsen Brackett and Jack Holmes.
Bulldogs battle Helena schools
While Butte Central’s basketball teams closed out their week of work with a non-conference sweep at Livingston Tuesday night, Butte High’s cagers still have a busy schedule in front of them.
The Bulldogs take on Helena Capital on Thursday before battling Helena High on Saturday. The boys will be at home on Thursday, and the girls will be on the road.
That reverses on Saturday as the Bengals come to town to face the Bulldogs. The Butte boys travel to Helena High. The Butte High home games will be at the Richardson Gym.
To call this week a pivotal one for the Bulldogs would be a major understatement. Butte High’s boys enter the stretch at 11-3 overall and tied for third in the Western AA with Capital at 6-3. The Bruins are 9-5 overall.
Butte High is looking to avenge a 47-43 Jan. 15 loss at Helena Capital Landon Levang, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, scored 14 points to lead Capital in that win. He averages 11.6 points to lead coach Guy Almquist’s Bruins.
Junior Kyle Bachmeier adds 10 points to the lineup, while senior Wil Spotorno contributes with 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Senior Hudson Luedtke scored a total of 63 points in wins over Kalispell Flathead and Glacier last weekend at the Civic Center. That put him over 1,500 career points.
In addition to the 63 points, Luedtke dished out 13 assists and pulled down 16 rebounds in the two games.
The Bulldogs are hoping to get senior Cayde Stajcar and his 6.9 rebounds per game back in the lineup. He missed last week’s action with a high-ankle sprain. Senior Ryan Hanson started in his place.
Seniors Mitch Verlanic and Josh Liston and sophomore Brady Hanson round out the starting lineup. Seniors Rhett Arntson, James Pearston and Kendel Noctor are the first players off the bench.
Helena High’s boys are 8-6 and 5-4 heading into Thursday’s game at Missoula Hellgate.
Butte High’s girls are 9-5 overall and 7-2 in conference. They are tied for second place in the Western AA with Hellgate. Capital is 7-7 and 6-3.
The Bulldogs beat the Bruins 59-47 when the teams met Jan. 15 at the Richardson Gym. Junior Cadence Graham scored 28 points in that win.
Graham has been on a tear lately, scoring more than 30 points in two out of three games. That includes a 31-point performance against Flathead on Saturday.
She is joined in the starting lineup by seniors Emma Johnson and Franki Salusso and juniors Autumn Clary and Allie Becker. Freshmen Saege Grey and Elli Graham and junior Kendallyn Schad are the first players off the bench.
Avery Mergenthaler, a 5-8 junior, averages 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to lead the Bruins. Classmate Madi Emmert adds 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Helena High is 6-8 and 4-5 heading into Thursday’s home game against Hellgate.
Butte Central, meanwhile, is back in action next Tuesday when the boys’ and girls’ teams head to East Helena for a non-conference doubleheader. The BC boys will be at home again Feb. 21 to take on Corvallis.
Central’s girls are not home until their Feb. 24 Senior Night game against Dillon.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 