Vikes, Vals take many year-end honors

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

Selections have been made for All-State and All-Conference for all of the fall sports except volleyball.

Six members of the Bigfork High School football team received honors for the 2008 season.

Carson Sneed was named first team All-Conference for the kick return specialist position. Donnie Tudahl and Cheyne Valentine were named second team All-Conference for defensive line and wide receiver, respectively. Tight end Scott Taylor and running back Garrett Pewe received honorable mentions.

"Half of the guys on the list returned to the program after taking last year off, and combined with the other three on the list they provided a core leadership that allowed the younger players to learn the game and develop their skills," said BHS head football coach Bruce Corbett. "Without them we wouldn't have been able to have that type of success with our younger players. I think it speaks to their athleticism that they were able to take a year off and still make this list."

Caitlin Charlebois received All-Sate and first team All-Conference honors for girls soccer. Quinci Paine, Logun Koch and Becca Denning were also named first team All-Conference, and Taylor Schiltz was named second team.

"We had a good year and improved greatly," said Bigfork head girls soccer coach Hauna Trenerry. "It's exciting for the girls to get these awards and I am really happy with how it all worked out."

Alec MacCallum was the only member of the BHS boys soccer team to be named to the All-Conference team.

"He worked hard and led by example," said Bigfork head boys soccer coach Keith Koslosky. "He was injured in one fashion or another all season and he played through it. All of his injuries were to his feet and legs so for him to play at the level that he did this season was very gutty."

All of the coaches from the conference meet at the conclusion of the fall season to determine which players should receive the honors. Each coach gets to nominate players from their team who they think are deserving of state awards. The coaches talk about their players and then the coaches vote. They are not allowed to vote for their own players and the players with the most votes receive All-State awards. Others with less votes receive first or second team All-Conference honors or honorable mentions.

Koslosky said he was not notified of this year's meeting, which may have contributed to the lack of boys on the All-Conference team despite the team making it to the semifinals in the state playoffs.

"Based on our finish in the conference I was disappointed in the number of our players considered for honors," Koslosky said.

Golf and cross country All-State and All-Conference teams are determined by the individuals' finishes at the state meets.

Kyle Parker earned All-State and All-Conference honors with his 12th place finish at the state golf meet, and Kayla Carlson's sixth-place finish at the state cross country meet earned her All-State and All-Conference honors as well. Bridger Mahlum, who placed 38th at state received an honorable mention.