Top sports moments of 2014
A look back at the top sports moments from 2014.
Dogs back on top
The Whitefish football team had a year to remember as the program made a return to prominence. The Dogs won its first division title since 2002, beat rival Columbia Falls on homecoming night, and made it to the semifinals of the state playoffs. The Dogs placed seven on the All-State roster, more than any other team in Class A.
Golf champs
The Lady Bulldog golf team continued the championship tradition at Whitefish.
Whitefish junior Coral Schulz shot a final round 88 at the Class A state tournament to earn an individual title and lead Whitefish to its 17th team state title, and first since 2007.
It was the Schulz’ first round, a tournament-low 83, that was the catalyst for her victory.
Whitefish finished with four girls scoring All-State, including Schulz, Katie Fyall, Malia Morris and Georgia Donaldson. Holly Hileman wasn’t far off, finishing 32nd.
“They did a nice job all the way across the board,” coach Tim Olson said. “Our seniors really stepped up.”
Olympic dreams
At just 15 years old, Whitefish slopestyle star Maggie Voisin was selected to compete at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, making her the youngest member of Team USA.
Voisin earned the Olympic selection with an improbable silver medal performance at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. She was the youngest skier ever to medal at the X Games.
An untimely injury ultimately kept Voisin out of the Olympic competition, but she returned to Whitefish as a rising star.
Bend it like Ling
With the season slipping away, the Bulldog boys soccer team needed a hero.
Trailing 3-1 in the first-round State A playoff match against Hamilton — Casey Ling simply took over.
The junior striker scored three goals in the second half, including an impossible game-winner off a corner kick in extra time to propel the top-seed Whitefish to a 4-3 victory and into the semifinals.
“If you’re going to be a hero it might as well be a spectacular moment,” coach O’Brien Byrd said.
Kick like Haley
Haley Nicholson left her mark on the soccer pitch and football gridiron this fall.
The Whitefish sophomore earned All-State honors as the leading goal-scorer for the Lady Bulldogs soccer team, while also moonlighting as the Bulldog football placekicker, earning All-Conference honors.
“It’s all kicking,” Nicholson said. “There is no difference when my foot hits the ball.”
Marathon mad man
Whitefish runner Brian Rhodes crushed the course record at the Two Bear marathon in September, clocking a 2:53:19 on the challenging course around Whitefish Lake. His pace beat the previous best time by nearly 25 minutes. It was his first marathon, ever.
“I never had run that distance before, so I just wanted to go out and have a good effort and do a run with the community,” Rhodes said.
“It’s cool to check that off the list for me.”
Boys of summer
The Glacier Twins won the State A Legion Baseball Tournament to earn a spot in the regional tourney in Alaska. It was the first state title for the Twins since the 1986 season.
The Glacier 13U All-Stars won the Pacific Northwest Regional baseball tournament to earn a spot in the Babe Ruth World Series, while the Glacier 14U team also earned a trip to the regional tournament.
Motoring Marlow
Capping her standout prep career, Whitefish’s Marlow Schulz swept the sprint races at the Class A state track meet for the third straight year. She also became just the fourth girl in Montana history to win four consecutive 100-meter dash championships. Schulz is currently running for St. John’s University.
The catch
Facing fourth down and trailing Miles City by a single point late in the fourth quarter of a quarterfinal playoff game, Whitefish quarterback Luke May hit junior receiver Jed Nagler on a 35-yard touchdown prayer to win the game 34-29.
“I didn’t see anything down the field and I just hucked it up to Jed,” May said. “I mean, he’s 6-3, 215. I have a lot of trust in Jed.”