Top Whitefish sports stories of 2015
A 36-year championship drought was snapped on the final play of a thrilling State A title game. Is there really any debate about the top sports moment of the year?
Whitefish’s defense stood strong on a last-gasp heave to the end zone as the Bulldogs topped Dillon 17-13 in the state championship football game at Vigilante Field.
Story lines were everywhere in this one.
Two sets of coaches and sons playing for history on the same team; hundreds of rabid Bulldog fans that outnumbered the home team’s bleachers; overcoming a serious injury to running back Chris Park, the team’s heart and soul; and an unbelievable final bow from four-year starting quarterback Luke May, who ends his prep career with a stranglehold on the school record book.
This game and this team will go down in Bulldog history alongside the best to ever wear the green and gold.
This was also the year of the coaching carousel.
Most notably, after a dozen seasons at the helm of the Whitefish boys soccer team, O’Brien Byrd shocked Bulldog Nation when he resigned to coach at rival Columbia Falls. “I’m coming home and it feels really good,” Byrd said of returning to his high school alma mater.
Under Byrd, Whitefish won four State A championships and played in six title games. His overall coaching record at Whitefish stands at 120-32-15.
While one legendary coach left, another returned.
The most decorated volleyball coach in Whitefish history, Jackie Fuller, announced her return to the sideline in February. “I still have a passion to be around the kids and make a difference in their lives,” Fuller said of her return to coaching after a five year reprieve.
The Lady Bulldogs quickly took to Fuller’s coaching style and earned a trip to the State A tournament this season.
Other teams made coaching changes, as well. Roland Benedict was hired to lead girls soccer, John Lacey was brought on to coach boys soccer and Ben Johnson was tapped as girls basketball coach.
A minor league flop was more of a lowlight of the sports year, but noteworthy nonetheless.
First they were the Glacier Grizzlies, then the Glacier Outlaws. But after just two weeks on the diamond, they were no more.
An attempt to bring professional baseball to Whitefish never made it past first base as the Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League folded almost as soon as it began. Commissioner Mike Greene faced financial troubles from the get-go. After two weeks of play he announced that without more funding “the league will be done.” Despite a valiant effort from a crew of locals, the Outlaws were toast by June.
Then there’s the Whitefish girls golf team, a tradition like no other. The Lady Bulldogs defended their State A title in dominating fashion and senior Coral Schulz wrapped up her outstanding prep career with back-to-back individual titles.
“They worked hard and wanted that back-to-back title,” said head golf coach Tim Olson. “It’s difficult to repeat. Their hard work paid off.”
And finally, Whitefish couldn’t have been better represented in the collegiate ranks than the inspirational display from University of Montana Grizzly student athlete Derek Crittenden. The senior capped his football career with as many academic achievements as on-field highlights. The Whitefish High School graduate and Grizzly captain was in the mix for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, and will graduate with a double major in chemistry and mathematics holding a 4.0 GPA. Whitefish can’t wait to see what Derek does next.