Friday briefs: UGF volleyball, prep cross country
Bison, Rustler harriers running in Butte
BUTTE – Great Falls High cross county coach Bob Stingley said there’s no such thing as a small invitational meet, and Saturday’s meet will be no exception when his Bison and Nathan Geiger’s C.M. Russell squads compete at the Butte Invitational.
“Most of the Class AA schools should be there, and it’ll be the fastest course they’ll run all year,” Geiger said. “It’s a super-flat course.
“I think they found the flattest part of town to run the race on,” he added with a laugh.
The course should bode well for the Rustlers, who saw Cooper West take fifth and Trisha Carlson ninth against a field of runners from Montana, Idaho and Washington at last weekend’s prestigious Mountain West Invite in Missoula. Geiger said it marked the first time in about a decade that CMR had a runner place in the top 10 at the Mountain West, the last being Cooper’s elder sister Keely West.
“This is the best year for the Rustler boys and girls in a long time,” Geiger said.
Stingley agreed that the course will yield some fast times. “It’s an easy course, and as long as we run a smart race, we’ll be all right.”
Junior Teagan Olson has been running well for the Bison boys, as have sophomore Veda Root and senior Nely Baltazar for the girls.
UGF soccer teams defeat Rocky Mountain
BILLINGS – A one-time strike from sophomore Malena Lennon gave the University of Great Falls women’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over Rocky Mountain College here Friday.
The UGF men of coach Joseph Yeisley also picked up a victory with a 4-0 triumph over the Bears.
Lennon’s goal helped the UGF women of coach Brian Clarke end a seven-match losing streak. Her goal came in the 85th minute off of a one-time strike just instead the penalty box that hung close to the ground and curled around the RMC keeper right inside the near post. The pass came from freshman Sydney Kellar. The play was Lennon’s first goal of the season and Kellar’s first assist as a collegiate player.
The UGF women are 1-7 overall, 1-4 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
In the UGF men’s victory, Camilo Martinez scored two goals as the Argos upset the Bears, ranked 24th among NAIA teams.
Adrian Gomez and George Holloway also scored for the Argos, 3-2 in CCC play and 4-4 overall.
The UGF teams continue their road trip Sunday at the College of Idaho in Caldwell; the men play at noon and the women at 2:30.
Wentz back in Fargo for commercial, Homecoming
FARGO, N.D. - Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz is back in Fargo, where he starred at North Dakota State University.
KFGO radio reports that Wentz on Friday was with a film crew shooting a commercial in downtown Fargo for a truck accessories business. Police sent out a notice that the street would be closed for a bit, though they didn’t say why. They said later they didn’t want Wentz mobbed by fans.
Wentz has had a solid start with the Eagles, leading the team to wins over Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh. The Eagles are on a bye week.
Wentz on Wednesday went bow hunting for deer in his home state, posting a picture on Twitter of a buck he had shot. WDAY-TV reports that Wentz plans to attend NDSU’s Homecoming game Saturday.
Bowlers gather at Little’s for ‘The Willey’
The top scratch bowlers from the Pacific Northwest and Alberta will be gathering at Little’s Lanes for the annual John Willey Memorial Open Saturday and Sunday.
As of Friday evening, 68 bowlers have signed up, including defending champion Josh Link of Billings and the 2015 champ, Jack Guay of Calgary. Several walk-in bowlers are expected to participate, including many from the central Montana region.
Tournament sponsors have added $3,000 to the prize fund. The tournament’s three qualifying shifts are at 8 a.m., 1 and 7 p.m., while match play starts Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Bison soccer teams take on Butte today
The Great Falls High soccer teams will try to get back on the winning track Saturday when squads from Butte visit Siebel Soccer Park.
The girls’ match is at 11 a.m., followed at 1 p.m. by the boys’ match.
The Bison boys are coached by Steve Groshelle, while the GFH girls are led by coaches Dugan Coburn, Jim Devlin and Bill Polk.
Earlier this week, the Great Falls High girls lost 4-1 to crosstown rival C.M. Russell High, while the Bison boys were defeated 5-0 by the Rustlers.
Quinn Mora scored the only Bison goal, off a tremendous assist from Marissa Meyer.
Americans fall in OT
The Great Falls Americans suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, a 4-3 overtime decision to the visiting Yellowstone Quake at the Great Falls IcePlex.
Jeff Heimel’s squad was outshot 54-36, and Curt Breenbush tallied the game-winner in the extra frame.
Yellowstone gained the lead with 1:49 left in the third period. But Sandis Mezharaups tied the game at 3-all on an unassisted marker with 35 seconds left.
Danny O’Donnell and Quinn Stuebner also found the back of the net for Great Falls, jumping out to a 2-0 advantage in the second period. Yellowstone and Great Falls, now 4-1 on the season, are back on the ice Saturday night at 7:30 at the IcePlex.
UGF volleyball notches upset
LEWISTON, Idaho – Madison Wilhelm and Korie Milan had standout performances as the Lady Argos volleyball team bounced back from two straight loses to beat No. 25 Lewis-Clark State College 3-1 on Friday night.
Head coach Arunas Duda and the Lady Argos claimed the match in four sets: 16-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20.
Wilhelm led the team in both kills (14) and digs (16), while Milan had 12 kills and Tiffany Marks totaled eight.
The Lady Argos moved to 8-10 overall and 2-3 in the Frontier Conference.
UGF def. Lewis-Clark State 16-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20
UGF leaders – Kills 52 (Madison Wilhelm 14); assists 49 (Bree Davis 20); aces 9 (Emily Stoker 3, Madison Wilhelm 3); digs 50 (Madison Wilhelm 16); blocks 5 (Tiffany Marks 1.5, Korie Milan 1.5).
Lewis-Clark State leaders – Kills 42 (Kennadie Clute 15); assists 41 (Amber Hillestad 19); aces 9 (Claire Ahmann 3); digs 44 (Jordan Phelan 10); blocks 10 (Maya Williamson 4).