Choteau’s Durocher sisters to run track at C of I
Choteau’s Durocher sisters sign with C of Idaho
Sisters Payge and Payton Durocher of Choteau have signed NAIA letters-of-intent with the track program at the College of Idaho.
Payge won the 200 at last year’s State B track and field meet, while Payton placed second in the 400. They both contributed to standout relay teams for the Bulldogs.
“They are both great talents that are very raw,” said College of Idaho coach Austin Basterrechea. “We anticipate that (they) will make an immediate impact on our team. Being from a small community like Choteau, we believe that they will flourish in the tightknit, community driven environment at The College of Idaho.”
Roster transition announced for Bobcats
BOZEMAN – The beginning of Montana State’s second semester brought roster transition to the Bobcat football program, MSU head coach Jeff Choate said Monday.
Cornerback Darren Gardenhire, a junior who started for the Washington Huskies in 2015 and contributed to last season’s College Football Playoff squad, and Boise State freshman running back Jake Roper have each enrolled at MSU. Roper redshirted at BSU last season, while Gardenhire is tabbed for a redshirt season in 2017 to satisfy NCAA requirements before playing as a senior in 2018.
Gardenhire, from Long Beach, California, Cabrillo High School, started a pair of 2016 games as a junior and nine as a sophomore. In 2015 he logged 45 tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up eight others, and recovered a fumble as a sophomore. He played in 11 games this season with 13 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, an interception, two pass breakups, a fumble forced and one recovered before leaving the team.
Roper concluded an outstanding prep career at Boise’s Rocky Mountain High School in the fall of 2015, leading his team to a state title and earning 5A All-Idaho First Team honors. He earned 5A All-SIC First Team honors, and was chosen for the District 3 East-West All-Star Game. Roper, 5-10, 180 lbs, rushed for 1,454 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, including 308 yards and five touchdowns in the championship game.
Choate also announced several position changes. Sophomore Woody Brandom returns to tight end from defensive end, where he finished the 2016 season, and senior Devin Jeffries moves to tight end from defensive end, as well. Redshirt freshmen Sean Opland (running back to linebacker), Lewis Kidd (defensive line to offensive line) and Jacob Hadley (safety to linebacker) also begin transitioning between positions. In addition, junior receiver Jayshawn Gates, sophomore linebacker Blake Sylvester and sophomore fullback Dylan Stenseth are no longer on the roster, Choate said.
Baldwin leaves EWU for job at Cal
CHENEY, Wash. – Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin is leaving the FCS powerhouse to become the offensive coordinator at California under new coach Justin Wilcox.
Baldwin announced his decision on Monday, leaving the school where he won five Big Sky Conference titles, reached the FCS semifinals four times and won a national championship in 2010. Baldwin was 85-32 in nine seasons in charge of the Eagles’ program.
Baldwin had conversations in the past with FBS schools about head coaching positions, most notably Oregon State two years ago and Nevada this offseason. Baldwin said he believed the coaching carousel was done for the year until he had initial conversations late last week about joining Wilcox’s staff.
“This one became one that I just knew was right,” Baldwin said.
Eastern Washington athletic director Bill Chaves said assistants Aaron Best and Jeff Schmedding will serve as co-interim coaches while a search is conducted.
Electric City Outlaws slate registration
The Senior Babe Ruth Electric City Outlaws are preparing for the 2017 baseball season and are seeking more players aged 16-18.
The Outlaws are two-time defending state champions in Senior Babe Ruth.
For more information, players and parents are urged to call 564-0229 or 781-7632.
Youth lacrosse program organizing for season
The Great Falls Fury, a youth lacrosse program starting its fourth season, is now organizing for the coming season.
The program includes high school boys and girls are well as youths aged 8-15. Practices start in February and games begin in March. The season concludes with the high school state tournament in Great Falls May 19-21.
Interested players can register online at www.greatfallsfury.org/Registration, by emailing greatfallslacrosse@gmail.com or by calling 781-9274. The program’s president and head coach is Kirk Fried.
UM names Lawrence new volleyball coach
MISSOULA - Allison Lawrence, an assistant coach for the Grizzlies since 2010, has been named the next head coach of the Montana volleyball program.
One of three finalists for the position when it was last open, after the 2014 season, Lawrence was elevated from assistant to interim head coach in November following the resignation of Brian Doyon.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Lawrence said. “I’m honored. This is a dream job for me.”
Lawrence’s appointment comes after a tumultuous half decade for the Griz volleyball program. Jerry Wagner stepped down after the 2014 season, following the team’s second 6-23 record in three years.
Doyon, previously an assistant coach at Utah, was hired in January 2015. Montana went 8-20 in Doyon’s first year, 5-21 last fall. The Grizzlies finished 6-26 in league matches in two years under Doyon.
Lawrence, a former Oregon State star who was hired by Wagner and retained by Doyon, was an assistant coach at Trinity University, a Division III school in San Antonio, Texas, prior to being hired by Wagner in 2010.