The Thompson Falls boys' track and field team capped its 2002 campaign with a Western B divisional title, followed by its first state championship when it blew away the competition at Missoula County Stadium last May.
There had been several near-misses at state for coach Randy Symon's Bluehawks, but last May it all fell into place. Led by Spencer Bird, Jesse Hanna, Nate Block, Adam Oswald, Doug Czerwinski and Shawn Dieterich, Thompson Falls athletes placed in 11 of 17 events to outscore second-place Malta by 23 points.
"In a way, it's unfortunate that we can't take about 20 of the points we scored at state last year and roll them over to this year," joked Symon, who is entering his 20th season coaching the Bluehawks. "If things go our way this year, we'll score some points at state. But we've been up at the top of state for the last six to eight years and now it's time to rebuild."
Symon points to senior Justin Clifton, sixth in the 110 hurdles at state last year, to shoulder much of load, in addition to Jake Gertstenberger, who took sixth in shot the put. Gerstenberger, a junior, was a passenger in a car accident near the end of the football season in which he suffered rib and back injuries.
Despite still feeling the effects of the accident, Gerstenberger has a chance to place in the top three in the shot put, Symon said.
A talented group of sophomores and promising freshman Tony Kazmierczak have sparked Symon's optimism for the future.
"We might not be there in the end this year, but our young kids have the potential to make us a contender at state in the next couple of years," Symon said.
Thompson Falls isn't the only Western B team with a void left by departed seniors. At Florence, third at state last year, state sprint champion Nick Walters is gone, as is javelin champion Mike Slingsby and sprinter Jason Williams.
Missoula Loyola lost three of the four members of its state-title winning 400-meter relay team. Darby will suffer the departure of Bret Ralston, who took second at state in triple jump and fifth in the high jump.
Of those returning from Western B, no athlete is more decorated than Patrick Cutler, a Deer Lodge senior who finished second in the 400, third in the 200 and fourth in the 100 last year at state. Wardens teammate Bobby Hill, another fine sprinter, is looking to improve on a sixth-place pole vault mark at state.
In the west, Symon likes the chances of Plains, with its superb distance corps led by brothers Craig and Dane Steward.
"It's possible that with the Steward kids and Kendall Seli, Plains could finish 1-2-3 in either the mile or two-mile events at state," Symon said.
Perennial power Florence boasts Leo Hansen in the jumping events, Paden Jenkins in the shot put and Ricky Wallace in the distance events. Loyola has the nucleus that formed the state cross-country champion last fall, led by Adam Schiedermayer, who broke two minutes in the 800 last year as a junior.
Eureka's Curtis Bean is the only returning state champion from Western B, after sweeping both the shot put and discus. Frenchtown's Ryan Davis could make some noise in the distance events. Senior Abe Madinger, who's 6-foot high jump was good for fifth at state last season, anchors Seeley-Swan.
Last year's girls' state meet was dominated by Loni Perkins, who as a junior won five individual events and anchored two relays to have a hand in 70 of state-champion Conrad's 73 team points. The return of Perkins alone makes Conrad the state favorite again.
"Yep, no doubt they're the team to beat," Symon said. "But it's unfortunate for them that most of their points hinge on Perkins not pulling a hamstring or suffering an injury. She's got to be healthy."
From the West, two-time defending divisional champion Florence looks to be the team to beat. The Falcons are led by Kim Heinz, who nabbed second at state in both the javelin and the high jump, and third in triple jump and the long jump. Annie Gayvert took fifth in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the triple jump at last year's state competition. Last Saturday in Hamilton, Destiny Dahlseid won the 100 and 200 in western Montana's first track meet of the spring.
"It was a good start last weekend," said Florence coach Sam Baerlocher. "We're not just going to be built around one athlete. We should get some points from several girls."
Baerlocher, whose Falcon girls won the 2001 state title, has been impressed with the work ethic of senior sprinter Heather Stoltz and senior Taylor Williams, who runs the 400 and 800. Florence should also get points from throwers Allison Cochrell, Sara Sullivan, Cathy Redfern and Natalie Slingsby.
At Arlee, Ashley Miles and Missy Teinsvold could help make the Warriors a force in their first year back in Class B. Baker placed third, third and fourth at the last three Class C state meets in javelin. Plains features Marie Errecart, the defending state champion in the 800.
Thompson Falls will follow the lead of Stephanie Bortz, who took second at state last year in the discus and third in the shot put and signed last fall to compete for the University of Montana. Karen Helvey could place again this year in the discus as well.
Lauren Titchborne finished third at state in the 100 and 200 last year and will be the backbone of a young but talented Loyola squad.
Emma Allen in the shot put and Kari Heiple and Katie Steinbrenner in the pole vault will star for Deer Lodge.
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