The answer is golf, and Missoula Big Sky coach Wes Appelt is spearheading an effort to get that rule off the books.
“My reasoning for wanting the rule change primarily is for a parent to be able to watch their son or daughter compete,” said Appelt, who is in his 25th year coaching golf.
Appelt hopes to instate a one- or two-year trial period in which spectators would be able to purchase something similar to a sideline pass at a University of Montana football game, to be worn around the neck. The pass would state specific rules of conduct for fans, such as staying 50 feet away from competitors, no coaching or voicing degrading comments toward the athletes.
After one warning, those who break those standards would be ejected from viewing the remainder of the tournament.
An underlying advantage is that revenue could be created so tournaments might be more attractive to courses who otherwise wouldn't hold a weekend tournament. That way athletes could miss fewer days of school. As of now, most golf tournaments are played Thursdays and Fridays in order for the course to remain open over the weekend.
Last year, Appelt and an ad-hoc golf committee recommended the rule change to the MHSA. He said Class AA golf coaches voted 9-5 in favor of allowing fans on the course, but AA athletic directors voted against it, 12-2.
“The two who supported my plan were Brian Fortmann at Big Sky and Scott Whaley from Sentinel, after I convinced them,” Appelt said.
According to MHSA executive director Mark Beckman, the issue will be brought up at the association's monthly meeting Oct. 6. Then the athletic committee will weigh the pros and cons before making a recommendation to the MHSA at the November meeting.
A vote on the matter could possibly take place in January, but a new rule wouldn't go into effect until July 2009. So in order to watch collegiate prospects like Kalispell Glacier's Larry Iverson or Jake Hedge of Billings West shoot a round, do it this summer at the State Junior tournament. Stay tuned.
If it wasn't for bad luck ...
If you're looking for an athlete dedicated to her sport, search no further than Missoula Hellgate girls' soccer player Becca Burgmeier.
A year ago as a sophomore defender, Burgmeier tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and was forced to watch much of Knights' season from the sidelines. After surgery to repair the ACL last November and countless hours of physical therapy, Burgmeier was cleared to play by doctors and was back on the pitch late in the spring.
A little more than two weeks later, she injured the medial collateral ligament in the same knee, resulting in more grueling rehabilitation in hopes of rejoining her Hellgate teammates this fall.
After again receiving clearance from medical professionals and an assurance the second injury was unrelated to her surgery, Burgmeier was at preseason practice with Hellgate when the unthinkable happened. On Aug. 25, Burgmeier fell victim to injury once again and knew immediately she had torn the ACL in what she used to call the good knee - her right one.
Many assumed Burgmeier's soccer career was over, but those who did weren't aware what kind of competitor they were dealing with. Despite the risks of further complicating the injury, Burgmeier made the choice to hold off on more surgery and made her season debut with the Knights last Thursday in their 2-0 victory over Western AA crosstown rival Missoula Sentinel.
She did it with a pair of matching bulky knee braces, but that's beside the point. She was back out there, playing the game she loves dearly.
“What's amazing is it's hard to know what she may have lost,” said Hellgate head coach Geoff Birnbaum. “Is she slower? Nobody outruns her. Is she as quick as she used to be? She seems to get to the ball before anyone else. Her soccer IQ is astronomical and I bet if you ask anyone on our team who is the one player they would pick to play along side, they'd say Becca.”
Not a misprint
The Drummond football team stands at 0-2 for the first time in 15 years.
In the season opener, Western C foe Sheridan earned a measure of redemption for last year's State C title game loss to the Trojans by downing Drummond, 32-20. Then last Saturday, Victor posted its first win over the Trojans since 1999 with a 30-28 victory in two overtimes.
The Trojans, winners of four of the last five State C championships, could well be back above .500 by Oct. 10 when they host Twin Bridges. Six-foot-5, 240-pound tight end Levi Coughlin, quarterback Neil Mannix and fullback Josh Goodrich and the rest continue their season at Noxon Friday.
The Jos watch
Wednesday morning, Notre Dame head women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw was in Missoula to visit Big Sky standout Joslyn Tinkle, currently ranked the 10th-best girls' high school basketball prospect in the country by Scouts, Inc. according to espn.com.
Insiders believe the 6-3 senior is considering offers from Oklahoma, Stanford, California, Georgia, Duke, Texas and Montana in addition to Notre Dame. Georgia head coach Andy Landers and a member of his staff are slated to visit Thursday.
However, it was rumored head coach Robin Selvig and the entire UM staff were in Missoula as well. Coincidence?
Busy weekend
The two-day Missoula Invitational golf tournament begins Thursday at Larchmont Golf Course and concludes Friday at the Ranch Club. The tournament, which will feature the top Class AA and A squads from the region, begins at 8 a.m. each day. ... The best Class A football game in the area Friday evening has in store is at Southwestern A Hamilton, when the Broncs host Northwestern A Whitefish at 7 p.m. Both schools stand at 1-2 and see this one as an important preconference tune-up. The Bulldogs were shut out 14-0 last weekend by Frenchtown, while Hamilton suffered a 16-15 upset at the hands of Ronan.
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