The last tassel has been turned, the last cap tossed in the air. The graduation season is over for 2017. This year’s group of athletes have seen their ups and downs and persevered through it all. There are those that will move on to play at the college level and others will move on to different endeavors.
Braxton McCullough of Florence has always loved baseball. From the T-Ball stage to playing with the Bitterroot Bucs, his love of the game has been evident. In 2014, he took over care of the baseball fields at Florence and found that not only did he love baseball, he also loved taking care of the fields. He spends time studying how to take better care of the fields, how to make sure they are watered properly and even how to mow them better. He still loves the game, but now has figured out how to make a career out of it, even when not playing.
Chloe Arthur of Florence has been a three sport player. She has played volleyball, baseball, and softball. She has also made numerous trips to different state tournaments. When she was a freshman, her softball team won the state championship. She said she didn’t know how to feel after that win. However last week, when Florence won, she knew exactly how to feel, ecstatic! Her leadership and work ethic has been a pleasure to watch, as well as her determination. Arthur will go far, no matter where she goes, and her sass and attitude will help her along the way.
Makayla Davids of Stevensville has been one that has persevered over the years. Davids has played soccer, basketball and softball over the years. Her teams have not always had great successes but she has been in the trenches, pushing through. This year, her basketball team started slowly but gained momentum and found success. The same was true with the Yellowjacket softball team. She capped her high school career with a trip to Sidney and the state tournament. She could have quit at any time because of the lack of success her team had over the years, but she didn’t. And because she didn’t, she finished strongly and with a sense of achievement.
James Fry has always been a baller. Sometimes his competitive spirit got the best of him and he pushed himself harder and harder. After being ill in early 2016, Fry made the decision to focus on one sport and not wear himself out. This year, his team came together in a way that hadn’t happened for a couple of years and they had success. Good health is important and Fry learned that important lesson this year.
Corvallis’ Corinne Sanderson is one tough, hard-working athlete. She was an all-state soccer player and then became an all-state basketball player. Her natural athleticism carried her a long way but it was her ‘try’ and her ‘gut’ that took her farther. She was the last to leave the court or the field and the first to be there for her teammates. She didn’t quit as a freshman, in fact she never let up for four years.
Cayden Ayers is a soccer player for Corvallis. He also has a lot of try. When a poor decision by a teammate led to a disqualification for the state championship game, Ayers took it upon himself to be the target for Belgrade Panthers. He was already one of the top scorers in the state and knew how to find the net. However, with a defender on his front side and one on his backside, he was stymied. But he didn’t quit. Even though Corvallis lost, he never let up, working to get a shot or to get the assist. I’ll miss his attitude on the field, but I’ll miss our conversations more.
Speaking of ‘try’, Hamilton’s Reilly Rostad is a poster child for trying and working hard. She’s tough on the soccer pitch, in fact she’s one of the best. She was a bit tentative on the basketball court but with her speed, found her confidence and helped the Lady Broncs this season. And speaking of speed, she’s one of the fastest in the state and can jump farther than almost anyone, she won the triple jump, took second in the long jump, was sixth in the 100 meters, and seventh in the 200 meter dash at the state meet. She’ll go on to compete for Caroll College and get her degree in business so she can run her own bakery. Yes, she also wears an apron. Since she was in junior high, this speedster has been in the kitchen. This is where she takes her time to create beautiful cakes for her friends and neighbors. In fact, she’s turned it into a thriving business. She’s learned, speed is good — sometimes; but so is taking your time and paying attention to details.
Since he was a baby, Ky Burch has been in the gym with his mom and dad, Deana and Owen Burch. He spent his free time shooting shot, after shot after shot and loved the game of basketball He went to clinics and camps, tournament and more tournaments and never tired of the game. When he was a little older, he discovered golf and had almost the same passion for that sport. His Hamilton Bronc golf team won the state championship in 2014 and again in 2015 with Burch there success. But even more impressive than his achievements on the court or the course or in the field during track, Burch has been Academic All-State every year in every sport. His work ethic has put him at the top of his class and will serve him well at Caroll college and beyond.
Liz Roberts competes in golf and up until this year, pole vaulting. She’s an accomplished horseman who is currently the reigning Rockin’ RC Rodeo queen. Her zest for trying new things and keeping a smile on her face has been fun to watch as she’s grown up. Keep on smilin’ Liz.
Kye McCollaum is another competitor with no quit. He just finished up playing in the Class C ‘Clev’ 8 Man Classic football game where he did Darby proud. He also just finished up his track career with second place finishes in the hurdles. McCollaum works hard at everything he does, never quits, and has a smile always. He is, as one teacher put it, one of the nicest students around.
Basketball has always been Zach McCrossin’s passion. He injured his shoulder last year and had to take time off but came back strong this year. He provided leadership but most importantly, he showed his team how to win and to never give up. His shooting was magical and there was no one on the Darby basketball or football team that worked harder.
Colt Neville of Victor has moves on the football field that will leave a defender wondering what happened. His juking and jiving has been fun to watch over the last four years but it’s his attitude that makes it even more fun. He’s unassuming and a little shy but always willing to work hard. This attitude paid off this year when he was selected to play in the Shriners game this summer. There aren’t many Class C players selected so it’s quite an honor. But for Neville, he’ll just make the most of the experience and move on to UM Western where he’ll play this fall.
Payton Tillotson began high school at Victor and then transferred to Stevensville for her sophomore and part of her junior year. But she wasn’t happy and moved back to Victor. The smile on her face when she came on the floor for volleyball or for basketball was priceless. She provided leadership to a young team but she also showed them how to be happy and work for that happiness.
This class of 2017 has had their ups and downs, that’s for sure. But they have learned through these last four years to find what they want, and work to achieve that. Good luck, Class of 2017.