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All-Sports trophy in sight for FHS after fall
and winter sport seasons

  Michele Bailey - Arrow Staff

Coach Bill Sullivan gives the Braves a pep talk during the championship game in Helena.

    Flathead may be known as the biggest school in the state, but now we are becoming know as the best, too. Last year, Flathead captured the 1999-2000 All Sports Trophy from the four-year keeper, Bozeman. Flathead finished just half a point ahead of C.M. Russell High in Great Falls which had 87 and a half points.

   "Winning the trophy establishes your high school as the top school in the state for athletic achievement," said Flathead athletic director Mark Dennehy.

   This year Flathead is looking to repeat, with 70 points simply from the fall sports season. That's good enough to take the lead for the competition so far. Helena Capitol trails FHS with 52 points. Malta is in third with 51 and Dillon is in fourth with 35.

   The All Sports Trophy was started in 1968. Larger sports such as football, basketball, track, and volleyball are awarded on a 25-15-10-5 point basis for placing first through fourth. Other sports like cross-country, swimming, soccer, and tennis points are awarded on a 12-9-6-3 spread.

   Fifty-one schools throughout Montana scored points for the All Sports Trophy during the fall season. This includes 19 C schools, 10 B, 12 A, and 10 AA.

   After an outstanding fall season, Flathead is already 13 1/2 points ahead of last year at the conclusion of the winter season. FHS scored in all four fall sports this year. The girls basketball state title earned 25 points while the undefeated boys cross-country team added 12 more. The Braves first football final in 20 years gave Flathead 15 points, and girls cross-country and boys soccer added nine points each. The girl's soccer team gave Flathead three final points. Flathead finished with a total of 70 points.

   Winter sports such as boys basketball and volleyball are looking to rack up even more points. Girls and boys swimming also contributed to the tally with nine and three points.

   "Winning is one of our goals this year," said Dennehy. "We're doing really well and we're at the midpoint of our year. The teams are all really solid."

   If Flathead is able to capture its second straight All-Sports title, it will mark the sixth time Flathead has won the trophy. That is as much as Bozeman and Billings, who currently have won the trophy more than any other school. "It's been one of our goals to win," said Dennehy. "The probability is quite high that we will win again this year."