Plains Track and Field team hits academic high

PLAINS - The 2013 spring sports season may be over; but, the honors keep rolling in for the Plains High School Track & Field team. The Montana High School Association, in cooperation with the Montana Army National Guard, recently announced their 2013 Spring Sports Academic All-Team Awards. And, right at the top of the list for the Class B Boys and Girls squads were our very own Horsemen and Trotters.

With a cumulative fourth quarter grade point average of 3.132, the PHS boys team were the second highest GPA amongst all Class B boys teams (behind Whitehall’s 3.490). The boy’s team was led by Russell Kujala with a 4.00 GPA for the second semester. Joining Kujala on the high school honor roll were Caleb Connolly, Aaron Garrison, Ben Gorham, Branson Krebs and Wyatt Winebrenner.

Just like they did on the track (and field), the PHS girls team also led the state in the classroom. With the entire team making the high school honor roll (including eight straight A students), their cumulative GPA of 3.811 had them well clear of number two Whitehall’s 3.670. Leading the way with second semester straight A’s were Keely Benson, Felicia Earhart, Ashley Holmes, Corle Morefield, Hailey Phillips, Nicole Rehbein, Courtney Subatch and Leah Thompson. Also making the honor roll were Shannon Dimond, Kimberly Earhart, Kayla Holmes, Demi Horton, and Carley VonHeeder.

Given the team’s outstanding performances on both the athletic field and in the classroom, the 22 members of the 2013 Plains High School Track & Field Team gave new definition to the term student-athlete.

In addition to the MHSA/Army National Guard honors, USA Track & Field (USATF) recently announced their USATF Honor Roll for High School athletics. The USATF Honor Roll program recognizes state champion high school teams across the United States. (USATF is the national governing body of the sport, representing athletes from youth programs to Olympic and World Championship competitors.)

Under the direction of head coach Denise Montgomery, the Plains High School girl’s team was recognized for the State Championship that they earned in Bozeman over the Memorial Day weekend. The Trotter squad also won the District 7-B and the Western B Divisional championships. The state win was the first ever State Championship for the girl’s track & field squad.