Noxon track team small but mighty

Good things come in small packages, they say.

It could also be a nod to quality over quantity. 

Either axiom could be applied to the Noxon High school track and field team. 

With a turnout hovering around 10 athletes some could paint a less than optimistic picture of the Red Devils and Lady Devils track teams, but in this case quality may well trump quantity. 

Topping the reasons for optimism is the senior season coming up for Ricky Williams, a multiple sport standout who finished third in the Class C state championships in the high jump, and fourth in both the long and triple jump events. 

And for good measure, he added a ninth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles to his 2024 state hardware haul. 

Teammate and fellow senior Shane Murray, an all-state basketball selection, placed eleventh in the discus last year for the Red Devils. 

Those two are back for their final season in the same events they were in at last year’s State finals in Great Falls. 

Noxon head coach Matt Havens points to that experience as a key to the fortunes of this year’s team, noting attitude and desire are among the strong points of the 2025 team. 

“Knowledge of the event and familiarity with the event locations good,” Havens said. “This is not their first meet”. 

Havens also emphasized desire to improve as a solid attribute of the small but talented group. 

“Make today better than yesterday”, he said when asked about his goals for the team. “Enjoy the season”. 

Havens said he also hopes to attract more athletes to track and field.  The addition of baseball as a varsity sport has caused several players, particularly from Thompson Falls, to choose baseball. 

“Getting more student athletes involved in the track program, from fifth grade to 12th grade, is also something we hope to improve on”. 

The girls' team, on one website roster, lists three athletes, Seanna Richter, Emma Swanson and Georgia Boehme, all of whom were members of the Noxon girls' basketball and volleyball teams. 

Other members listed in addition to Murry and Williams on the boys' roster include Bran Parrish, Chance McDaid, Kade Hill and Shane Hatchell.  Most were members of the successful basketball and football programs this year. 

Noxon is scheduled to take part in the Eureka meet set for March 28 in Eureka.  They then are slated to appear at the Libby Meet in Libby April 12. 

State, divisional and district meets this year are at the Missoula County Public Schools stadium in Missoula.