Northern A soccer all-conference awards announced

The Daily Inter Lake

The high school soccer season ended Saturday, but Northern A players had a final chance in the spotlight this week as the all-conference and all-state teams were named.

Sixteen boys and 16 girls were named to the all-conference first teams - as voted upon by Northern A coaches - with the top seven garnering all-state honors. Four girls received honorable mention.

The Whitefish boys, who clinched an unprecedented second straight undefeated Class A state championship last weekend against Libby, led the way with seven athletes on the all-conference team, including six who were voted all-state.

"I think you won't find a more talented senior class in the state, and, rightfully so, the other coaches in the conference recognized that as well," Bulldogs coach O'Brien Byrd said. "It's a real testament to them because the other coaches voted for them."

Whitefish's girls, who were edged at Belgrade in their bid for a second straight state title, had six players named all-conference and four tabbed all-state.

Libby and Columbia Falls had three boys named all-conference, followed by Bigfork with two and Polson with one.

All-state boys were Whitefish seniors Tyler Gardner, Shane Widdifield, Alex Konopatzke, Preston Taylor, Jonas Magstadt and Matt Grindrod, as well as Bigfork senior Roland Benedict.

The Columbia Falls girls had four all-conference selections, followed by Libby, Bigfork and Polson with two apiece.

All-state girls were Whitefish senior Alissa LaChance, Whitefish junior Carly Lengstorf, Libby senior Quinn Wilson, Columbia Falls seniors Colyne Hislop and Jylisa Fields, Polson junior Heather Howell, and Bigfork sophomore Logun Koch.

2007 Northern A

All-Conference Soccer

Boys

First Team

* = All-State

Whitefish - Tyler Gardner (Sr.)*, Shane Widdifield (Sr.)*, Alex Konopatzke (Sr.)*, Preston Taylor (Sr.)*, Jonas Magstadt (Sr.)*, Matt Grindrod (Sr.)*, Jake Danczyk (Jr.)

Libby - Riley Hoyer (Sr.), Jay Rosencrantz (Sr.), Matt Wickstrom (Sr.)

Columbia Falls - Travis Pete (Jr.), D.J. Stoneman (Sr.), Chase Jackson (Jr.)

Bigfork - Roland Benedict (Sr.)*, Bobby Denning (Sr.)

Polson - Andy Manley (Sr.)

Girls

First Team

* = All-State

Whitefish - Alissa LaChance (Sr.)*, Carly Lengstorf (Jr.)*, Hannah Long (Jr.), Kelsey McCluskey (Jr.), Kylee Smith (Jr.), Kaitlyn Sleichter (Sr.)

Columbia Falls - Colyne Hislop (Sr.)*, Jylisa Fields (Sr.)*, Lindsey Henning (Sr.), Kate Anderson (Sr.)

Libby - Quinn Wilson (Sr.)*, Jamie Gilden (Fr.)

Polson - Heather Howell (Jr.)*, Tasha Conrad (Jr.)

Bigfork - Logun Koch (So.)*, Charlene Miller (Sr.)

Honorable Mention

Whitefish - Megan Powell (Jr.)

Columbia Falls - Kassi Herbert (So.)

Libby - Audra Poppen (So.)

Polson - Abby Ruhman (So.)