Bigfork coach honored by colleagues

Charlie Appleby, head coach of Bigfork High School’s speech, debate and drama team, was selected as the Northwest Class B Drama Coach of the Year.

Appleby was chosen by his fellow coaches and is in the running for the overall Class B Coach of the Year Award.

That honor will be announced at the Montana Forensic Educators Association’s annual meeting in March in Bozeman.

“I was honored to be chosen Coach of the Year, and I think that it showcased the year that the kids had,” Appleby said. “For them to compete as well as they did all season against schools twice or three or four times as big, and to consistently place at meets, says a lot about their dedication to speech and drama.”

Bigfork won the Northern B-C Divisional Drama Tournament this year and finished third in speech. The team took fifth in drama at the state tournament.

“I wish I could take all of the credit, but I was blessed this year with great assistants in Shannon Appleby and Jerry Gaiser and an incredible group of kids,” Appleby said. “I only hope that they all come back next year and we are able to go on another run.”

Appleby has coached at Bigfork for five seasons. The team in January wrapped up its second season as a Class B competitor.