EDITORIAL: Congratulations, Athletes of Year
There were plenty of impressive athletes toiling on the fields, courts and mats for local high schools this year, but two stand out: Glacier High School’s Ali Williams and Whitefish High School’s Luke May.
Their superlative summer seasons helped them achieve honors as the Daily Inter Lake’s 2016 Athletes of the Year.
Williams, the dominant pitcher in Class AA softball, had a season for the ages: a 21-6 record, 0.65 earned-run average and 347 strikeouts. She also threw the first perfect games in Wolfpack history, including a ridiculous 20-strikeout perfect game against Butte.
She also was a force as a hitter, batting .461 with 11 home runs. She led Glacier to a runner-up state finish this year, preceded by a state championship a year earlier. Williams will continue her softball career at Carroll College.
May also made his name with his arm, flinging both javelins and footballs.
A three-time state javelin champion, he will attend the University of Minnesota on a track-and-field scholarship.
Yet his exploits on the football field should not be overlooked. A four-year starter as quarterback for the Bulldogs, he led Whitefish to the Class A state title last fall with a championship performance (throwing for 162 yards, running for 94 yards, scoring both the Bulldogs’ touchdowns and intercepting two passes).
He finished his prep gridiron career as the all-class, all-time Montana leader in touchdowns (115) and points scored (702) and is second in all-purpose yardage (10,812 yards).
Congratulations, Luke and Ali, for sensational performances as Athletes of the Year.
High honor for local judge
Columbia Falls City Judge Tina Gordon received some well-deserved recognition this week as the National Judges Association named her the most outstanding non-attorney judge in the United States. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the association and is given annually to only one judge nationwide.
Gordon has been on the bench in Columbia Falls for 28 years and to her credit has pursued further education by attending the Montana Judicial Institute and the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada. Her pursuit of excellence in her position has now been recognized by her peers. The executive director of the National Judges Association called Judge Gordon “a credit to the American judiciary.”
Gordon’s roots are firm in the Flathead. She’s a 1962 Columbia Falls High School graduate and a Flathead Valley Community College graduate. We’re very proud that one of our own has been honored in such a big way.