4 Wildcats All-State for Class A football

Columbia Falls had four players selected All-State for Class A football and Whitefish and Libby had three selections each on the honors team that was released this week.

The 12-member Western A - the combination of the Northwestern and Southwestern A made this season - selected a total of 31 All-State players.

The Wildcats, who lost at eventual State A runner-up Billings Central in the quarterfinals, had running back/return man Isaiah Roth selected along with receiver Cade Morgan, linebacker Lucas Thacker and offensive guard Stevie Wilkinson.

Libby standout Dawson Young was All-State, one of just two Western A players selected at running back; teammates Ryker McElmurry (linebacker) and Jay Beagle (corner) made it on defense.

Whitefish was represented by tackler/defensive end Camren Ross, receiver/cornerback Jaxsen Schlauch and receiver/safety Bodie Smith.

Smith and Schlauch are juniors, as are Roth and Morgan of Columbia Falls.

Polson sophomore Jarrett Wilson was one of three quarterbacks selected All-State from the Western A, along with Dillon senior Jace Fitzgerald and junior Tyson Rostad of Hamilton.

Fitzgerald and Rostad shared offensive MVP honors; the defensive MVP was shared between Frenchtown senior linebacker Tel Arthur and Hamilton senior linebacker Carter Lake.

Polson junior Colton Graham was an All-State selection at receiver.

The Western A all-conference team was even more exclusive: 21 players were selected first-team offense, including eight receivers/tight ends, and 21 on defense, including five cornerbacks.

Columbia Falls put Morgan, Roth, Wilkinson and Thacker on the all-Western A first team. Whitefish’s All-State selections, Ross, Schlauch and Smith, were first team all-Western A as well.

Libby had five first-team selections: McElmurry, Young, Beagle, junior guard Tyler Michalkiewicz and junior safety Ryder Davis.

Columbia Falls’ Mason Peters and Whitefish’s Fynn Ridgeway were second-team selections at quarterback.

The complete list of honors teams can be found on Page A9.