Flathead alums Thompson, Perrin are Little Sullivan finalists
The Little Sullivan Award finalists for Montana were announced Sunday, and a pair of Flathead High graduates, Skyleigh Thompson and Ben Perrin, are in the mix.
Thompson just completed her college soccer career at the University of Montana, where she had a banner 2023 season: With 16 points on six goals and four assists she was first-team all-Big Sky Conference and the Big Sky Offensive MVP as well as the Grizzlies team MVP, along with numerous other all-district and all-region honors.
An Academic All-America with a 4.0 grade-point average, Thompson left the program with 11 career goals and six assists.
The three other female finalists are Missoula swimmer Katharine Berkoff, who medaled at the Paris Olympics; Great Falls’ Allie Olsen, who played college volleyball for the Utah Utes from 2020-24; and current Montana Lady Griz hoopster Dani Bartsch of Helena.
Perrin had an outstanding senior year running for Montana State’s track and field team in 2023-24, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters after running the second-best times in Bobcat history in both the 10,000 and 5,000.
He completed his college career by placing 21st at the NCAA Mountain Regional cross country meet last Nov. 15 – his third all-Region finish for the Bobcats. The previous two seasons he helped MSU make it to the national meet.
The three other male finalists are Butte’s Tommy Mellott, who just won the Walter Payton Award with MSU’s football team; Junior Bergen of Billings, the kick returner and receiver for the Montana Grizzlies; and Columbus product Weston Timberman, who competes in rodeo for Clarendon College in Texas.
Montana has had a Little Sullivan winner (or winners) since 1955. Last season for the first time, the general public was allowed to vote for the award. That will happen again this year; more information will be sent by Montana’s AAU in April.
The Little Sullivan Banquet is set for Saturday, May 17 at Missoula’s Holiday Inn Downtown.