FRITZ NEIGHBOR
SPORTS EDITOR
Fritz Neighbor is the Sports Editor for the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees sports coverage across the Flathead Valley, including high school athletics, youth sports, and regional competitions. In his leadership role, he helps shape the newspaper’s sports coverage and editorial direction. Fritz’s column, Full Count, taps into his decades’ long career covering Montana sports. You’ll also see Fritz sharing his thoughts and insights on the Big Sky Now podcast.
IMPACT: Fritz’s work celebrates the athletes and teams that bring Northwest Montana communities together.
Recent Stories
Mercer taking advantage of extra time on the course
All of us had our lives altered greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and most often in a negative way, but for Marcella Mercer there was a silver lining.
Turnovers doom Braves in home opener
The Flathead Braves extended the fourth quarter and gave themselves some chances at a Western AA football win Friday, but the ball kept getting away.
Flathead, Glacier hope to bring the smoke
Time for a little Friday Night Smoke, since the games in the Valley and elsewhere – which are still on as of this writing – will be played under less than ideal conditions thanks to massive wildfires.
Big 10 gets antsy in the pocket(book)
The Big 10 has long been the conference of I-formations and straight ahead run plays, and you know what else you see a lot of in that league? Punting.
Pack pulls away from Capital in fourth quarter
Once the Glacier Wolfpack drew even in the punt snap snafu department Saturday, things started looking up.
The Pack wants back in the hunt
The Glacier Wolfpack football team went 5-6 in 2019, then saw two seniors land scholarships to play at the University of Montana.
Braves mix in new faces, aim higher in 2020
The Flathead Braves fell off from their surprise run to the 2018 State AA championship game – a 20-14 loss to Billings West – to two wins last fall.
Off and running: Area harriers head to Rebecca Farm this weekend
Rebecca Farm will be a busy place this weekend. It’s a popular spot for big cross country meets, including the 2020 state championships set for Oct. 24, but because of COVID-19 there will be two smaller ones in the coming days.
Here's to more record-setting Friday nights
On a perfect August Friday night in Columbia Falls, things got downright offensive – but Jaxon Schweikert, coach of the host Wildcats, submits that his team played excellent D.
Libby, Whitefish get football rolling in Valley
Friday Night Lights are back in the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana, though a limited number of fans can watch the games in Libby and Columbia Falls and Thompson Falls.
Braves, Wolfpack football teams rounding into shape
The familiar sounds of fall were around Legends Stadium and Glacier High School Wednesday, where both of Kalispell’s Class AA football teams kept going through the paces ahead of the 2021 season.
Local AA gridders off and practicing
Football practices just began for Kalispell’s two Class AA schools but things are looking up – if for no other reason than the athletes are outside, getting some long-awaited reps.
Kahle making habit of strong finishes
It is true that Cameron Kahle needed a birdie on 18 last weekend to win the Whitefish Lake Golf Club championship, and that he got it, but it isn’t the highlight of his young career.
MHSA approves conference only fall schedule
The Montana High School Association executive board passed a motion by Class AA to cancel all nonconference games for fall sports on Thursday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but plenty of questions remain.
Bigfork elevates Benn to head football coach
From head coach to assistant to athletic director and now back to head football coach is Jim Benn, who was approved Wednesday to take over the Bigfork Vikings’ program.
Triplet threats: Ben and Jack Corriveau bolster solid Lakers
In the span of about six minutes in 2001 the Corriveau family grew by three: Mike and Susie became the proud parents of triplets named Jack, Marie and Ben.
In Drish, the Lakers have their anchor
This story begins several summers ago when the Drish kids were visiting their grandparents in Kalispell. The American Legion Lakers’ summer camp coincided with their visit and the three boys were very interested.
For Twins’ Price, nine is just fine
Last year Kevin Slaybaugh noticed that the Glacier Twins Legion baseball team had the perfect No. 9 hitter in Jack Price: Fast, can bunt like nobody’s business and doesn’t mind moving a guy up a base.
MHSA says fall sports are on; Flathead, Glacier ADs on board
Glacier, Flathead ADs optimistic
The Montana High School Association said all systems are go Monday, with executive director Mark Beckman releasing a statement confirming sports will happen, with certain requirements pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maine Man: Nuce stood out in 2 seasons at Glacier
Kalispell might not be a metropolis to many but for someone coming from Winthrop, Maine, the difference was stark.
Lakers sweep Scarlets
Tuesday was terrific for the Kalispell Lakers, who pinned a 5-0 shutout on the Billings Scarlets to sew up a doubleheader sweep and a AA Legion baseball series win at Griffin Field.
Big inning, big rain: AA Lakers top Twins ahead of downpour, cancellation
MISSOULA – First came the rally, then the deluge – and then the Missoula County Health Department rained on the rest of the Mavericks Memorial American Legion tournament.
Inside or out: Tiana Johnson carving out career at Sac State
As Tiana Johnson remembers it, she was in middle school and her sister Danika was toiling inside for the Flathead Bravettes’ basketball team.
Glacier tabs Moore as cross country coach
Glacier High School athletic director Mark Dennehy on Wednesday announced the hiring of Cody Moore as the Wolfpack’s newest cross country coach.
Barnhart breezes: Flathead athlete shakes off loss of senior season
In a more perfect world Jessica Barnhart would have been dropping her sprint times all May, culminating in a state championship showdown with Billings West’s Maddie and Willa Albrecht last weekend.
Twins, Loggers boast talented Legion rosters
Kevin Slaybaugh is new to the position of head coach and Kelly Morford is a veteran, and the two have their talented Class A American Legion teams ready to battle for the belated 2020 season.
Setting course: Glacier’s Sophie Smith is headed to Naval Academy
For the longest time Sophie Smith, soccer and softball and academic standout at Glacier High School, had her sights set on Stanford.
Brawlers reached highest point in 2008
There have been a lot of great wrestling teams out of Flathead High School, where after a long gap broken up only by the 1973 squad – eight state championships were brought home from 2004-18.
Legion national organization cancels all baseball sponsorship
The American Legion announced Sunday that it is withdrawing all sponsorship for Legion baseball activities for 2020, but the upcoming season for Montana teams appears to still be on.
Flathead senior Brian Wells packed a bunch of highlights into 6 weeks in 2018
Basketball season didn’t go well, football season ended in week three and the tennis campaign was over before it started.
Flathead alum Osweiler overhauls weight room
The original plan was to come up to the Valley in the winter, but then daughter No. 2 arrived in November.
Wolfpack found magic in 2016-17
The Glacier Wolfpack boys’ basketball team of 2015-16 weren’t anything to write home about – hurt by a key injury the squad struggled to three league wins under head coach Mark Harkins, who had run Glacier’s program since the school’s doors opened in 2007.
Whitefish duo won’t get a sequel
What Whitefish tennis coach Pat Dryden calls “the perfect duo” happened by accident, though Olivia Potthoff and Aubrey Hanks have known each other since before kindergarten.
Flathead tabs Johnsrud as next boys’ coach
Dirk Johnsrud, a longtime assistant basketball coach at Flathead High School, has been recommended to coach the Braves’ varsity boys’ basketball team.
Flathead tabs Johnsrud as next boys’ coach
Dirk Johnsrud, a longtime assistant basketball coach at Flathead High School, has been recommended to coach the Braves’ varsity boys’ basketball team.
Local ADs reaction to cancellation
Moments after Gov. Bullock’s press conference detailing the phased reopening plan for the state Wednesday, the Montana High School Association issued a statement canceling spring sports.
‘Tank’ keeps advancing toward results
While Brooks Michaels throws a shot around his grandmother’s back yard and looks forward to going to the same college as his brother Bret, we are left to ponder.
Russell Muscle: A determined Flathead senior sets sights on Naval Academy
As Tanner Russell pushes toward another goal – flying a Hornet or Sea King, maybe – it would serve to take stock of his determination.
Legion Baseball cancels national, regional tournaments
American Legion Baseball announced Tuesday that is cancelling its national tournament as well as all of its eight regional tournaments for 2020, amid worries about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
No headline
American Legion Baseball announced Tuesday that is cancelling its national tournament as well as all of its eight regional tournaments for 2020, amid worries about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Hoopsters recall the Braves’ 1988-89 title season
If you’d asked at the time, probably nobody would have guessed that the 1989 State AA boys’ basketball title would be the Flathead Braves’ last.
Mood at Glacier: Hoping to coach
The Glacier coaching staff is staying optimistic, and that starts with activities director Mark Dennehy being hopeful of a positive outcome to the novel coronavirus CODIV-19 that has brought athletics in Montana to a standstill.
Eureka’s Kindel sparks interest of Idaho Vandals
It’s not Montana, but there are many Montana connections and either way Eureka standout Jake Kindel is stoked to be an Idaho Vandal.
Surreal scene as state tournament ends early
The unreal scene from Friday night at Montana’s state basketball tournaments – teams battled in the semifinals not knowing it was their final game – had given way to uncertainty Saturday morning.
Surreal scene as state tournament ends early
The unreal scene from Friday night at Montana’s state basketball tournaments – teams battled in the semifinals not knowing it was their final game – had given way to uncertainty Saturday morning.
No ordinary player: Glacier’s Aubrie Rademacher leads on and off the court
If there was a game where Aubrie Rademacher was really going to bring the pain, it would have been last Saturday morning against Butte.
Western AA boys: Butte bounces Glacier in heartbreaker
MISSOULA — The Glacier boys didn’t figure on sitting out the State AA tournament but that’s what has happened – a hot-shooting bunch of Butte Bulldogs bounced them from Divisionals Saturday.
Western AA girls: Wolfpack earn fourth straight trip to state
MISSOULA – A ticket to the State AA tournament in hand, the Glacier Wolfpack can be forgiven for looking a little flat in a 50-42 loss to Missoula Hellgate Saturday night.
Glacier girls rally vs. Helena High; Bravettes lose to Missoula Sentinel
MISSOULA — No trends were bucked on the girls’ side of the Western AA Divisional, where Glacier joined the other three higher-seeded teams as first-round winners Thursday.
Glacier boys in Western AA semis; Flathead falls to Capital
MISSOULA — Weston Price was right on Thursday at the Western AA Divisional, powering the Glacier Wolfpack past Helena 42-35 in a first-round basketball game.