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
Soccer: C-Falls girls, boys look to make noise
The Whitefish boys and girls had banner soccer seasons in 2023, ending with State A championships for both programs. Now it might be Columbia Falls’ turn.
Column: Short game, short season
Shaun Forrest had all of one season as an assistant before he answered the call to lead the Whitefish golf teams in 2024.
Wolfpack still strong on gridiron
The Glacier Wolfpack lost some serious talent off the 2023 squad that advanced to the State AA championship, as in four Division I signees and a guy who caught 1,200 yards worth of passes.
Big Sky Notebook: Tough to keep up with Bobcats' Jones
The bloom is not off the rose yet for the Montana State Bobcats, who had a pretty clutch finish to their 35-31 football win at New Mexico State Saturday.
Best on the planet
Glacier grappler Coles wins U17 women's world title
Add “world champion” to the list of accomplishments for Glacier High wrestler Kaura Coles, after she won her weight class Friday at the United World Wrestling U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.
Soccer: Green and Gold with a couple fresh faces
What happens when your soccer teams score a rare sweep of state championships?
Column: We've run out of teams... not really
Blaine Baker, Libby Class of 2004, didn’t know what was wrong with him at the Western Divisional basketball tournament his senior year; he just knew he was miserable and had white sores in his mouth and throat.
Deck wants to deal for 2024 Griz
Northwest Montana continues to be represented heavily on the Montana Grizzlies’ football team, even if most of them are youngsters.
From the Yellowjackets to the Red Dog
The Libby Loggers' championship 2003-04 season
Libby’s 2003-04 boys basketball season was one for the ages. It began with an opening-weekend loss and ended with about the most epic championship game you could imagine: A 96-89 triple-overtime win over Belgrade, on the Panthers’ home floor.
Column: New AD Bravely steps in at Flathead
If the state of Idaho is a triangle, then you could say new Flathead High activities director Matt Allison has lived in every corner of the Gem State — including the town of Middleton, which isn’t in the middle at all.
Lakers draw host and defending champion Senators
The Kalispell Lakers shook off a rocky finish to their regular season with three much-needed wins over the weekend, earning a spot in the State AA Legion baseball tournament.
Twins, Mariners gear up for State A Legion
The Glacier Twins are getting used to this noise: Their 4-1 win over the Kalispell Lakers on Sunday in Florence capped their fourth West A District baseball title in Kevin Slaybaugh’s five seasons as coach.
Finishing strong: Owens wasn’t going miss last year of Lakers
For someone who plays baseball, a torn labrum — that was the diagnosis, and his right (throwing) shoulder had to be reconstructed — might signal the end for that sport. Not a chance.
Event 'always on their radar'
The track at The Event at Rebecca Farm includes a 4-star long course, and since the Paris Olympics will use a 4-star course for their equestrian eventing, competitors will get a dose of the real thing.
Jeff Thompson garners National Coach of the Year
A trip to Bismarck, North Dakota, may not be on everyone’s bucket list, but the National High School Athletic Coaches Association was having its annual convention there and Flathead wrestling coach Jeff Thompson was giving a presentation.
Column: Bigfork's Benn bids farewell to coaching
Jim Benn has called his last play for the Bigfork Football Vikings, and his departure from the Montana coaching ranks was just the way he wanted it: quiet.
Wolfpack cleans up at 77th Shrine Game
The Glacier Wolfpack made an impact on the 77th East-West Shrine Game at Daylis Stadium in Billings Saturday night. As in three Most Valuable Player awards.
Perfect combo: Swagger, and a ‘good human’
Bigfork’s Jack Jensen had a heck of a 2023 track season, capped by him kicking away from his competition to win the State B 800 and 1,600 titles. Then Bigfork High moved up a classification this school year and Jensen figured, Bring it on.
AA track: Braves finish 2nd; set another record
GREAT FALLS — There was a moment late in Saturday’s State AA track and field meet when the Flathead Braves owned a lead in the boys’ team race.
AA track: Braves get off to flying start
GREAT FALLS — It was a fantastic start for the Flathead Braves Friday at the State AA track and field meet at Memorial Stadium. The finish was pretty amazing, too.
Flathead, Glacier thinclads chasing trophies
It’s been a while since Flathead has been soaring this high or running this fast around the track and field oval.
Bulldogs a double threat, and Wildcats are right there
To the usual suspects at the State A track and field championships in Laurel — the defending champion Corvallis boys and girls, Whitefish, Laurel and Hamilton — add the somewhat unusual.
Wildkats ready to claw through State A
A year ago the Columbia Falls Wildkats worked around a funnel cloud, lightning delays, a first-day rainout and a malfunctioning sprinkler system en route to the 2023 championship. They should be fine.
AA Softball: Wolfpack, Bravettes ready to brave elements
The weather isn’t promising for the opening day of the State AA softball tournament — it could be snowing in Belgrade at 11 a.m. Thursday, when the first two games are scheduled — but Glacier coach Abby Snipes isn’t too concerned.
C-Falls takes third at State baseball
MISSOULA — With one out and a runner on second Saturday, Butte seemed on the verge of a big inning when Matt Donaldson stroked a line drive toward right.
Column: Bulldogs' Big, Bad Bullet Bob
The memorial for Bob McLeod is Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Whitefish High School gym, fittingly, because he was the basketball coach during that magical 1969-70 basketball season.
State baseball: Whitefish loses thriller, Polson falls
Tough day for Northwest A
MISSOULA — As the State Baseball tournament continues through the weekend, it will be tough to top that opener.
Kroger with a K
Wildcats tab senior hurler to start state baseball opener
Kroger, Sapa and the rest of the Columbia Falls Wildcats are the Northwest A’s top seed into the second-ever State Baseball tournament, which begins Thursday at Ogren-Allegiance Field in Missoula. Kroger will take the mound Thursday against Hamilton at 6:30 p.m.
Softball senior mainstays
Kaidyn Lake, Laynee Vessar aim to lead Bravettes back to state
One of the reasons the Flathead Bravettes have trended up as a softball program is the presence of Kaidyn Lake and Laynee Vessar, two senior mainstays who seemingly have been around forever.
Column: Kai Johnson excels in the no-spin zone
Mark Kessler, assistant track coach and head flag football coach at Glacier High, feels senior athlete Kai Johnson is ahead of her time.
Carson Krack gives Whitefish another multi-event standout
The comparisons between Carson Krack and a certain predecessor in the Whitefish High School track and field program are easy to see.
Bigfork's Gunlock commits to BYU
After a banner junior season in which she helped Bigfork finish second at the State A tournament, the Valkyries’ Braeden Gunlock announced Tuesday she has committed to play women’s basketball at Brigham Young University.
Column: Krause takes aim at Fargo, discus record
About halfway through his six discus attempts on Tuesday, at the Pilcher/Western Montana Top 10 track and field meet, Glacier’s Aiden Krause started verbally adding something extra.
Prep focus: Zetooney gives 'em a shot
The Whitefish girls track and field team has been blessed with sprinters through the years, going back at least as far as Marlow Schulz, so it should surprise nobody the Bulldogs have some serious speed in 2024.
Valley athletes break Pilcher Top 10 records
MISSOULA — That was a fast track at MCPS Stadium Tuesday for the 24th Pilcher/Western Montana Top 10 meet. And given what some juniors did, it will be fast again in 2025.
A Lakers look to pile up innings, victories
Open home slate Saturday
The Kalispell A Lakers enter their 2024 baseball season with just three veterans, which even by Class A American Legion standards is a small number.
Farrell finds her groove
Glacier’s ace leads Pack in senior season
A pick-up player at the ripe age of 9 years old, Ella Farrell remembers being asked to play outfield for a cousin’s softball team in Helena. Which was fine, right up until she saw that player in the pitcher’s circle.
Column: Walburn finds his stride in the Palouse
Lee Walburn found a gem in the Palouse, as people call the area around Washington State University in Pullman.
Column: Another Griz Spring Game, another win
A rite of spring back in my Billings Gazette days was that co-worker Bill Bihaus would go to a Rocky Mountain College football scrimmage.
Lakers begin 2024 season Sunday
The Kalispell Lakers AA American Legion team will field a fairly young lineup when its season begins Sunday at 1 p.m., with a doubleheader at Griffin Field against Missoula.
Column: Area ADs work among giants
When Libby High graduate Jerek Wolcott, the assistant athletic director at the University of Idaho, needed volunteers for the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament he knew just who to call.
Softball: Pack shuts out Kats in marquee matchup
COLUMBIA FALLS — Friday’s matchup of state softball champions just about had it all: Dynamic pitching, noisy hits and — despite the chill and brief drizzle — much better weather than the Orioles-Pirates game.
Evan Epperly picked to lead Glacier hoops
Glacier High School announced its pick for the next boys basketball coach Tuesday, and it is former player Evan Epperly, who has been back coaching with the Wolfpack the past two seasons.
Bravettes figure to make state tourneys a habit
A solid nucleus from their first state tournament team in 16 seasons, plus a promising freshman class have the Flathead Bravettes thinking big this softball season.
Champion Wolfpack reload for 2024
The last time we saw the Glacier Wolfpack softball team, they were celebrating the program’s second-ever State AA championship in Helena. A third one is certainly within reach.
Flathead looks to improve on the track
There are positive feelings surrounding both programs, which begin the season Tuesday with a dual meet at Missoula Big Sky.
Track preview: Glacier boys aren't going anywhere, girls trending up
The Glacier Wolfpack boys were second at the State AA track meet in 2022 and third last May. They aren’t going anywhere in 2024.
Column: ‘Fletch’ set for next chapter of baseball life
As Major League Baseball gears up for Opening Day, it’s a good time to give the floor to the Glacier Range Riders’ newest skipper, Paul Fletcher.
Path becomes clear for Barinowski
Three summers ago Ryder Barinowski was a four-sport athlete at Whitefish High School, and two of the sports were in the fall: Soccer and football. Then one day while working at the Iron Horse Golf Club, Bthings changed.
Valkryies come up just short
Billings Central edges Bigfork for State A title
BUTTE — The quest of the Bigfork Valkyries got away right at the end Saturday, when Carol Old Bull put back an offensive rebound to give Billings Central a 39-38 lead with 2:15 left.