The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

It's back! High School sports returned this past weekend in grand style and local sports enthusiasts couldn't be happier. The Sugarbeeters beat the Culbertson Cowboys in their home opener and the Wildcats topped the Poplar Indians on the road. The Lady Cat Volleyball team performed very well at the Malta Invitational and the 'Beeters split their first two matches of the season, beating Centerville in their home opener.

Each fall as the high school sports season gets going the Blaine County Journal likes to update our readers on the world of high school athletics. Fall sports available to our local student athletes include Cross Country, Football and Volleyball in Chinook, Harlem and Hays/Lodge Pole. Students from Turner High School have the opportunity to compete in Harlem as part of the Wildcat football program or with Lady Cat Volleyball.

The following pages will include in-depth coverage of each team participating this fall. Coaches comments are included and provide insight into the teams dynamic. Some athletes chose to add their thoughts, and some programs didn't respond to inquires regarding their team.

This fall a few changes will easily be seen in our coverage of the Wildcats, Sugarbeeters and Thunderbirds. Most notable is the addition of Cross Country to the Chinook Sugarbeeters fall schedule. After a number of attempts to add the sport in the past failed to generate any change, the decision to offer student athletes the option was made last spring. The 'Beeters will compete this fall in the Class C ranks.

The 2022-23 sports season will be the final year for the Sugarbeeters to compete at the Class C level in Cross Country, Volleyball, Golf and Track and Field. The 'Beeters will remain in the Northern Class C Eight -Man Football Division and continue to compete in the Class B/C Wrestling and Tennis divisions. The change being that the Sugarbeeters would no longer be eligible for the State C Wrestling Championship.

The Harlem Wildcats will be led this fall by first year Head Coach, Trenton Woodward. Coach Woodward started playing at the age of five until he completed his fifth season as a offensive lineman for the Montana State University Lights. What he lacks in experience on the sidelines, he more than makes up with a tremendous amount of football knowledge and what it takes to succeed.

The Northern C Eight Man Football Division has gone through changes and realignment nearly every year as of late and this off season was no different. Gone are the 'A' and 'B' Sub divisions with Choteau and Simms moving to the newly created South Central Division and Chester/Joplin-Inverness dropping down to Class C Six-Man Football.

Class C Eight-Man Football now consists of five divisions: North, South, East, South Central and West. Three teams from each division will earn a spot in the 16 team tournament bracket with the South Central getting a fourth team this fall. The extra team will rotate from division to division annually.

Currently the Northern C Division includes the Belt Huskies, Chinook Sugarbeeters, Fort Benton Longhorns, Harlem Wildcats, Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds, Rocky Boy Northern Stars and Shelby Coyotes.

As of press time the state of the fall athletic schedule for the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds was in a day to day wait and see situation. Any updates changes or adjustments made regarding the fall sports programs at Hays/Lodge Pole will be shared with our readers as it becomes available.