One Last Valhalla

great influence.” Thorness also underclassmen and becoming

A very talented group of senior athletes contributed to an amazing
semi-final season finish for Viking football
   Talent has always been evident
within many players on the
team, but was especially proven
this year when players accepted
a total of 17 individual awards.
Seniors Anders Epperly, Randy
Stultz, and Logan Gilliard each
received an All-State title. First
Team All-Conference recognition
was given to seniors Luke Taylor,
Brady Thorness, and sophomore
Luke Benson. Second Team
All-Conference was awarded to
seniors Brody Lamar and Luke
Schmit.
  Cornerback and wide receiver
The Bigfork Viking football team hi-fives the Fairfield Eagles for the Vikings, senior Clayton
after their final game of the 2018 season. BHS earned its spot Reichenbach explains
in the semi-finals, which is the farthest Viking football had how many of his
accomplished in the playoffs since 2014. teammates, including
himself, have been
BY AHNA FOX near undefeated season. These playing with each other
expresses how his football career
has taught him how to work hard
for what you aspire to be. “It was
a great ride and I am thankful for
everyone of my teammates. There
isn’t any other group of seniors
I would have wanted to do this
with.”
  All-State running back Stultz
said, “football taught me many
life lessons and helped me grow
as an athlete. I also developed
some of the greatest friendships
and a brotherhood from
playing football. This group was
extremely close; we have been
through a lot together.”
  Gilliard, another All-State
athlete who plays as a middle
linebacker and center, stated, “we
had a good year because everyone
did their job and we played for
role models are just some of
the many legacies these boys
will leave behind. Whether the
season be finished with great
success or disappointing upsets,
Viking football will always be the
team of the Friday night lights to
the Bigfork community. These
lights, which shine upon the field
overlooking Flathead Lake are
undeniably the most stunning
view from any football field in the
state of Montana. Past graduates,
Viking alumni, parents, students,
and fans gather those Friday
nights simply for a football game.
Not just any football game; a
football game on the field of the
Vikings. A game which compares
to no other, Hoorah.
  Season Review
24 August vs. Manhattan
Final Score: 27-14
31 August vs. Anaconda
Final Score: 51-0
7 September vs. Florence-Carlton
Final Score: 44-15

T
memories held the team’s place in since middle school 14 September vs. Lincoln County
he 2018 Viking football team the minds and hearts of parents, and even years before. Final Score: 37-0
used their talent, teamwork, community members, and “I want to thank my 21 September vs. Thompson Falls
drive, and grit to achieve the students. teammates for pushing Final Score: 43-0
season finish last accomplished   For the past 21 years, Todd me everyday to get 5 October vs. Broadwater -
in 2014, the football team which Emslie has been the head coach better. Football has Townsend
contained a number of the same of the Bigfork football team. impacted my life to Senior quarterback Anders Epperly Final Score: 21-14
players who won Bigfork the class Emslie was an athlete throughout where I never wish it takes a knee after his last football game 12 October vs. Loyola
B football state championship in his high school years at Waukesha was over and if I were as a Viking.  
Final Score: 21-26
2010. The rewarding season this North and went on to attend Freshman year, I would each other; everyone had each 19 October vs. Powell County
years varsity football team strived the University of Wisconsin- have said I just want football to be other’s backs.” Final Score: 41-14
for finalized in a semi-final playoff Stevens Point where he competed over so basketball can start,” said
  The Vikings finished their 27 October vs. Broadwater -
finish. in college football. Under the Reichenbach. season with a home game record Townsend
  The tragic end to the Vikings leadership of Emslie, Viking   Logan Taylor, a BHS alumnus of 4-1 and the region record of 5-1, (First Round Playoffs)
season played out on the Fairfield football has produced numerous and previous Viking, was a
ranking 5th out of all Montana Final Score: 47-13
High School football field with players that have went on to play major role model for Thorness, class B football teams. 3 November vs. Roundup
20 mile-per-hour winds and football at the collegiate level. a senior tight and defensive end   With the passing of another (Quarter-Final Playoffs)
temperatures below freezing. Describing his 2018 football team, for the 2018 team. Thorness said, season, yet another group of Final Score: 43-18
Although a loss was taken away Emslie said, “the seniors have “I always looked up to Logan seniors graduate. Leaving their 10 November vs. Fairfield
from that football field, countless been playing together a long time Taylor because he played the
mark on the Bigfork High School (Semi-Final Playoffs)
memories were created by the and portray great leadership.” same positions as me and was a football program impacting Final Score: 14-48

Athletes of the Month

Bigfork Basketball Preview Heart, and a home game against
the rivals across the lake, Polson
BY TREY CHRISTIAENS One of the coaches favorite part, High School on February 7.
but more specifically, Tudor’s After losing five seniors, four of

A fter winning a state

championship and an
undefeated season, there are
going to be people gunning
to beat the team that is on the
top, where the Bigfork Vikings
basketball team sits after last
season.
“Nothing is given
to us, we have to
work our hardest and
improve everyday
if we are going to
favorite part about coaching in
Bigfork is “getting to know the
kids on a different level, than
them being regular starters, the
Valkyries will be looking to seven
other returning varsity players to
just seeing them in a classroom. fill those spots and are looking
Instead of seeing them for one to make another run in the State
hour a day, I get to see them for Tournament again this year. The
an additional two hours, and it is Vals are really motivated to go
more rewarding to me to build the back to state after a loss in the
semifinals last year, and
are looking to improve
after an impressive Devinn Paine Luke Taylor
turnout last year.
“The team is really BY JOSEPHINE HOWLETT Glitch;” ironically, his abilities

win another state
championship,” said
Vikings Senior Logan
Gilliard.
With each success
that the Bigfork
programs have had,
comes challenges.
Such as longer
seasons, but with The Bigfork Vikings and Valkyries are both looking
longer seasons come for another successful basketball season ahead.
more chances for With the Vikings coming off of a 2018 Class B State unselfish players, as
injuries and that Championship, and the Valkyries a 2018 Class B
means that athletes State Tournament visit.
have to rest. It is
hard to find motivation without
a notable break, but one thing
that always keeps the Vikings
motivated is playing for each
other and knowing the potential opener against Lincoln County
they hold when they play
together; it is easy to see it upon
watching the Vikings play.
Head coach Sam Tudor said
“One thing that I am really excited Sacred Heart on January 26.
for this season is to work with this Some key games for the
Senior class. They are a special
group of boys.”
relationships with the kids than it am super excited to play with
is to win any state championship.” such a disciplined and selfless
Some key games for the Vikings team. We know what it takes to
this season include the home
High School on December 13,
an away game at Columbia Falls
High School on December 22,
and Senior Night against Loyola
Valkyries this season also include the Valkyries throughout the
the home opener against Lincoln season, as you can check out the
County High School, Senior
Night against
Loyola Sacred
F
motivated to go back on the fields and classroom are
all sports, including cross
to state again this year, without errors.
country, volleyball, soccer,
we all really want a   His football coach, Todd Emslie,
and football, began their official
chance to play in the could only describe Taylor as
playing time for the 2018 season
state championship, someone who is “tough as nails,”
on August 10, 2018. Of the athletes
especially me, since because he would constantly do
warming up for the next few
it is my senior year,” whatever he needed to do for his
months of practices and games,
said Vals Senior Jordan team. Whether it was playing on
Devinn Paine was rearing to kick
Nelson. the football field or cheering on
her senior season into gear.
The Vals team is full the sideline, he would do it all
  Paine, who is easily one of
of well disciplined and with pride.
the most hardworking students
  However, his athletic abilities
in Bigfork high school, is no
expressed by a couple go beyond the team line-up,
exception when it comes to
seniors on the team. As music director, Randi Tunnell,
athletics and extracurriculars.
Rakiah Grende said, “I who has known Taylor since
In fact, one of her coaches, Stacy
middle school choir up until his
Crouch, had so much to say about
senior year, has always noticed
her.
something special within his
  “Devinn was one of our biggest
get there and are not afraid to remarkable skills.
assets on the soccer team and she
bring the intensity and chaos like   “He was a great kid in middle
is very well deserving of Athlete
we did last year. We have such a school, and you can’t say that
of the Month,” Crouch gushed.
great coaching staff who take the about a lot of kids,” Tunnell
 Despite this praise, Paine was
program seriously which makes admitted. “Sometimes he doesn’t
still surprised to hear about her
us better everyday and a great give himself enough credit for the
nomination for this edition’s
community to back us up.” things he is good at.”
Athletes of the Month.
Come support the Vikings and   Truly, Taylor is a down-to-
  “I was flattered for being
earth individual; he always plays
nominated, but to be completely
his sports with the intention of
honest, I never thought I would
schedule on the Bigfork High benefiting his teammates. As he
[be chosen].”
School Website. mentioned his favorite part about
     Paine even joined a travel team
being on his different teams, he
in the country, and she “enjoyed
liked “having each others’ backs
playing for the rest of the time
and learning to be teammates.”
there.”
  According to activities director
  This just further proves Paine’s
Matthew Porrovecchio, Taylor is
amazing ability to work as a
“a leader in the classroom, in the
team, even in a new environment.
community and on the playing
Crouch even noticed this aspect
field.” As others have mentioned
during her final soccer season as a
before, it should be no surprise
Bigfork Valkyrie.
that Porrovecchio also recognized
  “[Paine] is a leader on and off
Taylor’s way of life: “always
the field. She represents the
willing to do what it takes to
soccer team, Bigfork High School,
support his teams.”
and herself very well,” Crouch
  Athletics and sports are not
gushed.
Taylor’s only strong suits, as he
is a man of all traits. His guitar,

A nother standout athlete is

senior Luke Taylor, who was
recognized for his abilities on the
teacher, even believes “everyone
should go up to him and ask him
to sing them a song,” Tunnell
Bigfork Viking Varsity Football disclosed, “he is a really good
team. Taylor can easily be found singer.”
in the Bigfork hallways when his
friends call out to him as “the