Helena Boys Claim 3rd in Varsity, 2nd in JV
BOZEMAN — As the late‑afternoon sun stretched across Bridger Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Helena High delivered another impressive program-wide performance.
Warm conditions greeted the races, but calm air and shaded stretches along the back half of the course helped runners settle in and find some relief from the sun as the day gradually cooled.
Across four races, Helena showed focus, intention, and a growing sense of momentum.
JV Girls
The Bengals opened the meet with a commanding win in the JV girls race, scoring just 19 points and placing all five scorers inside the top 10.
Sophomores Wynona Schmidt (21:07) and Mary Guzynski (21:35) led the charge with third‑ and fourth‑place finishes. Senior Ellie Coburn (21:47), freshman Haddie Dailey (21:48), and sophomore Ivy Kyle (21:57) packed tightly behind them, finishing seventh, eighth, and tenth. The 50‑second spread reflected the teamwork and depth that have become hallmarks of the JV girls’ young season.
Bozeman finished second with 44 points, but Helena controlled the race from the opening moments to the finish arch.
JV Boys
The JV boys followed with a gritty, tightly contested race of their own.
Sophomore Milo Sealey (18:11) led Helena with a fifth‑place finish, navigating the race with composure. Senior Titus Wetzel (18:35) added an eighth‑place effort, while junior Apollo Althoff (14th, 18:55)) and junior Graham Coleman (16th, 19:01) kept Helena in contention with strong mid‑pack racing. Junior Sean Carney (19:28) closed out the scoring in 36th.
The Bengals finished with 72 points, just three shy of Bozeman’s winning total of 69, a narrow margin that demonstrated how competitive the race was.
Varsity Girls
By the time the varsity girls took the line, the tone had been set by the JV runners and Helena seized the moment.
In a field featuring 24 scoring teams and athletes from 36 schools, the Bengals used their depth and discipline to secure an 84‑point team victory, ahead of Gallatin (136), Kelly Walsh of Wyoming (137), and reigning AA state champion Bozeman (164).
Freshman Willa Sweeney continued her impressive debut season with a seventh‑place finish in 19:03 and fellow freshman McKenlee Young followed in 14th with one of her strongest races to date in 19:26. Senior Kortney McKay surged through an outstanding final mile to take 20th in 19:32, junior Izzy Lundstrom delivered a breakthrough performance in 22nd with a personal best of 19:39, and freshman Clara Ostby closed out the scoring in 26th with another composed effort, clocking in at 19:48. Seniors Isabel Ward (35th, 20:07) and Emmie Bermingham (39th, 20:12) were Helena’s sixth and seventh finishers.
The Bozeman Invite allows 10 entries in the varsity division (three more than the usual seven), and the Bengals took advantage by running nine girls in the race. While it might have weakened the JV squad a little by adding runners to the varsity race, senior Mary Clement (21:43) and junior Harper Johnson (20:54) took advantage of the opportunity with solid performances, finishing in 59th and 76th, respectively.
The Bengals’ 45‑second 1-5 spread underscored the strength of Helena’s pack, which features a blend of emerging freshmen and experienced upperclassmen moving confidently together.
Varsity Boys
The varsity boys capped Helena’s afternoon with a gritty, well‑earned podium finish.
Senior Milo Kauffman (15:47) led the Bengals with a fourth‑place performance and sophomore Emory Kreissler (16:20) backed him with a strong 13th‑place finish, continuing his steady rise. Senior Joel Melton (16:33) followed in 22nd, while sophomore Tristan Hill (41st, 16:59) and freshman Derek Bury (43rd, 17:02) rounded out the scoring five, battling hard for their positions through the final miles.
Running sixth and seventh for Helena were junior Foster Warner (61st, 17:17) and Hank Coburn (89th, 17:56, personal best). Junior Ben Blanksma, meanwhile, took advantage of a varsity opportunity and finished 127th in 18:24.
Helena finished third with 113 points, trailing only Sheridan, Wyoming (58) and Bozeman (82). Thirty‑seven teams were represented in the race, making the Bengals’ podium finish another meaningful step forward.
Additional Highlights
On a strong day for the Bengals, personal bests were hard to come by in Bozeman, demonstrating why time is not always the best indicator of success in this sport. However, considering how difficult it was to produce a PR at Bridger Creek Golf Course, it is worth highlighting five additional athletes who achieved a lifetime best in addition to the exceptional performances posted by Lundstrom and Coburn.
Also running personal bests were sophomore Iriz McClain (24:54) and senior Elsie Munson (28:25) in the girls JV race, and Carlo Gonzales (20:24), Brice Beutelschies (20:56), and Ansen Hinck (29:09) in the boys JV division.
What’s Next?
The Bengals return to action next Saturday at the Mountain West Classic in Missoula, where they will face Montana’s best along with competition from neighboring states to the west.