Bengal Essentials

Important Required Forms

All athletes must complete the following before official practice begins on August 15. 

Submit your forms online soon! We soon will have link for you to upload forms online, eliminating the need for paper copies to be turned in. This will be the preferred option.

  • Team Commitment Form – Coming July 5!
  • Drug & Alcohol Form 
  • Concussion Form
  • Pre‑Participation Physical Form
      • Returning athletes who completed a physical for the 2025-26 school year DO NOT need to submit a new one.
      • A sports physical can be scheduled with a pediatrician or primary care physician, or walk-in services are available many urgent care clinics like St. Pete’s (two locations in Helena) or Benefis Northeast.

Participation Fee: $90 for the first sport (paid through HSD RevTrak at a later date TBD).

All forms are available through the Helena School District Activities Department.

Girls Only: Wildwood HometowN in Helena – August 12

This special event presented at no cost to young female athletes through community support is designed to support and empower female athletes, particularly young runners. This experience will focus on key areas of mental performance tools, leadership and goal-setting, nutrition and fueling strategies, and female health. Helena High girls coaches strongly encourage every member of the team to attend this rare opportunity to help set them up for success in the upcoming season and beyond.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE

Kickoff WEEKEND – Official Season

Here’s a rundown of how we will kick off the official start of the 2026 season on August 14:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 (BUSY, BUT FUN DAY!)

  • 7 a.m. – Practice at HMS/Vigilante Stadium (Attendance at practice from this day forward is required)
  • ~ 9 a.m. – We will distribute to each athlete a backpack and two uniforms that must be properly cared for and returned at the conclusion of the season, and team spirit/warmup gear that will be theirs to keep.
  • 2:30-4:30 p.m. – Photos will take place in the Helena High gym at 2:30–3:30 p.m. for girls and 3:30–4:30 p.m. for boys. Athletes should arrive in uniform and ready for both team and individual photos.
  • 7:30 p.m. – Team BBQ, Games, and Outdoor Movie at Coach Zentz’s House

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

  • 7 a.m. – Practice at HMS/Vigilante Stadium
  • 9 a.m. – Parent/Athlete Meeting in HMS Gym

Team Camp – August 17-19

  • Location: Lubrecht Experimental Forest
  • Who: All Bengal XC athletes (attendance expected)
  • Travel: Bus transportation provided
  • Lodging: Boxcars and cabins provided
  • Departure: Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 a.m. from Helena High
  • Return: Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. to Helena High

Team Camp is a cornerstone of our program — three days of running, learning, goal-setting, bonding, eating great food, swimming, and building momentum for the season.

August Trail Race / Team Time Trial

This race serves as our preseason time trial and community fundraiser. Athletes/parents must register and pay the $10 fee, but all proceeds support Helena-area high school cross country programs, including ours.

  • When: 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20
  • Location: Spring Meadow Resources Pavilion
REGISTER FOR THE RACE

Mental Skills Sessions

With Shannon Thompson (NAU Mental Performance Counselor). These sessions will be conducted in a group setting virtually with Shannon and athlete guests. These sessions help athletes develop confidence, focus, resilience, and race‑day mental strategies. Attendance is required for all team members.

  • Time TBD, August 21 – BCBSMT Headquarters
  • Time TBD, August 22 – BCBSMT Headquarters

Senior Celebration and Awards Banquet

Senior Day: We will celebrate our Senior Class at our Helena Area Meet on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Bill Roberts Golf Course. Details still need to be ironed out, but parents of seniors are requested to be present for that event.

Team Celebration Banquet and Potluck: We will celebrate the season on Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Helena High Gym, and all athletes are expected to be in attendance with their parents. Our parent coordinator will be in touch for parent help as we get closer to that date.

Nike Cross Regionals

We will once again be taking a large team to Nike Cross Regionals and the event is a week later than normal this year, scheduled for Nov. 20-22 in Spokane on the The Course at Spokane Valley, an awesome facility designed specifically for cross country. This is a post-season trip not affiliated with Helena High and coaches reserve the right to limit the number of athletes based on transportation and lodging available.  Details about the trip will be provided later this summer, but here are some basics:

  • Fee: This is TBD as we confirm some details, but likely $300-350, which covers the cost of lodging, charter bus transportation, meet entry fees, and a fun team activity.
  • Travel Dates: Leave HHS at 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20 and return by 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

IMPORTANT: Nike Cross Regionals is an opportunity offered to HHS XC student‑athletes who have fully met the expectations outlined in the Team Commitment agreed to at the start of the season. Athletes with disciplinary concerns or unmet expectations will not be invited to join the trip.

Athlete resources

All athletes should join the two apps below for important communications and training information. We use tools regularly throughout the summer and the season to keep everyone on the same page.

  • Comms: GroupMe website and app (Request an invite from Coach Zentz; phone # required)
  • Training: Final Surge website and app (Request an invite from Coach Zentz; email required)

All student-athletes should be familiar with the two documents below, which feature our daily pre-run activation routine and our post-run strength and mobility routines. Coaches will lead these activities at practices, but the resources are especially valuable during the summer for team members who may be on vacation or unable to attend a group session.