Coach loves seeing athletes grow

Denise Montgomery likes planting the seed and watching it grow.

The sure-fire hall of fame coach (who will most certainly be bequeathed with that honor when she finally does hang up her whistle once and for all), who guided the Trotters to an unprecedented string of state team titles in Class B and Class C track and field meets not all that long ago, loves to see her kids grow up right before her eyes.

Her unique teaching/coaching career (she is a long-time elementary teacher in the Plains school system) has given Montgomery the opportunity to watch and nurture her student/athletes along their way to growing up.

“That is one of the most gratifying parts of my job,” she said. “It is really fun to see these kids grow, to gain their mental awareness. I have been very lucky in that respect over the years, and it is rewarding to see them realize their potential, on or off the track.”

On the track in Polson Friday for the Dave Tripp Memorial Friday and in Libby Saturday for the Libby Invitational, Montgomery saw more of her life’s work on display in both meets.

“I have known most of these kids since they were really young, and many of them were in my grade school classes,” she said. “To still be with them and part of their lives in high school is a really neat thing.”

One of those former students, junior Kylee Altmiller was Plains’ only event winner in Polson, pitching the spear 109 feet, 3 inches to win the girls javelin. On the boys side, Orion Pry-Hyde marked 18-4.5 in the long jump to win fifth place in that event. The Trotters’ 400 meter relay placed sixth for Plains’ other placing points in Polson.

In Libby, Altmiller placed fifth in the javelin with a best toss of 99-10, Rachel Huenink took fifth in the discus with a best effort of 83-8, and Deriyan Sheehan was sixth in the discus with a throw of 81-1.

Audrey Brown clocked 1:12.04 to win fifth place in the 400 meters and freshman Lexa Craft took sixth in that race in a time of 1:16.31.

Charlie Rehbein spun the discus 109-10 to place fourth and earn the Plains boys’ only placing points in Libby. “Charlie really worked hard in the off season and that work is paying off,” Montgomery said. “He is just so quick in the ring.”

Plains track and field teams have another busy week on tap. After competing in the Thompson Falls Invitational Tuesday (results of that meet were not available at press time) the Trotters and Horsemen will then move on to Missoula for the Seeley-Swan Invitational Saturday.