Representing TFHS

It wasn't so much how they did, it was more about how they carried themselves during the competition.

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawk track and field teams completed the season with a strong team showing in the State B meet in Kalispell last weekend.

Trey Fisher (a surprising second place in the javelin), Maya Stiles (fourth place in the pole vault), Cody Burk (sixth in the discus) and Jody Detlaff (tied for sixth in the high jump) were the medal winners for the Hawks at Legends Stadium Friday and Saturday but coach Trenna Ferris was every bit as impressed with how her athletes competed and comported themselves this season as she was with the final results.

"We did not stop pushing the kids in practice up until the day of the State meet," she said. "We made sure that not being conditioned could not be used as an excuse, and the kids responded well to that.

"They looked like they were ready to go physically and mentally," she added. "They were confident because of what they did to prepare and it showed in the way they competed. I am very proud of each and every one of our kids."

Fisher's big win of second place in the javelin, after he had finished fourth in the event at the Western B meet a week earlier, was the highlight of the meet for the Hawk contingent. Fisher pitched the javelin 176 feet, 2 inches in the prelims and then watched through the rest of the competition as that mark almost stood up to win (please see View from the Sidelines for more).

Throwing coach Jake Susic deserves a lot of credit for Fisher's success, Ferris noted, also citing Susic for his role in Burk winning sixth in the discus. Burk earned his medal by flinging the discus a personal best distance of 136-0.

Wrapping up her fine prep track and field career in style, Stiles cleared 9-0 in the pole vault to earn her fourth place medal. "Maya placed fourth because of her determination to clear the bar on her first attempts at each height," Ferris noted. "That is crucial in the jumping events."

Also making her attempts count, Detlaff earned a tie for sixth place in the high jump, clearing 4-10 along with Afton Brander of Mission and Madeline Severson of Manhattan.

Outside of their four medal winners, the Hawks enjoyed competitive efforts from all their athletes. Ferris is looking forward to next season already.

"I feel very lucky to be in this position as coach of a team like this, and am proud of our accomplishments on and off the field," she said. "I am very excited for the future of Blue Hawk track and field!"