After an incredible fall sports season the Hellgate Knights are gearing up for the winter sports season. This includes boys and girls basketball, swimming, and wrestling. Hellgate sports are always exceptional, and the winter sports are no exception.
The Hellgate swim team had a great season last year. Despite having a small team, consisting of only 7 boys and 4 girls, the team performed well at state, placing 7th for the boys and 8th for the girls. “We had a good season last year, I was able to repeat my state championship in the 100 free…I am gonna go for a three-peat,” said junior, Leo Westenfelder.
Westenfelder placed first in the 100 years freestyle and second in the 200 yard freestyle, securing the 7th place finish for the boys. “We have a lot of new freshmen this year that are fast, so I’m excited for that. And the team overall is just gonna be bigger,” Westenfelder said when talking about the upcoming swim season.
The Knights wrestling team struggled a bit throughout the season, but they were able to secure some individual wins. They won one team duel, the first in twelve years, against Bozeman High, and were able to send five boys and two girls to the state competition. On the boys side Hellgate scored 20 points at state and placed 15th. Senior Dillon Gunlock placed 4th in the 160 division. On the girls’ side, Hellgate scored 10 points and placed 14th.
The Hellgate boys basketball team had a promising season last year that unfortunately ended abruptly. They went 11-0 in their region, at one point having a 14-game win streak, placing 1st in the Western AA divisional tournament. They went into the state tournament with high hopes but unfortunately they were unable to keep their win streak.
The boys played CMR in the first round of the tournament and lost heartbreakingly 55-54. They then went on to play Butte and again just barely lost, 51-47. These losses put an end to an incredible season, but they fortunately did not lose many players so there are high hopes for this upcoming season.
Girls basketball also had an incredible season, and theirs wasn’t cut quite as short. The girls had a 8-4 record in the region, placing 1st in the western AA division, and a 16-7 record overall. Led by senior Chloe Larson, the girls played incredibly well and were able to o make it to the finals of state, before falling to Billings Skyview 54-36.
Unfortunately for the girls team, they had many seniors last year so this your’s team will be a younger one. But junior Elly Reed has been a standout player in all her high school years and will definitely continue to make noice in the Montana High School basketball season.
With a really wonderful winter season last year, the KNights are coming into this season with high hopes, and knowing the Knights, they will deliver! Many students are excited to play and watch these sports. “I’m really excited for the student section and the basketball games, because the buzz of the student section is invigorating…I’m excited to see Hellgate dominate winter sports!” said senior and Student Body President Faith You.
The Hellgate sports teams are truly a joy to watch and this winter season is bound to live up to expectations.
