2014: Havre Daily's top local sports stories

In sports, there's rarely a dull moment in Havre, or on the Hi-Line. And because of that, there's never a dull year.

And 2014 was anything but dull. In fact, it was the exact opposite. From high multiple state championships in high school, to postseason appearances at the collegiate level, to coaching changes, to the passing of legends, 2014 was another memorable year in sports in our coverage area.

In fact, as cliché as it sounds, it will be extremely hard for the next 12 months to top the last 12 months, because the last 12 were simply incredible.

So here's a look at the Top 10 local sports stories from the past year, as chosen by the Havre Daily News sports staff.

1. (Tie) Havre girls, Box Elder boys capture state titles in basketball

The Havre High girls basketball team has always been good. But it had been 17 years since the last time the Blue Ponies hoisted a state championship trophy. But on March 14, inside the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, that all changed. The Blue Ponies, led by head coach Dustin Kraske, beat Hamilton 52-43 in the Class A state championship game. Senior Brandy Lambourne scored 25 points and was named the Class A state tournament MVP.

The championship was part of a spectacular three-night run for the Ponies at the state tourney, as they knocked off Frenchtown and defending Class A champ Laurel on their way to the title game. HHS also won its third straight Central A championship last season, behind a loaded squad that included seniors Peyton Filius, Lacey Waid and Haley Ohm, as well as star players Tori Mazurkiewicz, Morgan Mazurkiewicz and Dani Wagner.

And just seven days before Havre's state title, the Box Elder boys captured a historic one of their own. On March 7, in Butte, Box Elder won its first state title in 24 years after the Bears crushed Westby-Grenora 74-54 in the Class C championship game.

The win capped an amazing undefeated season for the Bears under head coach Jeremy MacDonald and is a part of a winning streak that has now grown to 29 games this winter. Led by senior Randall Gardipee, as well as Brandon The Boy, Thomas Parisian, Clayton Morsette and Lonnie Plain Bull Jr., the Bears not only were perfect through 2013-14, but they beat teams by an average of 17 points a game, and in the postseason run, which included a 9C championship, a Northern C title, and the state championship, the Bears beat their opponents by an average of 21 points per outing.

2. Mark Samson resigns at MSU-N/Christensen hired

Not all the top stories in a given sports year are filled with joy. The 2014 MSU-Northern football season started off with a lot of controversy and turmoil. Northern head coach Mark Samson, who had led the Lights the last 11 years, resigned under pressure Aug. 13 after a week of being put on paid, administrative leave. Samson resigned after the university found him to have "violated university policy related to the operation of a football camp." The affair, that started just days after Northern opened fall camp on Aug. 4, was highly publicized and highly controversial, with hard feelings and tension on both sides of the issue. MSU-N defensive coordinator Jake Eldridge was promoted to interim head coach and the Lights went on to a 3-8 season in which they possessed one of the top offenses in the country, but lost several close, or difficult games.

Fast forward four months and the search was officially on for what would be MSU-N's third head coach in the 16 years since the program was officially resurrected. The search came down to four finalists, Ryan Gatch, Kelly Bills, Aaron Christensen and Kyle Kramer. Dec. 24, Northern Athletic Director Christian Oberquell named Christensen, the offensive coordinator at NAIA power Missouri Valley College, Northern's new head coach.

"First, I'd like to say this is an excellent opportunity," Christensen said. "My wife and I are very excited to get there and be a part of the Havre community. And I'm very excited to get to work."

3. Back-to-back for Blue Pony wrestling

For the third time in head coach Scott Filius' career, the Havre High wrestling team won back-to-back Class A state championships. Back in February in Billings, the Ponies claimed their second straight team title, and ninth overall under Filius, by scoring a record 294.5 points, blowing away arch rival Sidney. On finals' night at the Billings Metra, Havre also had five finalists and crowned four 2014 state champions, including freshmen Parker Filius (138) and Jase Stokes (152), who both now have a chance to be four-time state champs. Junior Jace Billy also captured a state title at 195 pounds, while senior Tyler Adams beat brother Travis Adams for the 220-pound title. Overall, the Ponies placed a record 13 wrestlers at the state tourney, continuing to cement HHS as one of the greatest wrestling program's in Montana history.

4. Chinook makes a run at Class C football title

Losing your first game of the season is never a good omen. But it didn't end up hurting the Chinook football team one bit. After opening with a loss to Great Falls Central back in August, Chinook went on to win the Northern C title, and dispatch Victor and Broadus in home playoff wins, setting up a showdown with No. 2 Fairview on a frigid November Saturday at Hoon Field in the semifinals. In that game, Chinook was unstoppable as quarterback Ian McIntosh was responsible for seven touchdowns in 66-12 win.

The victory vaulted the Beeters and head coach Scott Friede into the state championship game where they met Wibaux Nov. 22 in a rematch of Chinook's triumphant 2010 state championship. Only this time, the game was in Wibaux, and the Longhorns rolled to a 46-14 win. Still, it was a magical and special ride for the Beeters, and one that won't soon be forgotten.

5. Lights get another NAIA wrestling trophy

For the second straight season, head coach Tyson Thivierge led the MSU-Northern wrestling team to a top three finish at the NAIA national tournament. Back in March, Northern finished third at the 2014 NAIA national tournament. Behind All-Americans Cameron Neiss, Ethan Hinebauch, Jared Miller and Garrett DeMers, as well as a total team effort, the Lights once again proved they are back as one of the elite in NAIA wrestling. Hinebauch (165) and Miller (174) both reached the national championship round before losing, while the Lights enjoyed a special season that included two more thrilling wins over arch rival, the University of Great Falls.

6. Skylights reach NAIA Sweet 16

MSU-Northern head women's basketball coach Chris Mouat took the Skylights to the NAIA national tournament and the Sweet 16 in his first season at the helm. But by the time the 2013-14 season rolled around, it had been eight years since that magical run. However, in March, after a 10-6 record in the loaded Frontier Conference, and an 11-0 start to the non-conference season, the Skylights found themselves headed to the 2014 NAIA tourney in Kentucky.

And once there, Northern didn't disappointment. MSU-N knocked off Columbia of Missouri in the opening round, 56-55 to reach the Sweet 16. Two days later, the Skylights battled eventual national champion Oklahoma City before falling 58-55. MSU-N's magical season, led by the likes of Frontier Newcomer of the Year A'Jha Edwards, as well as Taylor Cummings, Rachelle Bennett and Natalee Faupel, among others, ended with a sparkling 22-10 record. But the good times are still rolling as Northern is currently off to a 14-0 start this season and is ranked No. 17 in the NAIA heading into conference play.

7. Jeff Miller, Mariah Swank, Chinook girls win state tennis titles

Individual state championships are hard to come by, in any sport. But in May in Billings, Havre High sophomore Jeff Miller became the fifth Blue Pony to win a Class A singles state championship in boys tennis. Miller pulled off a stunning comeback in the semifinals against Polson senior Brady Hislop before beating Corvallis' D.J. Pekoc in the title match after Pekoc withdrew with an injury in the third set. Miller, who also captured his second straight Central A title, and lost just three matches all year, also helped the Pony boys to a third-place trophy at the state tournament. Chinook's Mariah Swank captured the Class B-C state girls title as well back in May in Missoula, and helped lead the Beeters to the B-C state team title, their second in the last four years under head coach Thom MacLean.

8. Lights make it four in a row

The Northern men's basketball program is now very familiar with Kansas City. For the fourth straight season, the Lights advanced to the NAIA national tournament, and it was MSU-N's fifth trip to the big dance in the last six seasons under head coach Shawn Huse. In 2013-14, the Lights went 11-5 in the Frontier Conference, finishing second. MSU-N also advanced to the Frontier semifinals for the seventh straight year. Northern wound up 23-9 overall, losing to Freed-Hardeman 71-63 in the first round of the national tournament. It was Huse's eighth straight 20-win season, while the Lights climbed to as high as No. 9 in the NAIA Coaches Poll.

9. Glacier Nationals move to Havre

In the summer, an exciting announcement was made that certainly appealed to Havre's hockey fans. The Glacier Nationals, a junior hockey team that plays in the Tier 3 Frontier Division of the NAHL, and owner/general manager Butch Kowalka announced the franchise was moving from Whitefish to Havre. The Nationals are believed to be Havre's first version of professional sports. The Nationals now reside in the Havre Ice Dome, and played their historic first home game Sept. 20 in front of a sold-out crowd.

10. HHS boys reach Class A state tourney

It was certainly a year of ending droughts in high school basketball on the Hi-Line. And the Havre High boys basketball team got into the act. Under head coach Curt Leeds, the Blue Ponies won a thrilling Central A semifinal game against rival Browning back in February in Belgrade, and that win catapulted the Ponies into their first Class A state tournament since 2006. Through the regular season, Havre went a modest 7-13, but, led by sophomore Dane Warp's 23 points per game, HHS turned it on at the right time. At the Class A tourney last March in Great Falls, Havre played eventual state champ Columbia Falls tough in the first round, then upset Stevensville 55-49 before finally bowing out against rival Belgrade in a Saturday morning loser-out game.

Honorable Mention: MSU-N running back Zach McKinley rushed for a school record 1,425 yards this fall, and now holds almost all of the school's rushing records.

Legendary boys and girls high school basketball coach Charlie Robinson suddenly passed away in July. Robinson was most recently the girls coach at Chinook.

After being cut by the Tennessee Titans in August, Marc Mariani signed with the Chicago Bears in November and is now their starting kick and punt returner.

A rough season ended in a special way for the Northern football team. Nov. 15, Northern stunned Rocky Mountain College 44-41 in Billings when Jordan Rueschhoff kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.

The Havre High softball team made just its second appearance at the Class A state tournament in program history last spring, and also won a game while there.

Blue Pony Dane Warp had seven 30-plus point basketball games last season, then set several HHS passing records in football this past fall.

The Chinook volleyball team went undefeated in the regular season and won its second straight 9C championship before finally losing at the Northern C Divisional in November.

Harlem's Seth Adams captured a 220-pound Class B-C state wrestling championship back in February. Adams is now a member of the Montana Tech football team.