TUESDAY BRIEFS: Saturday bike ride for suicide prevention; Popp invited to USA Swimming camp
The Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 8 months AGO
Kalispell’s Patrick Malone, in conjunction with the Nate Chute Foundation, is hosting a 64-mile non-supported bike ride on Saturday to raise awareness of youth suicide and raise money for the foundation and its programs.
The ride will begin at 8 a.m. at Bojangles’ Diner on U.S. 2 in Kalispell and stay mostly on the Rails to Trails bike path between Somers and Kila.
Malone, whose cousin took his own life in 2013, met with representatives from the Nate Chute Foundation earlier this year and eventually founded this event as a way to remember his late cousin.
“I had really struggled to figure out a way to celebrate his life,” Malone said. “I had been more trapped by the tragedy of his death than being able to celebrate how he lived and who he was. It’s been a wonderful gift to this about this event … he was a great athlete, too, and I think he would appreciate it.”
Riders are not required to pre-register for Saturday’s trek, nor are they required to make any financial donation, although participants are encouraged to find sponsors to pledge their ride either in total or per mile. An anonymous donor will match donations, up to $1,000.
“For this first year, I think more important than the money is people being able to make a public stand to say ‘this is something we really need to address in our community,’” Malone said. “I was blown away when I saw the statistics. (Suicide) is an issue for our community and one that we really need to try and reverse.”
The Nate Chute Foundation was created in 2002 and funds mental health counseling for students with limited resources, among other projects, and has hosted the Nate Chute slalom and boadercross race at Whitefish Mountain Resort for the last 17 years.
More information on Saturday’s bike ride is available by emailing Malone at pcmwccc@hotmail.com.
Glacier’s Popp invited to USA swimming camp
SALT LAKE CITY — Thirteen-year-old swimming phenom A.J. Popp has been chosen to attend USA Swimming’s Western Zone Diversity & Inclusion Select camp this weekend, one of just 40 ninth and 10th grade swimmers from 13 states picked to participate.
The camp will be held Thursday through Sunday in Salt Lake City and is for elite ninth and 10th grade swimmers from “diverse backgrounds” according to a press release from USA Swimming. Popp’s mother was born in Jamaica and her father is from Ohio.
“This is the most competitive selection process we’ve ever had,” Audrey Bell, the 2016 camp director, said in the release. “With over 10,000 of our 100,000-plus athletes qualifying as ‘diverse,’ these 40 swimmers are truly the best of the best.”
In addition to training with USA Swimming coaches, the camp “provides motivational and educational opportunities specially designed for athletes of underrepresented cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.” The camp includes swimmers from the westernmost states, and Popp is the only representative from Montana.
Popp, who recently completed her freshman year at Glacier High School, broke a bevy of school records in her first season of prep competition and posted four top-four finishes at the state meet. Popp was third in the 500-yard freestyle at state, fourth in the 200 IM and part of record-setting relay teams in the 200 and 400 freestyle, leading those teams to third and fourth place finishes, respectively.
RELATED: Glacier's extraordinary Popp already dominating pool
Eickert hits third hole-in-one
Dick Eickert of Kalispell made his third career hole-in-one Saturday at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. He used a 9-iron on the 134-yard seventh hole on the Cameron Nine course. His shot to a very difficult back-left pin position was witnessed by his wife, Kathy. This was the eighth hole-in-one of the season at Buffalo Hill and the third on the par 3 seventh.
Zeeck aces Northern Pines
Polson’s Paul Zeeck used a 7-iron to hit a hole-in-one at the 146-yard 16th hole at Northern Pines Golf Club on Monday during a pro-am event. Witnesses were Steve and Vicki Lucas, Cameron Milton and Randy Kelley.
Walsh shoots age at Buffalo Hill
Tracy Walsh, a 79-year-old retired school teacher from Kalispell, shot his age last Wednesday at Buffalo Hill Golf Club, doing so, fittingly, on the last day of school in town.
Walsh carded a 79 on the Championship 18 course. The feat was witnessed by fellow retired teachers Ken Siderius, Bill Epperly and Jim Scalf.
Stein sinks hole-in-one at Whitefish Lake
WHITEFISH — Cindy Stein used a 6-hybrid to ace the 120-yard sixth hole on the North Course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club on Saturday. Tracy and Shawn Whisenand were witnesses.
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LOCAL ROUNDUP: Benefit ride to help suicide prevention
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 8 years, 8 months ago
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