The honors are rolling in for local athletes, in this case selection to the East-West Shrine Game, a football showcase for some of Montana’s best high school seniors from this past season.

And this season two athletes from Sanders County received the coveted invitations: Thompson Falls linebacker Trae Thilmony and Hot Springs wide receiver Kyle Lawson.

For Thilmony this is the latest in a string of awards he has received during his high school career.

He is a two-time state wrestling champion and a favorite to make it three in a row. And he was part of the Montana Class B-8 (eight player) state champion football team from Thompson Falls.

Thilmony was a dominating fixture in the T Falls defensive alignment and often led the team in tackles. He also played as a running back.

Currently participating in wrestling, he has compiled an 11-1 record on the mats so far this year.

His football coach, Jared Koskela, who was chosen as the B-8 Coach of the Year, said Thilmony is the kind of guy every coach wants in his program.

“When you look for a player who can model our core values: Toughness, Character, Family and Accountability, Trae fits that mold perfectly,” Koskela said. “He is selfless and represents Thompson Falls quite well in what the meaning of the game is all about.”

Both players will play for the West squad, which dominated the state championships at every level except 6-man.

And the rapid-moving, high octane game that is six-man football is exactly what Hot Springs’ Lawson was able to excel in.

In helping lead his team to three straight state playoff appearances, Lawson was a two-way standout. He was the leading receiver and favorite target of his friend and quarterback Jack McAllister as a wide receiver and teamed with McAllister in the formidable Savage Heat secondary.

Lawson, whose father Jim Lawson is the head football coach at Hot Springs, said he was proud of his son and what he has achieved.

“That is a big honor for Kyle to be selected and to play for a great cause,” Coach Lawson said of the selection to the game which benefits the Shrine charity programs.

Coach Lawson also said he was surprised McAllister was not selected also but was confident he would be involved in other post-season action and honors.

“Jack is worthy of being on the team too but it’s tough to get more than one kid from a Class C team,” Lawson said. “I’m sure Jack and Kyle will both be in the 6-man all-star game”.

Kyle Lawson, who signed with Montana Western last week to play football and attend the Dillon-based school, hauled in 25 TD passes this season, finishing his career with 72 scoring catches. He also amassed more than 2,300 yards receiving, eye-popping numbers that helped him be selected to the West squad as a wide receiver.

This year’s East-West game will be the 75th anniversary of the contest. It is scheduled to be played June 18th in Great Falls.