Sports practices start this week, BBQ coming up, too

The Columbia Falls High School sports season kicks off this week, with most practices starting Friday and golf starting Thursday. The blue and white barbecue is Aug. 21 at the high school from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Cost for the barbecue is $5 for a burger or hot dog along with chips, cookie and drink. Proceeds help the Columbia Falls Booster Club. Wildcat merchandise will also be for sale.

It also gives folks a chance to meet the teams and the coaches.

Golf’s first tourney is a JV invite at Glacier View Golf Course Monday, Aug. 18 and the varsity travel to Corvallis.

All fall sports start in August this year. Cross Country is at the Libby Invitational Aug. 29. The boys and girls soccer teams host Laurel Aug. 29 and then face Whitefish on Sept. 4.

Laurel, on the girls’ side, is a perennial powerhouse while Whitefish is always a Wildcat nemesis.

In other words, the teams will get tested early this season.

The football team is on the road the first two weeks of the season, traveling to Lewistown Aug. 29 and Frenchtown Sept. 5. Fergus County made it to the semifinals of the playoffs last season and like Columbia Falls, Frenchtown made it to the quarterfinals.

The volleyball team opens its season with the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tourney on Aug. 29 in Polson.

The Wildkats will look to get the state tournament again this season. Last year they took fourth in the divisional tourney and went 0-2 at state with a team full of young talent.