In soccer, Clark COY, recognition for boys sportsmanship
Hungry Horse News | UPDATED 21 hours, 28 minutes AGO
Head coach Thomas Clark and assistant coach Melanie Byrd celebrate with the team after winning the state A championship in November, 2025.
The Columbia Falls soccer program recently received accolades from its peers.
Girls coach Thomas Clark was recently named Coach of the Year for small schools by the United Soccer Coaches for the state of Montana. Clark led the Columbia Falls girls squad to an undefeated season and its first state A championship in 21 years.
The Columbia Falls boys soccer team won the Stockman Bank Team Sportsmanship Award at the 2025 Montana High School Association Class A State Soccer Playoffs.
“Your team’s exemplary sportsmanship and positive representation of your school are truly commendable,” the bank noted when presenting the award to the program.
The team was nominated by activities director Troy Bowman for its play in the state semifinals against Polson, where they lost in a shootout to the Pirates in a classic game on a muddy pitch in Columbia Falls. The Pirates went on to win the state A championship over Whitefish.