The idea to have a Division I women’s soccer exhibition in Columbia Falls had been on O’Brien Byrd’s mind for some time, and when it finally happened — the Montana Grizzlies and Gonzaga Bulldogs met on Flip Darling Memorial Field last Aug. 11 — Byrd felt a mixture of elation and exhaustion.

“Then the Grizzlies’ coach grabbed me and said, ‘We’re in for next year,’ ” Byrd remembered. “I hadn’t even thought about it.” 

On Aug. 3, a Sunday, it will happen again: The Air Force Academy Falcons are making the trip from Colorado Springs to Columbia Falls to face the Montana Grizzlies. 

Eighth-year Grizzlies coach Chris Citowicki was dazzled a year ago, when 1,500 fans packed around the pitch nestled near Columbia Mountain and the entrance to Glacier Park.  

Now he’s simply stoked. 

“I couldn’t believe how well he put it together,” Citowicki said, meaning Byrd. “It made sense for us to do it again. 

“I feel like if we have these early-season getaways, it brings the team that much closer. Who wouldn’t want to do it? And you’re on the doorstep of Glacier National Park. It’s incredible.” 

This thing has legs. Added to this year’s festivities are Saturday (Aug. 2) camps offered by both Air Force (9:30-11:30 a.m.) and Montana (1:30-3:30 p.m.). Players can attend one ($50) or both ($90).  

The Grizzlies will be in the midst of their own fall camp, and Citowicki has scheduled a day off for Aug. 4 in which his team will visit the park.  

Byrd is creating a non-profit — The Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase — with the idea that in year three, four women’s teams make the trip and play a Cup-style tournament with matches in Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell.  

“We also went to bring in a Division I men’s game,” he said. 

Then Byrd added: “And we’ve already got some interest from people.” 

Byrd has been the Columbia Falls High boys soccer coach for 10 seasons, after guiding the Whitefish boys for 12 seasons from 2003-14. This latest venture is his baby, though he adds that without the contributions of Ron Brisendine — whose daughter Reagan played important minutes as a true freshman at UM last fall — and Citowicki, it might not fly. 

“We hoped it would inspire the kids and also let the college kids and their family come up and enjoy the area,” Byrd said. Then the first scrimmage drew more people than all but one of UM’s regular-season games last year (2,626 showed up at Washington State). 

“I wanted to see if we could pull it, and we did,” he said. 

“He’s building something,” Citowicki said. “I think we’ll get a lot of college programs that want to be a part of it. It’s like Field of Dreams: ‘If you build it, they will come.’ There’s such a romantic feel to it. 

“This is something we plan on doing for a very long time.” 

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 758-4463 or at [email protected]. 

    GONZAGA KEEPER Norah Schmidt leaps high for a save during Sunday’s exhibition with the Montana Grizzlies at Flip Darling Memorial Field. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    PAISLEY SHELDON of Kalispell gets a hug from Ava Samuelson after getting the senior defender’s autograph Sunday night. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)