Running Wild(cats) at Glacier Park Soccer Showcase

JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 days, 5 hours AGO

Former Columbia Falls Wildcats soccer players Walt Nichols, Jackson Scholz and Finley Sundberg pose for a picture after a match between Evergreen State and Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State midfielder Walt Nichols (2) takes a shot on goal in the first half against Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State midfielder Finley Sundberg (22) pushes the ball upfield in the first half against Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State midfielder Walt Nichols (2) and Columbia Falls High School senior Jackson Scholz (21), who suited up for Spokane Falls Community College, walk upfield during a pause in the action at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State midfielder Walt Nichols (2) defends Spokane Falls Community College's Angel Reveles (19) in the second half at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State midfielder Walt Nichols (2) talks over a free kick opportunity with teammates Cooper Davis (27) and Kolby Juarez (10) in the first half of a match against Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State forward Connor Scanlon (8) gets past a Spokane Falls Community College defender for a goal in the first half of a match at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State forward Anthony Diaz (13) pushes the ball upfield in the first half against Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Evergreen State forward Connor Scanlon (8) pushes the ball upfield in the second half of a match against Spokane Falls Community College at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase at Legends Stadium on Saturday, April 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

There was a bit of a Flathead Valley flair Saturday at the Glacier Park College Soccer Showcase, even if the schools had to make a bit of a drive to get here.

One current and two former Columbia Falls Wildcats made sure the Legends Stadium crowd felt connected.

Evergreen State (Wash.) provided the two Columbia Falls alums in Walt Nichols and Finley Sundberg, while Spokane Falls Community College suited up Wildcats senior Jackson Scholz. Carroll College also added some Montana grit to the pitch that saw three games in total.

“I just started grinning like I am right now,” Nichols said of when he found out Evergreen State was going to play in Kalispell. “I couldn’t wrap my head around it. It’s just so cool.”

“I have played at Legends Stadium many times, but I never thought I would be able to come back here with my college team, in front of people I have known for many years and live out my dream of playing college soccer where I grew up,” Sundberg said.

The second game of the day featured the three local players as the Geoducks and Sasquatch battled.

Over the 70 minutes, five shots found the back of the net.

Nichols had the best chance of the local kids as his shot from just outside the box hit square off the post, but teammate Connor Scanlon slotted the rebound home.

“It’s definitely been a growth period over the last year for Evergreen State,” Nichols said. “I feel like individually I performed well. I need to be a little bit more fit and continue to be a leader on the team.”

In the second half Scholz made his first appearance for the Sasquatch. Scholz is still a high school senior in Columbia Falls, but when the opportunity arose for him to play — both teams are recruiting him — he couldn’t say no.

“I was emailing the coaches, and they asked, ‘We wanted to know if you would want to play,’ and I said, ‘Absolutely,’ ” Scholz said. “I’d say the experience was a nine (out of 10). I didn’t play as well as I wanted to, otherwise it would be a 10.

“It was awesome being able to go up against some of my fellow teammates from a few years back.”

Sundberg put in a shift in the midfield and back line for the Geoducks and said the feeling of being back in the Valley was surreal.

“I was so excited that for just one soccer weekend I would get to see my mom and grandma and get to see the people I love, in a place that I love,” Sundberg said.

Nichols shared a similar sentiment.

“I think it was really just full circle after the first game,” Nichols said. “I could go to the sideline and see all my family, it was just dozens and dozens of people I knew. It’s so full circle, I remember seeing the high schoolers play when I was 10 years old and I didn’t think I would be in this position.”

All three Wildcats were able to share a few moments together on the field after the game, gathering for pictures.

The day opened with the Geoducks battling Carroll and finished with the Saints and Sasquatch squaring off.

The Showcase was designed as a way to bring high-level college soccer to Kalispell and the Flathead Valley with hopes of becoming a yearly event.

In addition to the three games Saturday, Carroll College is hosting a youth soccer clinic on Sunday at Legends Stadium.

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.