Briefs: Griz golf signs West’s Tryan; Lucier signs with UM Softball; Nourse in portal

Montana women’s golf coach Jimmy Mee announced this week that a pair of prep golfers have signed on to join the Grizzlies, and one is from Montana.

Payton Tryan out of Billings Senior and Maddie Makino of Parker, Colorado are the signees; Tryan’s name is familiar to rodeo fans; she was State AA medalist as a junior and senior.  

“She got into golf late, in terms of someone who is going to get into college golf,” said Mee. “We’re going to see her keep getting better. She has an amazing golf swing, a good putting stroke and is still new to competitive golf. She is going to be really fresh and hungry to get better.” 

Tryan’s dad Travis qualified 11 times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in team roping. Her uncle, Clay Tryan, is a three-time team roping world champion. Another uncle, John Edwards, was the starting quarterback on Montana’s 2001 national champion football team. 

Makino started golfing at age 6. She is the sixth-ranked prep golfer in Colorado according to Junior Golf Hub, and won three PGA of America Colorado Section Junior Golf events in 2024. She finished second at the Class 5A state championship as a sophomore. 

Griz softball signs Lucier 

Frenchtown pitcher and outfielder Ryan Lucier headlines the 2027 signing class for Montana’s softball program this week. 

As a sophomore Lucier pitched Frenchtown to the 2025 State A championship; in the circle she went 19-1 with 219 strikeouts in 120 innings for the 21-2 Broncs; at the plate she hit 14 home runs. Lucier didn’t play this past spring because of a torn ACL suffered in girls basketball, and committed to the Grizzlies in July. 

Pitcher Ansley Parr of Childress, Texas, catcher Kendall Watts of Fayetteville, Arkansas and outfielder Jane Ford of Woodinville, Washington, filled out the class.  

Bobcats sign 2 in-state cagers

BOZEMAN — Montana State women’s basketball head coach Tricia Binford announced the addition of two Montana high school standouts for 2027-28 on Wednesday: Avery O’Connor of Baker and Brynn Kammerzel of Chester. 

 O’Connor, whose mom Sheila (Hutchinson) helped the Bobcats win the 2004 Big Sky basketball title, has 1,255 career points for the reigning State B champ. She’ll join sister Madison on the MSU roster.

Kammerzell helped Chester-JI finish third at the State C tournament in March, averaging 24.2 points and 10.5 rebounds. 

“When it comes to the culture of our program, Avery and Brynn are a home run fit,” Binford said.  

Western receiver Nourse to portal

DILLON — Eli Nourse, a standout receiver the past four seasons at Montana Western of the Frontier Conference, announced he is entering the transfer portal on Wednesday. 

“Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, and supporters who have helped me these last 4 years at the University of Montana Western,” he posted on Twitter/X. “I will be entering the transfer portal with 1 year of eligibility left. Thank you.” 

The 5-foot-10, 187-pounder out of Dillon has racked up 1,000 receiving yards every year he’s been with the Bulldogs — who are coached by his dad, Ryan. 

Western just completed a 4-6 season, during which the younger Nourse piled up 71 catches for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns. His Western totals are 327 catches, 4,643 yards and 44 receiving touchdowns.