High School Winter Sports Preview

Regardless of the snow that continues to fall around me, I'm not quite ready to declare that winter is upon us. For me, the first weekend of high school winter sports signals the season change.

A couple of local basketball and wrestling squads get things started this weekend, but most teams won't begin competition until next week. All week long we've been previewing the winter sports scene at Missoula's local high schools during Montana Morning. We've gone over how each team should fare, but what about the individual athletes? Here are five local Missoulians I can't wait to see in action the next couple of months.

1. HOLDEN GAGNER took third at the Class AA State Wrestling Tournament for Hellgate a season ago. After wrestling at the 105 lb. mark last year, Holden will more than likely compete at the 119 lb. level.
2. ELLE TINKLE enters her junior season as the undisputed leader of the Big Sky girls' basketball team. A starter since her freshman year, Elle has slowly been developing into one of the state's premiere players.
3. Across town, junior RILEY KING finds himself in a similar situation as the Sentinel boys' basketball team tries to repeat its' Western AA championship from a year ago. Riley played quarterback for the Spartans' football team this fall, so being looked upon as a leader is nothing new for this gunslinger.
4. RAINA WALTHER is a player who has flown under the radar the past couple of seasons at Hellgate. The senior point guard enters her third year as a starter, and will be key to the Lady Knights' success under first-year head coach Sean Beddow.
5. And finally, JOSH SEEBERGER is just one of two seniors on this year's Sentinel wrestling team. Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you, Josh is an absolute animal, as evidenced by his recent selection to the Class AA football All-State team at linebacker.

Which athlete or athletes are you most excited to see in action this winter?