Treasure State teams and athletes delivered many memorable moments in 2024. From championship games to record-setting performances to historic achievements, 2024 was the year of Montana sports. what should be remembered.
Some of our favorite stories of the year took place abroad, but the biggest stories of the year? Those were taking place inside the athletic field.
MTN Sports staff have chosen the 10 biggest stories of 2024. A first place vote is worth 10 points, a second place vote is worth nine points and a 10th place vote is worth one point and one. Below is our list of the biggest sports stories of 2024:
10. Keyan Hernandez becomes the first four-time high school champion in Billings West history.
It’s hard to believe in Billings West athletic history that the Golden Bears haven’t had a four-time wrestling champion until February. Keyan Hernandez became the program’s first — and 41st in Montana history — with a 4-1 decision over Belgrade’s Mason Gutenberger in the Class AA 126-pound division. With Hernandez leading the way, the Bears also won the Class AA team title.
9. Libby’s Ryggs Johnston earns DP World Tour card and wins ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
Ryggs Johnston, former Libby High School golf champion, began his professional career in 2024, earning his first PGA Tour America license and receiving a DP World Tour card for 2025 .He won 2024 with victory in ISPS. HANDA Australian Open, which earned him an invitation to the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July. 17-20, 2025.
8. The Billings Scarlets became the first Montana team to make the Legion World Series in 62 years.
The Billings Scarlets won five games in the Class AA Northwest Regional tournament, including two over Eugene, Ore., in the championship game, punching their ticket to the Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C. It was the first time before the Montana team arrived. World Series from Post #4 from Billings made in 1962.
7. Providence defeats Carroll in NAIA women’s basketball semifinals.
For the first time in Frontier Conference history, the league’s two teams met in the NAIA women’s basketball tournament finals. Providence beat Carroll 58-53 in the playoffs to advance to the national championship game, where the Argos ended up losing 57-53 to Dordt (Iowa).
6. Washington officials remember Walter “Blackie” Wetzel.
In the first public step in the warming relationship between the Washington Administrators and the Wetzel family of Montana, the late Walter “Blackie” Wetzel was recalled by the NFL franchise on Sept. 15 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. Wetzel was a souvenir. a member of the Blackfeet tribe who designed the warrior logo currently used for the Washington franchise – formerly known as the Redskins – originally. 1970s.
5. Montana State wins third consecutive Big Sky Conference men’s basketball championship.
Montana State used a big second-half run from rival Montana for an 85-70 victory in the Big Sky Conference championship game. The Bobcats were only the fifth seed for the conference tournament but won three games to win their third straight tournament title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. It is the first time since 1981-83 that a team has won three consecutive Big Sky championships.
4. Montana plays for the FCS national championship.
Most of Montana’s storybook 2023-24 football season took place in 2023, but the Grizzlies actually played for the FCS national championship on Jan. 7, 2024. Montana fell to South Dakota State 23- 3 in the title game. It was the Grizzlies’ eighth all-time trip to the title game and fourth in the division under head coach Bobby Hauck.
3. Helena native Sean O’Malley defends his UFC bantamweight title at UFC 299, headlines UFC 306 at Sphere Las Vegas.
Sean O’Malley is one of the greatest fighters in the UFC. After winning the bantamweight championship in 2023, the Helena native was able to defend his title against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in March. O’Malley headlined September’s UFC 306 at the Sphere, where he lost to challenger Merab Dvalishvili.
2. Montana State goes 15-0, advancing to the FCS national championship game.
It’s been a historic football season for Montana State, winning the Big Sky Conference championship, defeating rival Montana, earning the No. 1 seed. 1 for the FCS playoffs, setting a program record for wins in a single season and advancing to the FCS national tournament. on Jan. 6. Coach Brent Vigen is the FCS coach of the year, and quarterback Tommy Mellott is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which recognizes FCS. offensive player of the year.
1. Missoula’s Katharine Berkoff wins two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Katharine Berkoff cemented her place among the world’s best swimmers this year, becoming just the second American woman to break the 58-second barrier in the 100-meter backstroke and claim a bronze medal in the Olympic event of Paris 2024. The Missoula native also helped the United States women’s 4×100-meter medley relay team win the gold medal.
Reference is made to the Hon
Box Elder wins first boys basketball championship; Billings resident Brady Ellison at the 2024 Paris Olympics; Whitefish native Nicole Heavirland, USA rugby’s first Olympic medal; Montana Tech football scores a program-record 97 points against Simpson University; High school athletes set 10 all-time team records, 13 team records in the state track and field meets; Montana State wins first Big Sky Conference men’s and field championship since 2005;
MSU Billings women’s basketball wins 28 games, reaches Western Conference Finals; The University of Montana hosts three sold-out concerts before a Grizzlies football game; Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale girls basketball extends winning streak to 60 games; Nathan Neil of Bozeman and Ryan Dierenfield of Billings Skyview ran among the fastest times in the nation; Missoula Loyola wins latest Class B boys basketball championship; Montana Tech wins third straight Frontier Conference men’s basketball championship, starts 2024-25 season 10-0 for first time in program history;
Great Falls native Kai Stewart defends his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship title, headlining the event in Billings; Breanna Williams wins second straight Montana Gatorade girls basketball player of the year award, leads Billings Skyview to undefeated season; Eight with Montana connections compete in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo; Manhattan makes rounds to win Class B/C state softball championship; Gallatin wins the program’s first Class AA boys basketball championship.
#Year #review #MTN #Sports #biggest #stories
