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Club History and Alumni

Seasons: 7

Overall Record: 71-37

Most Single Season Wins: 13 (2016)

Best Finish: 3rd Place (2017)

State Semifinalists: 4 (2015-2018)

District Champions: 1 (2016)

District Runners-Up: 2 (2016-2017)


Home Record: 21-7

Away Record: 19-8

Neutral Record: 23-13

Playoff Record: 8-9

Overtime Record: 4-2

Average Wins: 10.1

Average Losses: 5.5

Avg. Goals For: 10.0

Avg. Goals Against: 5.5

Best Margin of Victory: 23-3 (2017 vs. Great Falls)

Worst Margin of Defeat: 26-4 (2014 at Hellgate)


Graduation Record: 100%


2021 - West Billings Bandits D1

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Ryan Wilson (AHC), Brynn Schwarz (GM)


2020 - West Billings Bandits Varsity and JV

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Joe Lipskis (AHC), Ryan Wilson (SC), Torin Zonfrelli (DC), Brynn Schwarz (GM)

The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. The team played 4 games at the Gem State Jamboree, but ultimately the Montana HS Lacrosse season was cancelled prior to the Bandits first scheduled game.


2019 - West Billings Bandits Varsity (11-6, 5th Place)

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Joe Lipskis (OC), Brynn Schwarz (GM)

2019 - West Billings Bandits Junior Varsity (9-0, 1st Place)

Ryan Wilson (HC), Torin Zonfrelli (AC)

The 2019 Season was a huge success for both squads. The Varsity team was 8-3 in regular season play and 1-1 in the playoffs. Although the season ended on a 11-12 loss to Hellgate, it was one of the best lacrosse games played in recent memory, with the Bandits tying the game in the 4th quarter after coming back from a 5-goal deficit at half time. The JV team finished 9-0 and captured the JV State Title. The team attended the Gem State Jamboree in Idaho, going 2-2 at the tournament. Overall the team posted two shutouts and allowed 3 goals or less in 9 Varsity games and 4 JV games. The Varsity team was captained by Aiden Potter, Keon Lockie, Parker Trost, and Doug Mowat. Ethan Frey (30g, 19a) and Aiden Potter (14g, 35a) led the team in scoring with 49 points each, followed by Hunter Lucas (37g, 3a) with 40 points. The team averaged 16.87 points per game (14.71 goals per game and 7.55 assists per game), with 20 players registering a point during the season. Goalies (Doug Mowat and Marshall Olinger) posted a combined save percentage of 77.9% and goals against average of 5.37. Despite a tough defense (21.4 caused turnovers per game), the team averaged only 3 penalty minutes per game (including one game with 0 penalties), our lowest rate ever. 8 players stepped up to face off, and the group averaged 61% wins at the X. All-state recipients included Ethan Frey and Jackson Sampley. Ethan Frey was awarded Offensive Player of the year, Doug Mowat was awarded Defensive Player of the Year, Iron Man went to Jadyn Hoff, and Most Improved Player went to Ethan Prill. Aidan Potter was the recipient of the Goal Line Extended Award, and Parker Trost was the recipient of the Bandits Award.


2018 - West Billings Bandits Varsity (8-6, 4th Place)
Spenser Kuhn (HC), Joe Lipskis (OC), Torin Zonfrelli (AC)
 Brynn Schwarz (GM)

2018 - West Billings Bandits Junior Varsity

Brynn Schwarz (HC), Ryan Wilson (SC), Jake Vopel (AC)

In season five, the West Billings Bandits had to replace 10 seniors and a strong group of leaders from the season before.  However, this season was the first full season with a full JV squad, and the first with over 40 total players registered.  The team was led by Captains Parker Trost, AJ Graff, Skyler Christaens, and Doug Mowat.   With the loss of the leadership, the Bandits also lost scoring, to the tune of 16.77 points per game, and had to replace their four-year starting goalie and two starting defenders.  While the season may appear to be less successful, the 2018 team was still highly successful.  They recorded their first win over defending state finalist and 6-time champion Hellgate in dominating fashion, 11-1 on the road.  However, an ominous season, oft derailed by Mother Nature and Old Man Winter, showed its true face after mid-season trips to Bozeman and Great Falls that the road to the state championship was likely through Bozeman and Glacier.  West Billings was able to manage a respectable fourth-place finish, and fourth straight trip to the state semi-finals after avenging an earlier loss to Whitefish, their second win over Whitefish in as many years.  Unfortunately the Bandits' energy had run out in their meeting with the eventual state champions, Bozeman, in the semi-finals.  And, despite the final score against Helena in the Third place game, their improvement over a two week period at the end of the season was leaps-and-bounds.  The team will look forward to the next season, when after losing six seniors they will still return a large core group of the team and have a strong incoming freshman class and JV players transitioning up.

The Bandits placed one player on the All-State team, Parker Trost, who garnered unanimous 1st team votes at midfield.  Parker Trost finished the season with 3.14 ppg (25 goals, 19 assists), and was a constant threat who garnered double and triple teams all game, but maintained the vision needed to be a factor in getting his teammates involved.  He also added 41 GB's.  Parker was awarded the team's Offensive Player of the Year.  AJ Graff was awarded defensive player of the year, with 46 GB's, only one penalty minute, and countless interceptions.  The team's Ironman award went to Skyler Christaens, who despite a slow start battling some injuries, he managed 114 of 189 from the faceoff X for 60 percent, 82 GB's (6.8 per game), and a couple of goals to go with four assists.  The team's Most Improved Player, went to Ethan Scilley, who showed massive improvement throughout his first year playing lacrosse.


2017 - West Billings Bandits Varsity (12-4, 3rd Place)
Spenser Kuhn (HC), Joe Lipskis (OC), Torin Zonfrelli
 Brynn Schwarz (GM)

2017 - West Billings Bandits Junior Varsity

Mike Webb (HC), Ryan Wilson (SC), Garrett Compton (AC), Jake Vopel (AC)

In its fourth full season, the West Billings Bandits lacrosse team took on a bit of a new identity as a scoring powerhouse, averaging 14 goals per game, their highest ever.  Backed by captains Blake Allred, Parker Jones, Jackson Pollock, and Caleb Trost, senior leaders at every position - the team was senior-heavy, 10 in all - and finally able to split into a Varsity and a Junior Varsity, the team enjoyed tremendous success.  There were 35 players in all this year, the most yet.  The early season shootout was changed to Gillette, WY in an attempt to help springboard a fledgling team there.  The team started off on a four-game winning streak before coming into an early season match-up with Hellgate.  Although walking away with a loss, it was the most goals ever scored on a Hellgate team (13) and the closest a game had ever been (5 goals) during their dynasty run of five years.  At halftime the score was a one-goal differential.  This loss set off a seven-game winning streak where the team scored an average of over 19 goals per game and allowing just under five per game.  However, during a weekend in Great Falls, ultimately meaningless to state standings before playoffs, the team saw defeat to both Bozeman and Kalispell in two tough games marred by injuries and penalties, with the offense unable to get rhythm and the defense allowing too many early goals.  Regrouping, the team prepared for state playoffs and came into Great Falls with a chip on their shoulder.  They defeated a determined Flathead team in a battle, 6-4, to prepare for a rematch with Hellgate.  In a game that was back-and-forward for the majority of the first quarter, Hellgate commanded a five-goal lead at halftime.  However, this season's team trusted in one-another to never quit; getting the game back to a two goal differential after the third quarter.  The final quarter saw Hellgate seize control again, though the Bandits gave them a fight to the end, losing 11-16.  The Bandits could take pride knowing they shut down the consensus top player in the state and won the face off battle, but a hardened team full of Senior, multiple-championship winners is tough to beat.  In the end, the coaches and players knew the team left everything they could have had on the field.  

The Bandits placed four players on the all-state teams including Parker Jones (1st), Jackson Pollock (1st), Blake Allred (2nd), Parker Trost (2nd).  Parker Jones put up the best offensive numbers in the state; 86 points (5.38 ppg) with 60 goals (3.75 gpg) and 26 assists (1.73 apg), and was awarded the team's Offensive Player of the Year.  Jackson Pollock had another tremendous year; 77 points (5.13 ppg) with 46 goals (3.07 gpg) and 31 assists (2.07 apg).  Pollock also went 97 of 133 at the X (73%) while sharing face off duties with Skyler Christaens (131 of 201, 65%), who was awarded the Ironman Award.  Blake Allred was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year, having collected 65 ground balls (4.06 gbpg), limiting time spent in the penalty box to just four minutes while forcing offenses to work away from him or his side.  Blake also recorded four points on one goal and three assists.  Doug Mowat, the freshman goalie in his first year for the JV team, won the Most Improved award.


2016 - West Billings HS Team (13-2, 3rd Place)

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Brynn Schwarz (GM), Joe Lipskis (OC), Mike Webb (Sideline Coord), Ryan Wilson (AC) 

2016 turned into what could be seen as the transitional year between a fledgling program finding its groove and a powerhouse team in the Eastern Division.  The West Billings team adopted the mascot of the Bandits.  The squad approached 31 players, just a handful less than what's needed to establish a JV squad.  The team started out 9-0 heading into an away game at Sentinel and a neutral game against Flathead without its starting goalie in early May.  After beating Sentinel the squad moved to 10-0, its best start ever, but the day ended 1-1, with the Bandits recording their first loss against Flathead.  The squad earned a #1 seed out of the East and a bye at the State Tournament after posting a 5-0 record against East Division opponents, outscoring them by an average of 11-3.  With most games in hand at half time, the back up squad got a huge amount of playing time in almost every game during the regular season, while also allowing their opponents an opportunity to compete, a big display of sportsmanship in a state where lacrosse is young and scores often out-of-hand.  The team finished 2-1 at the State Tournament held in Missoula, defeating Sentinel 16-4 setting up a rematch with Bozeman in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.  Although the team lost that evening under the lights to a scrappy, yet well-prepared Bozeman squad 6-11, they rebounded the next morning for some revenge, defeating Flathead 7-6 and earned the club's first placing at State, taking home the bronze.  LaxPower had a final rating of 2nd in the state for the Bandits. 

The Bandits placed 4 players on the All-State teams; Jackson Pollock (1st), Logan Kern (1st), Caleb Trost (1st), and Blake Allred (2nd).  They had two players earn State Sportsmanship and Leadership Awards (Caleb Trost and Jackson Pollock) and Coach Kuhn earned the State Leadership Coach of the Year.


2015 - West Billings HS Team (11-6, 4th Place)

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Brynn Schwarz (GM), Joe Lipskis (OC), Mike Webb (AC)

2015 was a magical season and a banner year for Billings lacrosse.  With the West program now under the guidance of Yellowstone Valley Lacrosse, the program flourished with senior leadership and resolve.  The team went 3-1 in overtime games (2-0 in double overtime) including a thrilling playoff victory in double overtime against Flathead, with the whole state watching.  The win capped a 5-goal rally in the 4th quarter and was put away when Jake Vopel finished a rebound in front of cage, sending the crowd into a ruckous and the team into a semi-final matchup with Bozeman.  Although the team inevitably lost against Bozeman and subsequently against Helena to finish for fourth place, it set team and city records for wins, goals scored, goals allowed, assists, and a best finish ever for a Billings lacrosse team. 

Logan Kern (1st team), Jake Vopel (2nd team), Jackson Pollock (2nd team), and Caleb Trost (2nd team) received all-state honors.


2014 - West Billings HS Team (5-7)

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Brynn Schwarz (Gen Mgr), Joe Lipskis (Off Coord)

Still under guidance of Billings Scorpions, the HS team was split up into East and West entities and West Billings Lacrosse was born.  The West team was young and inexperienced, with 18 underclassmen out of 21 total players.  The team had a strong year considering the youth, finishing a respectable 5-7.  In the state playoffs, West narrowly missed a chance to defeat a Helena team that had beaten West easily to start the year.  Despite the playoff loss, the team showed great progress throughout the season and promise heading into the next year.  It was also the best record ever for a Billings team.  

Jake Vopel (1st team) and Logan Kern (2nd team) received all-state honors, with Jackson Pollock and Caleb Trost each earning Honorable Mention.


2013 - Billings Scorpions HS Team (1-11)

Spenser Kuhn (HC), Brynn Schwarz (Ast. HC), Joe Lipskis (Ast. C)

The 2013 season was full of seniors and close games.  2 losses in overtime including a 3OT loss to Big Sky to start the year would set the stage for a tough, yet close season.  The team went 1-11, with 7 of those losses decided by 5 goals or less and six of those decided by less than 3 goals.  The team won its first game against an opponent from outside of Montana (Grand Cities, MN), which was unfortunately the lone win all year.  The team's leaders included all-state goalie (1st team all-state) and defender of the year Sal Principe who went on to play collegiately at the University of Great Falls and all-state (2nd team) midfielder Ryan Wilson, who joined the YVL coaching staff in 2016.  Jake Vopel had a break-out season at attack and received all-state honors (2nd team) as did Logan Kern (honorable mention).


2012 - Billings Scorpions HS Team (1-10)

Brynn Schwarz (Head Coach)

The 2012 season marked the beginning of lacrosse for Billings, MT.  With all beginnings it was a difficult road as the club struggled to keep a constant amount of players to attend games, often limiting substitutions to less than a handful of kids on the sidelines.  The team struggled in games, finding the back of the net to be difficult to hit.  The team kept their enthusiasm for the game, setting up the program to be one full of heart, regardless of the score.




Varsity alumni from the West Billings program's history:


Name Position Graduated College (Lacrosse Position/Sport Played)
Garrett Compton* M/LSM 2013 Montana State University/Bismarck State College; former BSL U13 Coach; current assistant coach for West Billings
Sal Principe*
G
2013
University of Great Falls (G)
Jeff Wilson*
M
2013
Montana State University-Billings; former BSL U15 Coach
Ryan Wilson*
M
2013
Montana State University-Billings; current assistant coach for West Billings
Daniel "Brick" Chizek*
LSM/D
2013
Montana State University (D/LSM)
Sam Bochy*
A/M
2013
Montana State University
Stephan Meyer*
A
2013
Southwestern University
Brady Halsten*
D
2014
Johnson & Wales University-Denver (D)
Xander Muessig*
M/A
2014

Will Stephenson*
A
2014
University of Montana (A)
Cody McCombs
M
2015
University of Montana (Football)
Michael Porter
LSM
2015
Montana State University
Krueger Stiles**
D
2015
Montana State University-Billings
Zachary Sukin**
M
2015
University of Washington
Jake Vopel**
A
2015
Montana State University
Gavin Compton
D/LSM/M
2016
Rocky Mountain College (Football)
Logan Kern**
D
2016
Montana State University
Tanner Wagner**
D
2016
Montana State University-Billings
Parker Elliot
M
2016
Montana State University
Austin Stauduhar**
A/D
2016
Montana State University-Billings
Bryley Woods
A
2016
Montana State University-Billings
Karver Kinne**
M/G
2016
Montana State University
Noah Huertas
A
2016

Brady Castellion** A/M 2017 Florida State University
Ty Johannes D 2017
Parker Jones**
A/M 2017 Montana State University (A)
Noah Nantes**
M 2017
Wyatt Nesset**
D 2017 Montana State University
Jackson Pollock**
M/A 2017 BYU-Idaho
Ben Sukin** M 2017 Colorado State University
Caleb Trost**
G 2017 Montana State University-Billings (Golf)
Hunter Weil D 2017 Dickinson State University (Football)
Tyson Yellowrobe A 2017 University of Montana
Matt O'BrienD/LSM2018Montana State University
Skyler ChristaensFOM2018USMC
Caelon GoesaheadM2018Montana State University
AJ GraffD2018Montana State University-Billings
Liam McCollumA2018University of Montana
Parker Trost**M2019Montana State University
Alex GranzellaFOM2019
Marshall OlingerD/G2019University of Minnesota
Aidan PotterA2019University of Montana (M)
Ethan WalkerM2019US Army
Jaron LudwickM2019US Army
Cedric CrowtherLSM2019
Jeran BarcusM2018US Army
Cole Egan**D/LSM2019Montana State University
Alex LustigA2019US Army
Doug MowatG2019North Dakota State University (G)
Kainum Fox-WeedG/D2019University of Montana (G)
Blake Allred**D2019University of Montana (Football)
Ethan FreyA2020Montana State University (A)
Hunter LucasA2020Harvard (A)
Keon Lockie**M2020Montana State University (M)
Ethan PrillM2020US Army



*Players played for Billings Scorpions HS teams prior to creation of Yellowstone Valley Lacrosse Club

**Four Year Varsity Player




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