Coach returns to no season

 

April 23, 2020

The coach for all seasons is now a coach for no season, until further notice.

A coach for sports of all kinds during all seasons of the school year during his long run at Thompson Falls High School and other places, Gary Thompson has returned as head coach of the Blue Hawk golf team – if only there was a season to coach right now.

He has the team, just no season to participate in. At least not yet at any rate.

Locked out of competition like everyone else in the country by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Thompson returned to his position at head coach after serving for a few as Mike Bates' assistant. Bates recently left the Thompson Falls area, leaving the program back in Thompson's capable hands.

Famous for leading the Hawk boys to the State B golf championship in 2015, having also served on the staff of the 2012 State B-C softball champion Lady Hawks, and on the staffs of the boys basketball and the football teams in the past, Thompson has coached every sport around here but tennis it seems.

But, oh yeah, he also enjoyed a wildly successful career coaching tennis earlier in his educational career in Texas, taking a new program and producing quality individuals and teams during his stay in the Lone Star State.

Thompson was again having subtle championship dreams with this golf team of 2020.

Senior Ethan Brown and junior Megan Baxter, Thompson Falls' two returning State B tournament players, were back to lead the Hawk boys and girls, and each figured to have prime opportunities ahead of them this spring.

After winning an impressive fourth place in last year's State B after earning State B medalist honors as a sophomore, Brown was likely hoping to make an individual title run this spring. Brown saved his best for last in 2019, carding consecutive rounds of 77, his best efforts of the season, in the State B tourney.

"Ethan had an opportunity to do something special this year," Thompson said. "We hope we can still get something worked out for later this spring as far as playing goes, but we will just have to wait and see about that."

Freshman Ellie Baxter, junior Jolia Buchanan and senior Reagan Hanks were also on board for the Lady Hawks, and junior Nathan Ostwald had joined Brown in practicing for the Hawk boys in early March before being shut down.

Thompson said Johnny Thomas had signed on to help coach the Hawk golf team and was doing well in that role until the season was shut down.

"We were hoping to get enough girls for a scoring team, and Ethan and Nathan both looked strong for the boys," Thompson said. "We are disappointed but will continue to hold out hope."

Thompson said he has encouraged his golfers to play at least three rounds a week just in case play is resumed.

 

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