First, Literally Speaking was last published in 2012 – my last year as sports editor at the Anaconda Leader. Thanks to the ownership of that business, all publications were halted the week of graduation due to reasons never clearly being divulged. Although it is a huge loss to a small community losing a news source many counted on for consistent notifications of events and community happenings, you won’t be seeing this guy feeling that sorry about its demise. What I am sorry to see is the product started by Dean Neitz in the 70s fall apart in his stead.
The worst part about losing a verifiable news source – even if the majority of the written word only came to appease its advertisers – is now the lemmings will flock to Anaconda based social media sites to get its news. That’s not only sad, but dangerous. Individuals battling for clicks by taking news from other social media accounts and publishing as their own research or contributions are truly the saddest narcissists in our society. And the drama and misinformation is off the charts.
All hypocrisy aside, here I am asking for your clicks!! But quite honestly, I’m ok with debate, just as long as you all know I’m always right.
I’ll be composing regular, just not weekly columns detailing Copperhead athletics, touching on individual accomplishments that aren’t always covered in gamers. It will also allow me to vent on some random happenings in the community, because as Bill Foley likes to tell people, the Anaconda town crier needs his platform.
My thoughts will never need be stroked and caressed like our more fragile social media warriors asking for your prayers and back pats, however. And by all means, feel free to disagree. I’ll be okay.
I haven’t regularly written game coverage for several years. No excuse as to why, it just got away from me. I put a lot of resources into my former business at Anode Designs, and now that the fine people at Portson Designs in Butte are taking those reigns on coupled with the loss of the Leader, I thought it was time to get off my ass and make sure there’s a platform for the kids once again. And by the way, YES, Levi, Rachel and Maria are producing Copperhead gear. They can be reached at https://www.portsondesigns.com.
Looking back to Friday, there were several storylines I found interesting. Here’s my list on what I saw that piqued my interest.
Eighth graders up for volleyball: For the first time ever, Anaconda will have eighth graders participating at the high school level in volleyball. And it’s not because the numbers are down, these girls are really, really good. Maizee Mitchell earned a varsity jersey as a middle blocker and Hadley Collins, Reagan Shelleberg, Pressley Stainer and Paitlyn Krum – who didn’t play in the game but will figure into the frosh/JV teams – all provided a solid core to what I believe is a state tournament-caliber squad for the second year in a row. It’s a growing trend around Montana because of a variety of reasons, mostly due to additions of sports like flag football and wrestling on the girls side thinning out the overall numbers. But a bigger concern is the MHSA not really adopting the thoughts of allowing multi-sport participation due to conflicting tournament dates. That’s a discussion that really pushes the spring sports of track, softball and tennis rather than golf, volleyball and flag football in the fall, and one I will be going in on heavy in the future.
I’ll get into the full team once the rosters are released this week as the ‘Heads go to the 6-7B Tip Off in Mission Saturday to kick off their season.
Football numbers are down but get ready for a really good year: Head coach Dan Lacey only has 27 players out for football, which will most likely put a lid on any hopes for a JV team. But the ones suiting up on Friday’s will be very competitive. Strengths of the team are the skill position groups – primarily on defense, led by a stacked linebacker corps and secondary that also correlates to playmakers on the offensive side of the ball as well. Anaconda will be in true Ironman football form with the lack of depth, but I will guarantee this, every opponent will know they are in for a battle. A little bit of a surprise will be the offensive line, a group that took the offseason training to heart.
Seniors LBs Soren Keeland and Gillie Everett along with junior Reid Maes will be probably the best linebacking corps in all of Class B, Soren’s little brother (in age only) sophomore DE Bohdi Keeland might be the best player nobody has heard of – one I compare to former Copperhead star and No. 37 for Montana Ciche Pitcher – ball-hawking junior safties Ryder Anderson and Carson Lacey along with the physicality and speed of senior CB Owen Pesanti will be the focal point of the squad.
Offensively, it’s Ryder Anderson’s team now hoping to follow the blueprint of breakout record-breaking QB stud Travis Dye from a season ago. Soren Keeland returns to the backfield while Everett, Bohdi Keeland, Pesanti, Lacey Rory Cromwell will all be pass catching threats in various sets.
But the best part of the Blue-Silver scrimmage for me? Freshman Owen Arthur getting a pick-6 and celebrating with my son and good buddy Trevin and other underclassmen in the end zone. The freshman class for some reason lost a lot of players from last year, and good athletes who chose to not play football. It’s truly a shame, but what Arthur showed was even if you’re on the young side, you can still make an impact. Here’s my task for all of you readers, talk to those kids. Get them to participate if for nothing else to keep them out of trouble. Our coaching staff is excellent on both an Xs and Os level and also as motivators. They are truly missing out, and it hurts the team as a whole.
Even with the lack of numbers, I can’t wait to watch them take on defending state champion Manhattan this Friday. And remember, Anaconda played Manhattan better than almost anyone last year, losing 14-6 at home on opening night.
Alongside football and volleyball, cross country is also training hard for the start of the season. Once we touch base with head coach Josh Tone, we will give you the rundown on his teams for the season.
There’s plenty of room 2026-27 Copperhead Country Sponsors. New this year we will publish Athletes of the Week and of course the normal sponsorships of each broadcast. That list in no certain order will be: Community Hospital of Anaconda, Dee Motors, Boyer Landscape, Design and Snow Removal, Ray Peterson Electric, Everett Cook Law, Skyline Sports, Nuanez Now on 102.9 ESPN Missoula, The Sammy Akem Show, Crawshaw Family McDonalds, AFFCo, Sawyer Plumbing, Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union, Shine PT+Wellness, Snubnose Hotrods, Messer Family Dentistry, Chuck’s Super Lube, Stageline Pizza and Jordi’s Cantina. If you’d like to join the list, reach out to copperheadcountry@gmail.com to see what sponsorship opportunities are available.
The website is constantly being updated for a new year of sponsors and viability. Please be patient as we work out the kinks.
Year 10 for Copperhead Country is starting on Friday, and it will be my 24th consecutive year broadcasting Copperhead athletics for KANA and Copperhead Country. Let’s go Copperheads!
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