By Danny Waldo
Boy’s Season Outlook: Head Coach – Wes Holmquist (8th Season)
Last Season – 4th @ State
Coming off their most successful season since their state title winning team of 2011, the Bozeman Hawks look poised to add another trophy to the display case, thanks to a number of key contributors returning for head coach Wes Holmquist in his eighth season at the helm of the Hawks. Bozeman dressed just three seniors a year ago, and while that lack of experience showed in the early part of the season, it provided the opportunity to develop some younger players, which should pay dividends this year. Tops among the returnees this season for Bozeman is senior Aaron Weidenaar, a recent Central Arkansas commit. When Weidenaar was healthy last season, he proved to be a difficult matchup for opposing defenses, as Great Falls High found out in the State AA tournament after Weidenaar dropped 31 on them in loser-out action. At 6’7″, Weidenaar is easily Bozeman’s tallest player, but injuries sidelined him for good chunks of time last year. The Hawks will need him healthy to deal with some of the taller lineups they’ll face this season.
Another top returner for Bozeman is fellow senior Bennett Hostetler, arguably one of the top athletes in the entire state of Montana. Hostetler recently committed to North Dakota State to play baseball, but he could have had his choice of sports to play in college. Hostetler doesn’t put up gaudy numbers, but he shows up everywhere in the box score, namely in the assists and steals department. Holmquist will look to Bennett to create shot opportunities for himself and others. Two other players expected to see expanded roles this season are senior Trace Bradshaw and junior Drew Huse. Bradshaw is fresh off of punishing opposing tacklers on the Hawks’ AA title winning football team, and he will be counted on to bring some of that physicalness to the basketball court. No player on Bozeman had a stronger finish to the 2014-15 season, and Holmquist hopes Bradshaw’s strong finish from last year will carry over to this year.
Meanwhile, Huse will be expected to pick up the point production lost when his older brother, Adam, graduated last year. Hawk fans need not worry. The younger Huse possesses the same silky smooth jumper as his big brother, and opposing defenses better be prepared to guard him as soon as he crosses half court. In addition to those four, Bozeman has a stable of athletic, talented juniors to provide scoring and defense, making this one of Holmquist’s deeper teams, which could spell trouble for fellow Class AA opponents. If the Hawks can stay healthy, they should have no problem improving upon their fourth place finish from a season ago. •
