the Bozeman Hawks Local athletes garner post-season accolades by Danny Waldo
After leading the Bozeman Hawks to their first state title since 2010, a pair of seniors were rewarded by being named to the All-State team for the 2018-19 high school basketball season.
Seniors Ryan Simpson and Ryan Lonergan both received first team recognition after leading Bozeman to a last-second overtime victory over Missoula Hellgate in Butte. Junior Carter Ash, who played a key role in the Hawks’ game-winning play, received second team recognition.
Simpson and Lonergan will both hang up their basketball shoes in exchange for football cleats as they each will be playing football at the next level come the fall, albeit as rivals, not teammates. Simpson signed to play wide receiver for the Grizzlies, while Lonergan will stay home and play tight end for the Bobcats. Ash will be returning to lead the Hawks in defense of their state title in 2020.
On the girls’ side, after a disappointing finish to the 2018-19 season that saw Bozeman miss the state tournament after being knocked out in divisionals, the Lady Hawks received some good news as senior Ayla Embry was named to the first team. Fellow senior Ava Westphal was the only other Hawk to receive recognition. She garnered honorable mention accolades for her efforts in guiding Bozeman to the No. 3 seed heading into the divisional tournament.
As with the boys, Embry will be handing in her basketball shoes for a volleyball uniform as she will suit up for the the Rocky Mountain College Bears volleyball program in the fall. Embry also received all-state recognition in volleyball after guiding Bozeman to a runner-up finish at state in November. •
