Thompson, Perrin win 2025 AAU Little Sullivan Awards
MISSOULA — Stand up, Flathead Valley.
Skyleigh Thompson and Ben Perrin, two athletes from northwestern Montana who competed at Montana and Montana State, were honored as the Montana AAU Little Sullivan Award winners at the Holiday Inn in Missoula on Saturday.
Thompson, a Kalispell native and 2021 Flathead grad, was presented with the female Little Sullivan Award. The 2023 Big Sky Conference offensive MVP, she helped the Montana Grizzlies women's soccer team earn two Big Sky regular season titles, one tournament title and one NCAA tournament berth.
Montana forward Skyleigh Thompson dribbles downfield during the college soccer game between Montana and Colorado College at South Campus Stadium in Missoula on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Perrin, a Kalispell native and 2019 Flathead grad, was honored with the male Little Sullivan Award. In 2024, the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier helped the Montana State men's track and field team win its first Big Sky outdoor title since 2005 by placing second in the 5,000 and third in the 10,000.
Other men's finalists were: Tommy Mellott, football, Montana State, Butte; Junior Bergen, football, Montana, Billings; and Weston Timberman, rodeo, Clarendon College (Texas), Columbus.
Other women's finalists were: Katharine Berkoff, Olympic swimming, Missoula; Allie Olsen, volleyball, Utah, Great Falls; and Dani Bartsch, basketball, Montana, Helena.
Montana State’s Ben Perrin races to the finish during the Big Sky cross country championships at the University of Montana Golf Course, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
The Montana AAU handed out additional awards.
The Outstanding Contributor award went to Dave Bennetts. Billings' Metra Park received the Outstanding Service award.
The AAU Outstanding Wrestler awards: Northeast, Angelina Escarcega, Poplar Wrestling Club, and Reece Graves, Sidney Wrestling Club; South Central, Kaitlyn Thorn, Big Game Wrestling Club, and Chris Acuna, Darkhorse Wrestling Club/ Montana Disciples; Southeast, Hayden Raemaker, Project Wrestling Club; and West, Tirza TwoTeeth, Ronan Wrestling, and Kale Baumann, North Montana Wrestling Club.
Montana USA Wrestling handed out other awards.
The Angie Buckley Award went to Kaitlyn Thorn. The Gordon Smith Award was given to Kale Baumann. The Marie Hatcher Award was presented to Jeff Anderson. Steve Komac and Matt Atwood took home the Coach's Award. The Official's Award went to Blake Love and Dave Bennetts. Gordon Smith, David Edington, and Gene Davis were chosen for the Hall of Fame.
The Montana AAU/USAW triple crown winners were announced.
The boys winners: 8U Cael Penrose, Oliver Heist-Levine and Connor Sweat; 10U Ry-den Garcia, Noah Hollamon, Saul Heist-Levine and Tavin Lamarr; 12U Aiden Gaarcia, Braeden Neil and Quinn Salois; 14U Joel Alves, Cuyler Clark, Zakary Acuna, Rafe Willson and Karter Whitish; 16U Aaron Schmitz; and 18U Christopher Acuna.
The girls winners: 8U Marley Seen and Khloe Alvarado; 10U Sadie Sweat; 12U Aubrey Mclaughlin, Brylee Janes and Leimana Fandrich; 14U Ashlyn McCann, Venyss Steingruber and Trinity Stoner;16U Araeya Nelson; and 18U Destiny Finley.
The inaugural Belt Series Champions were presented by Montana USAW.
The girls winners: 6U Kymber Fonger, 8U Braleigh Fonger, 10U Maybelle Larson, 12U Andreya Redfox, 14U Isabella Mikesell, 16U Araeya Nelson and 18U Kaelynn Vanderpool.
The boys winners: 6U Mickey Eckhardt, 8U Owen Hollman, 10U Noah Hollaman, 12U Archer Lusby, 14U Lavontae Morigeau, 16U Colten Conover and 18U Beaudry Payne.
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at [email protected].
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