Five 406 MT Sports writers debate sports in Five on Five

1. What was your favorite Montana sports story of the 2023-24 school year (high school or college)?

John Letasky: Billings West’s Keyan Hernandez was a clinician on the mat throughout his career. Watching him become the first Golden Bear to win four state wrestling titles and help his team to a state title repeat was a highlight.   

Jake Iverson: How about the Grizzlies, finally, finally knocking off NDSU in the semifinals? We don’t need to talk about what happened next. 

Chris Peterson: The Helena Capital girls softball team getting to play at Mike Miller field for the state tournament and winning four straight to send him into retirement as a state champion. 

Jeff Welsch: Watching Box Elder’s band of lifelong brothers led by Tracen Jilot win the Class C boys basketball title “for the (Chippewa-Cree) people” was inspiring.

Briar Napier: Driving five hours to a raucous Medicine Lake for the 6-Man title game and talking to the friendliest people you can meet on both sides. Truly the best of the best of Montana — and humanity.

2. How impressive of a feat is Bozeman’s Nathan Neil nearly breaking the four-minute mile as a high-schooler?

John Letasky: Sign him up for the Montana Mile. 

Jake Iverson: I don’t know if I could drive a four-minute mile. 

Chris Peterson: It’s incredible. He’s a machine. 

Jeff Welsch: As someone who shoots for 4-minute miles on my road bicycle, I’m in awe.

Briar Napier: I ran an 8:20 mile the other day, a time to be really proud of as an amateur. Nathan Neil could run over two miles in that time at his top speed. Outrageous stuff.

3. Can the underdog Dallas Mavericks take down the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals?

John Letasky: I hope not. While I don’t watch basketball as much anymore, the Celtics are still my team. 

Jake Iverson: Every great team needs a guy who, if he’s got the ball late, you’re like 95% confident he’ll score. Dallas has two. Hard to bet against that.

Chris Peterson: It can happen, but it finally feels like Boston’s year. 

Jeff Welsch: Sure, but can we have Dirk Nowitzki play Larry Bird one-on-one at halftime just to make it a little more interesting?

Briar Napier: This Celtics team is a buzzsaw, and with Luka having to go through a Western Conference gauntlet each year (Nuggets, Thunder, T-Wolves, etc;), this could be his best (only?) shot.

4. Which city needs a Big 4 sports team? 

John Letasky: I like Jeff’s answer. I’m not sure it would work, but if Montana would support that would be exciting. 

Jake Iverson: Honor Marty Robbins, one of our greatest musician-athletes (he regularly competed in NASCAR while racking up Grammys), and give me the El Paso Ballads. Any sport, as long as they’ve got a purple and yellow color scheme.  

Chris Peterson: Omaha, Nebraska seems big enough for one. I think a team in Montana would do better than expected though. 

Jeff Welsch: I say we revive the idea of an NFL team in Billings the way a national writer mapped it out some years ago.

Briar Napier: Austin is the easiest (and most likely) answer, but why not an NBA team in hoops-crazed Louisville? NFL on the blue turf in Boise? Rugged hockey around the cornfields of Des Moin … yeah, never mind. 

5.  Summer is ice cream season, so which flavor are you ordering when you get a bowl, cone or shake?

John Letasky: Probably a Twist cone with chocolate and vanilla or just plain old chocolate soft serve. 

Jake Iverson: This is a child’s opinion, but I can’t resist cookie dough. If you’re gonna have a treat, just go all in. 

Chris Peterson: Cookie dough. Always. 

Jeff Welsch: Don’t take my man card from me, but … bubble gum.

Briar Napier: The default for me is mint chocolate chip, but Big Dipper’s yellow cake shake in downtown Billings holds a special place in my heart.