One Timer: For the love (and growth) of the game

Lacrosse is a sport on the rise in Montana, or at least trying to rise.

Christopher Manley and the Northwest Sharp Shooters are Kalispell’s outlet into a sport that is massive in popularity in the Northeast — where Manley was raised — but lacking in some other regions.

“It’s still relatively new out here,” Manley said. “I grew up in upstate New York where it’s huge and has been around for years.”

In the Flathead Valley, the Sharp Shooters and the Northwest Avalanche high school program work to develop kids’ skills on the field and prepare them to potentially play in college either at the club or NCAA level.

“We are technically two nonprofits, but our youth feeds into the high school program,” Manley said. “We work together often.”

Manley also said the program will go to area schools and put on a learn-to-play class to showcase the sport.

In Montana there are two club-level programs — at Montana and Montana State — for both men and women. Both the Griz and Bobcat men’s teams just reached the national tournament in 2026, falling Monday in the first round.

Over the weekend, the Sharp Shooters were able to show off the sport in front of the Valley with the Northwest Shootout. Two days of matches at all levels, from first- and second-graders up to high schoolers, took the fields at Kidsport. In all, around 60 teams showed up.

“I think this is one of the biggest tournaments that we have held because we have high schoolers playing,“ Manley said. “We have had more youth here in the past, but with the high school teams, this year seems to be a bit bigger.”

Since the pandemic the sport has taken a hit, but Manley says that the Sharp Shooters are working with other Montana cities to help promote the sport and get more kids onto the field. The Shootout is a way to help.

“One of the challenges we have had with this tournament is that some of the programs can’t come with a full team, so we try and manipulate the schedule so that we can pull players from other teams and we can help them fill their roster spots,” Manley said.

He adds that the Shootout would not be possible without hours of work from volunteers and parents to help set up and tear down each day.

Manley is only in his second year with the program and after a season of coaching found himself taking the role of president.

When it was initially offered he thought maybe he was more suited for a coaches’ director role, but after a little coercing he took the position.

One thing is for sure, he does it all for the love of the game.

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.