by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
The Hamilton girls flag football team won the 2025 Class A State Championship on Thursday, October 2 in Hamilton by defeating East Helena 7-0 in the championship game.
“I’m so proud of the girls,” said Mitchell Wassam, Hamilton’s flag football head coach. “They showed up every day, they competed hard and worked hard. The team was overcome with emotions when we won, everyone was so full of joy and excitement.”
The championship game was a defensive battle as Hamilton held East Helena scoreless. Hamilton quarterback Aubrey Korst scored the game’s only touchdown on a 4-yard run. Hamilton’s defense didn’t allow any points in the state tournament.
Hamilton’s Mariah Johnson (#10) returns a punt 39 yards for a touchdown in Hamilton’s 29-0 semifinal victory over Lockwood at the Class A State Flag Football tournament in Hamilton on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Photo by Scott Sacry.
“Our defense was one of our strengths this season,” said Wassam. “The girls played hard and were very intense on defense. I think East Helena only got across midfield once in the championship game.”
There were five teams in the Class A bracket. Hamilton defeated Lockwood 29-0 in the semifinal game on Wednesday to punch their ticket to the championship game. For Hamilton in the Lockwood game, Aubrey Korst had a 5-yard TD run, Korst had a 14-yard TD pass to Casey Kennedy, Mariah Johnson had a 39-yard punt return for a TD, and Korst had a 9-yard TD pass to Mariah Johnson.
Hamilton became the first Class A state champion in flag football – last year all the Montana teams competed in one class. This season there were three classes for flag football: AA, A and B/C.
Hamilton’s Aubrey Korst (#14) grabs a flag off a Lockwood runner in Hamilton’s 29-0 victory over Lockwood at the Class A Flag Football tournament in Hamilton. Hamilton’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown at the state tournament. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Hamilton lost their first two games this season, then finished the season winning seven straight.
“Although there were only five Class A teams this season, we played many of the best AA and B/C schools during the year,” said Wassam. “We beat both Glacier and Hellgate, and they finished first and second at state for AA. So the girls took a lot of pride in that.”
Hamilton hosted all three state tournaments on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and Thursday, Oct. 2. In total, there were 21 flag football teams competing in the three tournaments. Glacier defeated Missoula Hellgate to win the AA title, and Three Forks defeated Jefferson to win the B/C title.
“It was such a fun season and the girls really enjoyed competing,” said Wassan. “It was great to host the state tournaments this year. There were a lot of young girls who came to watch us play, so I think it will help recruit girls to come out in the future.”