Lacrosse is carving out its place in Montana, and the Northwest Sharp Shooters are leading the charge in Kalispell. For Christopher Manley, the sport is a passion project rooted in his upbringing in upstate New York, where lacrosse is a way of life. "It's still relatively new out here," Manley says, reflecting on the challenge of growing the game in a region where it's not yet a household name.

The Sharp Shooters, alongside the Northwest Avalanche high school program, are building a pipeline from youth to college play. "We are technically two nonprofits, but our youth feeds into the high school program," Manley explains. "We work together often." The program also visits local schools to host learn-to-play clinics, introducing the sport to new faces and future players.

Montana's lacrosse scene is gaining traction, with club-level programs at the University of Montana and Montana State University for both men and women. Both the Griz and Bobcat men's teams recently made the national tournament in 2026, falling in the first round—a sign that the sport's roots are deepening in Big Sky Country.

This past weekend, the Sharp Shooters showcased their growth with the Northwest Shootout at Kidsport. Over two days, 60 teams from first-graders to high schoolers competed, making it one of the largest tournaments yet. "I think this is one of the biggest tournaments we've held because we have high schoolers playing," Manley says. "We've had more youth here in the past, but with the high school teams, this year seems to be a bit bigger."

The pandemic dealt lacrosse a tough blow, but Manley and the Sharp Shooters are collaborating with other Montana cities to revitalize the sport. The Shootout is a key part of that effort, with a flexible approach to roster challenges. "Some programs can't come with a full team, so we manipulate the schedule to pull players from other teams and help fill roster spots," Manley notes.

Behind the scenes, volunteers and parents pour in hours of work to make the event possible. Manley, now in his second year with the program, initially hesitated to take on the role of president, thinking he was better suited as a coaches' director. But a little persuasion changed his mind, and he now leads with one clear motivation: love for the game.