Skyleigh Thompson is enjoying her last few days of Montana football

MISSOULA — Skyleigh Thompson grew up always wanting to be a Griz.

The Kalispell native dreamed of playing for Montana, the only NCAA Division I football program in the state. Little did she know how much of an impact the program would have on her four years later.

“The relationships are so much deeper than just the level of teammates,” Thompson said. “I’m surrounded by my best friends every day, and it’s a little sad that I don’t think I’ll get to hang out with them every day, but just enjoy it while I can.

“I think my main focus was to enjoy the ride. My dad always tells me, enjoy it, enjoy every moment, even when I’m nervous or, you know, travel sometimes can’t be ideal, but enjoy it just enjoy. Enjoy the people around you and ultimately have fun.”

Thompson was a record-setting high school soccer player at Flathead High School before joining the Grizzlies program, and in the fall of 2021, she saw significant playing time as the Griz won the Big Sky Conference soccer tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament. .

She played in 20 games and made 10 starts that season, eight of which were scheduled, including in the conference title game against Weber State and in the NCAA Tournament against Washington State.

Tommy Martino / University of Montana

“I think that set the tone for the rest of my career here. We have expectations here to win and work hard in everything we do,” she said. “And my freshman year, it was so nice to win the tournament, like I remember it was the coolest thing I ever did. Getting a ring. I was like, ‘What is that?’

“I came in and I knew I had to put my head down and work really hard to get where I wanted to. And you know, luckily I managed to get some playing time. The coaches are so good at recruiting people with the intention of making them better players.”

Over the next three years, Thompson became a full-fledged starter at Montana, where she developed into a star scorer for the Grizzlies.

Thompson thrived on her advantages as a fast and strong athlete, and last year as a junior she was an All-West Region selection, the Big Sky offensive MVP and a scholar All-American.

Six of her 11 career goals came last season, as the Griz once again became Big Sky champions in the regular season.

“I think you eventually get more confident as time goes on,” Thompson said. “The college game is so much different, especially at the Division I level, than high school in Montana and club football, right? So it’s just getting used to it, building more chemistry and relationships with the people around you, just playing to your strengths better understand as a player.”

As a senior, Thompson has drawn more attention from opponents and freed up others this year, and has also struggled with injuries during the campaign.

Tommy Martino / University of Montana

Still, she found a way to impress, and in her final run, Thompson helped the Grizzlies achieve yet another conference title, a goal the team achieved on Sunday.

“I think it was a little bit of a mental battle at first,” Thompson said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself because I want to improve as a footballer. It’s hard to see that when you don’t get the statistics you want initially, but sometimes you just do.” to take a step back and realize that you are growing in a different way. Ultimately, it’s team first, right? function.

“Knowing that I can contribute to the team in any way is the most important thing for me. And at the end of the day, just enjoying where I am and having fun with it.”

After college football wraps up, Thompson will graduate from UM in December with a degree in finance.

With 74 games and 4,205 career minutes played as a Grizzly, Thompson leaves a legacy at Montana as a local product who found success at the highest level.

“I’m so proud to be from Montana and to wear that across my chest every time I step on the field,” Thompson said. “So just being able to be someone that other people can look up to and see that it’s something you can do is incredible.

“It’s something I don’t take lightly, so I’m so happy that I’ve been able to achieve that and hopefully inspire the next generation of footballers as well. I feel so honored to be here and be around these girls and I am very grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey here. Without the people around me I could not have done this.”