CHURCHILL — In 2019, Manhattan Christian star Caleb Bellach helped the Eagles win the Class C boys basketball state title, which helped him earn a spot at Montana State University. But after two years with the Bobcats, Bellach is looking to spread his wings and fly at Montana Tech.
“He’s always going to be a Bobcat, we’re always going to follow him and he’s always going to be a part of our family,” Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle said last week after Bellach entered his name in the transfer portal.
Bellach has nothing but good things to say about his time at MSU, but he felt it was best for him to go somewhere else and receive more playing time.
“The coaching staff and Montana State, they’re awesome," he said. "I grew so much as a player and a person there and I couldn’t be any more thankful for the friendships and relationships that I built with them. It was an awesome two years.”
That’s where Montana Tech and head coach Adam Hiatt come in.
“Everything (Hiatt) told me and everything that I want to see myself personally, he told me that I could come there and do that at Montana Tech," said Bellach. "I want to go win a Frontier Conference championship like my dad did, so I think it would be really awesome.”
Bellach will now follow in the footsteps of his father, Jeff, who is a Montana Tech Hall of Famer. Caleb Bellach's mother, Carly, attended the university as well.
“To go somewhere where my family -- that’s where they went and where they played, to go to a good program that’s coming up after being down a few years, they did a great job building that program and getting it back to where it needs to be," said Bellach. "Hopefully in the next few years we can take it to the next step and getting it higher.”
Winning that championship with Manhattan Christian was something Bellach will never forget, but he hopes going to the Orediggers will rekindle his joy for the game.
“Going on that run with my buddies and my friends, I want to find that joy in playing the game again, that’s what I’m looking for,” he said.
Lastly, he wants the Montana Tech community to know one thing.
“I’ll bring my best effort every day I put on the Digger uniform and I couldn’t be anymore excited," he said.
