Montana
Learning alongside world's best has Montana gymnast Reese Esponda ready to fly
MISSOULA — The Olympics recently wrapped up this summer, a memorable run that brough the world’s top athletes to Paris to compete.
For one Montanan, that stage in 2028 is firmly in her sights.
Meet Reese Esponda, a Helena native who has been swiftly climbing the ranks in the gymnastics world, a sport from a young age she knew she wanted to pursue.
“I was watching Gabby Douglas in the 2012 Olympics, and I was doing, like, headstands,” Esponda told MTN Sports earlier this summer. “I was like, ‘Mom, I want to do that.’ And then I started.
“My biggest goal is to make the Olympics, hopefully in 2028, that’s my goal. But we’ll see.”
That was age 3 when she started. Now at age 15, the energetic and young athlete is one of the decorated up-and-coming talents in U.S. gymnastics.
And it all started in Montana, where Reese would train at Gym 406 in Helena before her and her mother moved to Missoula in 2020 to advance her skills. In Missoula she competed and worked at Roots Gymnastics & Dance.
It was a challenging dynamic with the rest of the Esponda family staying put in Helena, but the family saw Reese’s potential, so they did everything to make it work.
“People kind of looked at us and said, ‘What are you doing?’ recalled Lindsay Esponda, Reese’s mother. “It’s just a sport we couldn’t take away from her. She works harder than anybody I know, and day in and day out, puts in the hours. The frustration level sometimes gets high, but she always does with a smile on her face and just a great, great drive.”
In Missoula, Reese began to excel, and fly.
In 2022 she began to break through by competing at the Hopes Championships.
Then in 2023, it ramped up even more with appearances at the Winter Cup, the American Classic, the Core Hydration Classic and the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships, with reappearances at most of those meets in 2024.
She made the U.S. Junior National Team late in 2023, and earlier this year competed in Azerbaijan, meaning she made the brief jump to the senior national team.
“Just like, getting to experience it all,” Reese said. “Not a lot of people get to experience what I’ve got to experience from their sport. So that’s super cool. I was like I can keep improving. I can keep getting better. And my coaches always told me, like, you can be good if you keep working hard.”
“She sets her mind to something, and she does it, and that’s really been her journey throughout the entire process of getting where she is right now,” Lindsay added.
Esponda has been climbing ever since, and earlier this year, Reese and Lindsay again relocated, this time to Texas as Reese joined the elite World Champions Centre near Houston, where she trains everyday alongside one of the greatest athletes of all time in Simone Biles along with star and Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles.
In the past she’s competed against them, and now, the Montanan gets to call some of the best gymnasts in the world her teammates.
“It’s really cool, because they know what they’re doing,” Reese said. “I can look to them and ask them questions. I’ve never been able to do that before. So having them is super nice. It’s super cool and inspiring because they’re doing like, the big skills, and then I can talk to them and ask them questions about when they were building up to those skills, like how to do it.”
The sky’s the limit for Esponda, as she aims to complete her goals to show a gymnast from Montana can make it on the grandest of stages.
“She’s still in there, working hard every day, and I think her goal is 2028 and we’ll see what happens,” Lindsay said. “It’ll be fun to watch.”
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 13, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 13 drawing
01-28-31-57-58, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 13 drawing
12-18-19-24-35, Lucky Ball: 17
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 13 drawing
20-26-27-32-46, Star Ball: 08, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 13 drawing
04-06-11-31, Bonus: 09
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 13 drawing
01-16-18-31-37
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana reached the 100-point mark for the third time this season, winning 102-46 over the Salish Kootenai Bison. The Grizzlies improved to 6-5 on the season with the win.
As a team, Montana shot 70.5 from the floor and 44.0 percent from three-point range. It’s the first time since 1968 that Montana has shot over 70 percent from the floor in a game. It’s also the 5th best shooting percentage by a D-I team this season.
Money Williams had a double-double, his third of the season, finishing with 10 points and 11 assists. It’s the second time in Williams’ career that he has finished with 10 assists in a single game.
He wasn’t the only Grizzly to reach double figures in the assist department. Tyler Isaak recorded his first career double-double with a new career high 10 assists to go along with 16 points. It’s the first time in program history that two different players have recorded 10 or more assists in the same game.
It was a highly efficient night for Isaak, who played just 24 minutes and went 6-of-7 from the floor.
It was a complete team effort for Montana with 10 of the 11 players dressed scoring in the contest. Connor Dick (15) and Amari Jedkins (13) both scored career highs in the victory.
The Missoula kid can get 🆙#GrizHoops | @ConnorDick9 pic.twitter.com/YOg1yczxKD
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 11, 2025
The Grizzlies had seven players reach double figures, the most in a single game in program history. Te’Jon Sawyer (13), Brooklyn Hicks (13), and Tyler Thompson (11) joined the previously four mentioned players in double figures.
The assists played a big role in that with Montana sharing the ball plenty. They recorded 30 team assists on the night, the second most in a game in program history. The Grizzlies had a 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the night.
alley oop ☝️➡️👇 pic.twitter.com/xRz6XC0yyQ
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 11, 2025
The Grizzlies held Salish Kootenai to just 27 percent shooting and a 6-of-30 (.200) mark from three-point range. Montana’s size played a huge factor on the night as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Bison 47-25 and outscored them 60-20 in the paint.
Montana scored 16 points off dunks as they broke out into the open court on several occasions for highlight reel slams. They also owned a 22-0 advantage in fastbreak points.
Montana jumped out to a 13-2 lead before the first media timeout and never looked back in win. They set the tone early from the three-point line, opening the game 4-of-7 from the arc to help build the early lead.
It was a balanced first half offensively and the Griz were able to go on five individual runs of at least six straight points with nine different players scoring in the opening 20 minutes. The Grizzlies went 8-of-17 from the arc and shot 65.5 percent from the field in the first half.
Williams’ 8th assist of the opening half went to Amari Jedkins. The Grizzly forward knocked down a corner three to send Montana into the halftime break ahead 50-17.
8th assist of the first half from @mxney___ as he finds Amari Jedkins for the corner three to send us into the half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UO9WGlnDeh
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 11, 2025
The Grizzlies didn’t let up in the second half, going on two separate 12-0 runs and winning the second period 52-29 for the big victory.
Montana will get a week off before returning home next Wednesday night to face Montana Tech at 7:00 p.m. The Orediggers are 8-3 on the season.
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