Locally: Michnal wins big air snowboarding event

Caden Michnal, representing Schweitzer Mountain Resort, won first place for boys snowboarders in the big air competition at the 2007 Sports Illustrated KIDS Next Snow Search on March 2-4 at Killington Resort, Vt.

Michnal, 13, who earned a place on the honorary SI KIDS Next Snow Search Team, earned a spot in the three-day event by winning Schweitzer’s qualifier. He competed in Vermont against 110 kids aged 9-14.

“Valerie Reynolds, 16, of Spokane, who attends Gonzaga Prep and is a USA Snowboarding All-American, was named to the organization’s snowboardcross women’s team for the 2007 FIS Snowboard Junior World Championships next month in Austria.

“Will Brandenburg of Spokane, competing for the U.S. Ski Team development squad at the FIS Junior World Championships in Altemarkt, Austria, was fifth in the downhill March 6.

The Mead High School graduate finished 14th in the giant slalom three days later and skied off the course and was disqualified in his first slalom run the next day.

The U.S. failed to reach the podium and finished in a three-way tie for sixth with Sweden and France.

College scene

Kody Anderson, a sophomore outfielder on the Community Colleges of Spokane baseball team from Shadle Park, was named the school’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Month for February.

Anderson, who has a 3.57 grade-point average, hit safely in all four games in a season-opening tournament at Treasure Valley and also made several big defensive plays, the CCS release noted.

The female award went to Amy Danielson of Kennewick, a sophomore on the track team.

Danielson, the NWAACC hammer throw champion last spring as a freshman, opened this season with a school record in the indoor weight throw of 50 feet, 4 inches to place third at the McDonald’s meet.

“Dana Sanford of Coeur d’Alene (Lake City), a senior at Drew University, qualified for the 2007 NCAA Men’s Fencing Championships by finishing fifth in the Mid/Atlantic South Regionals last weekend.

He earned All-America honors for his nationals finish as a freshman and also competed in the event as a sophomore. This year’s meet will be on the Drew campus in Madison, N.J., next weekend.

“Greg Biagi of Colfax, the junior shortstop on the Dakota State University baseball team, leads the team with 23 hits, 19 RBIs and three home runs and is second in runs scored with 17.

The NAIA school in Madison, S.D., has started the season 18-0 and is ranked 17th nationally.

“Andrew Fuller, a former Community Colleges of Spokane track star from Tacoma, took fifth place in the 1,000 meters at the NAIA National Indoor Championships to earn an All-America award.

Fuller also was a member of the second-place 4x800 relay for Virginia Intermont. The school placed fourth in the men’s division.

Cross country

Jessica Law from Clarkston has signed a letter of intent with Lewis-Clark State College, Warriors coach Mike Collins announced.

Law is the fourth female runner and seventh freshman to sign with LCSC for the fall. The men’s team earlier signed Law’s Clarkston classmate, Jon Kane.

Soccer

Cari Hachmann from Beaverton, Ore., will transfer from Chico State to play for Idaho, Vandals coach Pete Showler announced.

Hachmann, a midfielder, scored two goals in six games for Chico State last season as a freshman after scoring 62 goals with 30 assists during her high school career.

“Cari is a huge signing for us,” Showler said. “She was one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation last year.”

Volleyball

Mandy Peone, a 5-foot-3 setter from Reardan High School, has signed a Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges letter of intent to attend Big Bend CC in Moses Lake, Vikings coach Michael De Hoog announced.

Peone is a two-time first-team All-Bi-County League selection.

Miscellany

The University of Idaho will stage Vandalfest 2007 on April 14 at the Decades Banquet Room, 10502 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.

A 6 p.m. social hour will be followed by dinner and an auction at 7. Cost is $45 per person.

It’s designed to have the Idaho contingent including president Tim White, athletic director Rob Spear and coaches meet and greet past, present and future Vandals.

Info: Judi Thompson, (208) 301 2213 or judi_thompson@hotmail.com, or Chris Codd, (509) 939-9411 or chriscodd@hotmail.com.