Hallman to play at Memphis

Averi Hallman, a forward/midfielder from Mt. Spokane High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play women’s soccer at the University of Memphis, Tigers coach Brooks Monaghan announced.

“We have very high expectations for Averi,” Monaghan said. “She was recruited to play outside forward and could also play as a wide midfielder. She plays with tremendous pace and I believe that she comes in as one of the quickest players on our team.”

Hallman was the Greater Spokane League most valuable offensive player this fall, was all-state first-team this past season and honorable mention in 2007, and was a three-time All-GSL player.

Junior hockey

Keagan Little scored two goals and assisted on another to help the Castlegar Rebels (27-18-4) to a 5-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Spokane Braves (23-25-3) at Castlegar, British Columbia.

Connor Olstad scored Spokane’s lone goal early in the first period with help from Cody Mesick and Joel Stewart.

Bob Pond, Chad Trupp and Brent Lucente also scored for Castlegar.

College swimming

The Whitworth University men’s and women’s teams were each in first place after the first day of the three-day Northwest Conference championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

The Whitworth women won titles in three of five events to open a 29.5-point lead over Puget Sound.

Brittany Gressset won the 50-yard freestyle for the third time in her career in a meet-record time of 23.96 seconds.

Natalie Turner earned her third straight title in the 500 freestyle with a conference-record time of 4:57.57.

The Pirates also won the 200 freestyle relay.

Michael Woodward was Whitworth’s lone individual champ, taking the 500 freestyle in a meet-record 4:33.08.