’07 class taking bow in arena near you
Tennessee senior Angie Bjorklund (University) has been the headliner of the big Spokane-area Division I class of 2007.
Area fans got a chance to see Bjorklund two years ago when Tennessee paid a visit to Gonzaga. It is conceivable she will return to Spokane in the NCAA tournament. Bjorklund is the only Spokane native with a NCAA championship ring, earned her freshman year when she was the SEC Freshman of the Year. There have been ups and downs, including the Lady Vols’ first-round loss in the tournament her sophomore year.
“Angie is one of the best shooters ever to play in our program,” said legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summit. “She has worked hard at improving so many facets of her game and she takes great pride in it. By her example, Angie gives our team so much confidence and takes pressure off other players.”
Most of the impressive Division I class of 2007 reaches the end of the line and many of them pass through the Inland Northwest this season. Here’s a quick look at when you can catch them in action:
Jan. 8
Portland State’s Kelli Valentine (Mead) and Lexi Bishop (Shadle Park) help open Big Sky Conference play at Eastern.
Nov. 14 and Feb. 4
Portland’s Tara Cronin (Gonzaga Prep) brings the Pilots to Cheney on Nov. 14 and back to meet Gonzaga in WCC play on Feb. 4.
Feb. 17
Northern Arizona’s Jenna Galloway (Ferris) makes the trek north to take on EWU.
March 3
Montana State’s Lyndia Seidensticker (Lewis and Clark) visits Cheney the last weekend of the season.
Small colleges
There are almost more players out there than we can count below the D-I level but none more than St. Martin’s. Senior Dara Zach (U-Hi) has had a sensation career and Roni Jo Mielke (Sprauge-Harrington) has been a solid point guard. Two other starters could be juniors Megan Teade (Colfax) and Kelsey Baker (LC).
Notable
Heidi Heintz (CV, 2006) joins this senior class because she lost a year transferring from San Francisco to UC Davis, which opens the season at USF and then Washington State visits.
Katelin Redmon (LC) and Nikki Nelson (Chewelah) were also in the Class of 2007 but lost a year. Redmon transferred from Washington to Gonzaga after earning All-Pac-10 recognition; Nelson blew an ACL before her freshman season and redshirted.