CCS repeats in men’s golf

It was a banner windup to a banner season for the Community Colleges of Spokane men’s golf team.

With two of the top three golfers and a third just two strokes further back, the Sasquatch compiled a two-day score of 598 in the NWAACC Championships that wound up Monday in Bremerton to capture a second straight team title.

The Sasquatch capped a string of five straight season-ending tournament wins by beating runner-up Green River by 14 strokes.

Graham Schmaltz shot 72-74 for 146, good for second and a one-shot margin over teammate Dylan Maine (Freeman) in third. Teammate Brandon Koehler (Lewiston) tied for fifth at 149. All three made the all-tournament team.

Maine finished the season with the NWAACC’s low scoring average, and he, Schmaltz and Andrew Roller (Coeur d’Alene) were named first-team all-conference. Koehler was on the second team. All are sophomores.

CCS’ Scott Kramer was named NWAACC Coach of the Year.

• The three-time defending NWAACC champion CCS women had to settle for second place this time around in the conference tournament in Bremerton, being outscored by Bellevue 501-518 in the 36-hole event.

CCS freshman Hailey Woods shot 83-85 for 168 to finish in a three-way tie for second, and sophomore Kelsey Berg was seventh at 175.

Woods’ finish earned her a spot on the all-tournament team, while Berg was a first-team all-conference selection, and sophomore Sonnie Mitchell (Clarkston) was a second-team choice.

Track and field

Community Colleges of Spokane freshmen went 1-2 in the 10,000 meters and 2-3 in the 3,000 steeplechase in the first day of the NWAACC Championships at Spokane Falls Community College, leading the Sasquatch to 97.5 points and a 13-point lead over Lane.

Jon Smith won the 10,000 in 33 minutes, 5.0 seconds with teammate Jon Bennett five seconds back. The Sasquatch also picked up points from sophomore Jason Sams, who finished fifth.

Justin Yoke of CCS was edged by Jorge Gil-Juarez of Clackamas, 9:44.09-9:44.63, in the steeplechase. Tim Colliton of CCS was third in 9:54.52, with Christian Bucko finishing a scoring eighth.

On the women’s side, CCS sophomore Mikel Elliott won the 3,000 steeplechase by nearly 32 seconds, timing 11:13.10, with teammate Stephanie Jones fourth. Sasquatch freshman Ariana Cole was eighth in the 10,000.

The 10,000 and steeplechase were the only finals on the first day.