EWU announces Hall of Fame inductees
Eastern Washington University will induct four individuals and two teams at its Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Oct. 4.
Among the inductees are volleyball and basketball player Janelle Ruen-Allen and the entire 2001 and 2002 volleyball teams on which she played. They combined for a 50-8 record and won a first-round game in the NCAA tournament in 2001.
In addition to Ruen-Allen, EWU will induct contributor Judy Crab and football player Greg Gavin. Basketball star Jack Perrault will be honored posthumously.
Crab has served as secretary and administrative assistant for the EWU athletics department for about 40 years.
Gavin was a two-time NAIA All-American and named to the All-Evergreen Conference first teams in 1967-69. He was voted as the best center in school history based on a public vote in 2008 for the all-time EWU football team.
Perrault lettered for Eastern’s basketball teams from 1942-45 and played in three NAIA tournaments. The Eagles won 95 games in his four years and he later became an alternate for the 1948 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He also played one year, 1945, as quarterback for Washington State.
All-Academic
Among the 41 Washington State Cougars who were named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team is Andrew Kimpel, a redshirt senior distance runner from Spokane. Kimpel has a 3.37 GPA and is majoring in management information systems.
Matt Wardell, a junior accounting major from Post Falls, made the second team. He had a 3.46 GPA.
Grant Schultz, a redshirt junior finance major from Davenport, gained honorable mention with a 3.31 GPA.
On the women’s first team is Amanda Henderson, a sophomore distance runner from Pullman. Henderson, undeclared, has a 3.98 GPA.
Given honorable mention: Kiah Condos (undecided, 3.07), a sophomore distance runner from Liberty Lake; Celena Ward (medical sciences, 3.21), a junior javelin thrower from Spokane; Courtney Zalud (accounting, 3.26), a redshirt senior middle distance runner from Colbert.
College commitments
EWU women’s volleyball coach Wade Benson announced last week the signing of Taylor Larsen, of Colfax, who becomes the 10th new player for the 2014 season.
The 6-foot-1 Larsen led her team to a state title in 2013 and runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2012. Eastern’s season gets underway with its alumni match on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.
• Several University High School graduates have committed to play at various colleges.
Division I signees include Taylor Morales, softball, Bradley (Illinois) University and Hannah Holm, soccer, University of Minnesota.
Heading to Carroll College in Helena are Cassidy Walter, soccer, and Courtney Sherick, Seth Gruber and Taylor Smith, cross country and track.
Other U-Hi commitments: Cassie Shillam, basketball, The Master’s College (California); Sam Polsin, lacrosse, Notre Dame de Namur University (California); Katie Ochoa, golf, Whitworth; McKenzie Peterson, basketball, San Diego Christian; Kyle Collins, volleyball, Blue Mountain CC (Oregon); Sarah Melvin, soccer, Community Colleges of Spokane.
College scene
Washington State has added a transfer from Florida International to the women’s soccer team. Jazmin Jones, who attended Gig Harbor High School, will begin her career with WSU in the fall after playing two years for FIU.
• EWU’s redshirt sophomore Hayley Hodgins has received the Frances B. Huston Medallion, which is given to 20 graduates based on academic excellence and community service. Hodgins, of Pasco, graduated in three years with a degree in health services administration. She will continue her playing career while pursuing a master’s in public health.
• WSU women’s basketball coach June Daugherty has promoted Brian Holsinger to associate head coach. June’s husband, Mike Daugherty, also retains the same title as associate head coach. Holsinger, who has been on staff for seven years, coordinates recruiting and the team’s defense.
Basketball
Former University of Portland basketball player Ryan Nicholas, who graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 2010, has signed to play professional basketball for Mitteldeutscher Basketball Club for the upcoming 2014-15 season. Mitteldeutscher plays in the highest league in Germany.
• Former Washington State women’s player Sage Romberg has signed a contract to play in Spain this fall. Romberg will play for C.R.E.F. Hola Madrid in Madrid. Romberg was a four-year letter-winner for the Cougars and set a program record with 129 games played.