Chiefs’ Holmberg, Aviani named all-stars

Spokane Chiefs offensive leaders Mitch Holmberg and Mike Aviani were selected as Western Hockey League Western Conference all-stars, the league announced Thursday.

Holmberg, who led the league with 62 goals and 118 points, was a unanimous selection to the first team with Portland’s Nicolas Petan. Holmberg won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league’s top scorer and is the conference’s nomination for the Brad Hornung Trophy for most sportsmanlike player.

Aviani was named to the second team after recording career highs with 38 goals and 81 points.

The Chiefs open the WHL playoffs on Saturday at Victoria.

Track and field

Whitworth’s Dakota Kliamovich set a school record in the women’s hammer throw at the Buc Scoring Invite at Whitworth University.

Kliamovich won the event with a toss of 172 feet, 10 inches. Pirates senior Keegan Shea won the men’s hammer throw, reaching a distance of 182-3.

Gonzaga runners took the top spots in the men’s and women’s 5,000 meters. Julie Henling won the women’s race in 18 minutes, 50.42 seconds and Dillon Quintana won the men’s race in 15:44.47. The meet continues today.

Swimming

Whitworth junior Wes Tatum took 10th place in the men’s 100-yard butterfly at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis.

Tatum finished in a school-record time of 48.73 seconds. Whitman’s Karl Mering won the event after finishing in 47.91 seconds – a Northwest Conference record.

Men’s basketball

Whitworth’s Dustin McConnell, the Northwest Conference Player of the Year, was named to the NCAA Division III All-America third team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Additionally, McConnell was named to the All-West Region third team by D3hoops.com and the NABC.

He averaged 13.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and led the Pirates to their eighth straight trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.