Area graduates prepare for fall season at colleges

It’s hard-core summer out there. Between the heat and sunshine, it takes a Herculean effort to not take up residence on the nearest lakeshore and kick back with a cold drink.

But there are those out there working hard, with one eye firmly locked on November and December, where on a good day the temperature is half what it is now and the sunshine rains down as, well, rain. Or worse, snow.

They are collegiate athletes, and preparing for the fall season is a full-time job.

The fall season will be exciting – especially for this sampling of Spokane Valley athletes.

University graduate Joe Dahl is an anchor on the offensive line at Washington State, and the former Titan faces a new wrinkle in the Cougars’ offense for his senior season.

A year ago Washington State ran its offense out of the shotgun on all but one play. You read that right. The WSU quarterback took exactly one snap from under center. This year reports out of Pullman say coach Mike Leach’s offense could take as many as one out of every four snaps from under center – a ratio closer to the offenses he ran at Texas Tech.

That shift would likely mean a stronger emphasis on the running game and a more balanced attack.

Dahl and the rest of the offensive line, all returners from a year ago, are ready for the challenge.

At Idaho, former Central Valley Bear Austin Rehkow continues to pile up honors for kicking footballs.

Rehkow was the punter on the All-Sun Belt first team a year ago, a finalist for the Ray Guy award and a second-team Walter Camp All-America selection.

Rehkow has been steady as a Vandal, averaging 47.8 yards per punt in each of his first two seasons. Last year he had 14 kicks longer than 50 yards.

As the Vandals’ kicker, Rehkow converted 27 of 28 PATs and 10 of 11 on field goal attempts, including a 47-yarder.

At Eastern Washington, University High defensive back Zach Bruce is looking for playing time while Central Valley grad Beau Byus looks to turn his 6-foot-5 frame into an inviting target from the tight end position.

Whitworth’s West Valley connection, quarterback Bryan Peterson to receiver Drew Clausen, graduated, but the Valley connection at the Pine Bowl remains strong.

East Valley grad J.T. Phelan made a big impact as a true freshman, moving into the starting lineup early in the season and shining.

Central Valley’s Anthony Brommer (tight end) and Kyle Cosby (offensive line) both are looking for playing time, as is true freshman Tiegan Glidewell of Freeman.

Central Valley defensive back Will Davis redshirted in his first year at Western Washington, and will challenge for playing time.

Also in Bellingham, EV grad Adam Talley prepares to make the jump from North Idaho College into the starting lineup on the Western Washington men’s soccer team.

Talley looks to bring instant offense to the Vikings after scoring 20 goals last year for NIC to set a school record, despite missing five games with a concussion.

Eastern Washington’s women’s soccer program is full of Spokane Valley players, including University’s Shayla Weiler and Central Valley’s Laci Rennaker, Paige Gallaway and Savannah Hoekstra.

Weiler played in 11 games in the midfield as a junior after playing in 32 games in her first two years in Cheney.

Gallaway appeared in all but two games a year ago, scoring three goals on 14 shots. After missing half her freshman season because of injury, Gallaway added scoring off the Eastern bench, bringing fresh legs and an eye for attack later in games.

Rennaker did not play in 2013 but moved into the starting midfield a year ago and provided a clutch goal to secure a win over Southern Utah.

Hoekstra followed up leading CV to its first of back-to-back state soccer titles by starting and playing in all 17 matches a year ago for EWU. An All-Big Sky honorable mention, she scored two goals against Colorado State and earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors. She finished with six goals and four assists for the Eagles, including a goal in Eastern’s postseason match with Northern Arizona.

Central Valley’s Taryn Miller looks to make an impact at Montana State while U-Hi’s Jennifer Loehner looks to do the same at Whitworth.