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CdA’s Blakley leads talented area class

Coeur d’Alene’s Austin Chadderdon and Chase Blakley (21) force a fumble from Lake City quarterback Tucker Louie-McGee. (BRUCE TWITCHELL)
Coeur d’Alene’s Austin Chadderdon and Chase Blakley (21) force a fumble from Lake City quarterback Tucker Louie-McGee. (BRUCE TWITCHELL)

Here's a link below to my unedited story about area prep athletes signing letters of intent Wednesday. Pictured above is CdA's Chase Blakley (Boise State) and Austin Chadderdon (Montana).

 

By Greg Lee

gregl@spokesman.com, (509) 844-8168

Before the college football coaching carousel starting turning, as it always does, last month, Coeur d’Alene standout Chase Blakley was set on signing with the University of Washington.

Then two coaching changes – Steve Sarkisian left UW for Southern California and Chris Peterson departed Boise State for UW – caused him to take a second look.

Last weekend during an official visit to BSU, Blakley decommitted from Washington and accepted an offer from the Broncos. He followed it up Wednesday by signing his national letter of intent.

“Washington still wanted me the whole time, but I felt way more comfortable with the coaching staff in Boise,” Blakley said Monday from the Boise airport for a return to CdA. “I wasn’t as familiar with the new staff at Washington. The new BSU coaches recruited me really hard.”

The 6-foot-4 1/2 and 240 pound Blakley has been clocked at 4.7 in the 40-yard sprint.

“They want me to maintain my weight and keep up my speed,” Blakley said. “I need to get bigger, faster and a little leaner.”

Blakley led CdA in receptions with 47 for 763 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“If he gets in the right system and buys into the program and puts in the work required, he could be pretty special,” CdA coach Shawn Amos said. “He’s very physically blessed.”

Coleton Collins of Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) is taking a leap of faith.

Collins has accepted a walk-on offer from Idaho State with the promise of a scholarship the rest of his career.

“Coach Mike Kramer looked me in the eyes and guaranteed me a full-ride scholarship after the first year,” Collins said. “He said they ran out of scholarships this year.”

The 6-3, 207 Collins was recruited at tight end. He led Lakeside with 45 catches for more than 800 yards and 16 TDs last fall.

Here’s a list of other area signers Wednesday:

Football

Russell Dubois, G-Prep, Montana Tech

Christian Olson, Ferris, Montana Tech

Kendall Rew, Ferris, Azuza Pacific

Cole Karstetter, Ferris, EWU

Jonah Jordan, Mead, EWU

Matt James, Coeur d’Alene, Washington

Chase Blakley, CdA, Boise State

Gunnar Amos, CdA, Idaho

Jordan Rose, Freeman, Idaho

Jack Hunter, G-Prep, EWU

Nick Ellison, Moscow, EWU

David Ungerer, Pullman, Idaho

Devin Ward, CdA, Montana Tech

Marcus Saugen, North Central, EWU

Stu Stiles, Mt. Spokane, EWU

Austin Chadderdon, CdA, Montana

Girls soccer

Chloe Williams, Lewis and Clark, Eastern Washington

Jessica Kennedy, LC, Portland

Hannah Holm, University, Minnesota

Sarah Melvin, U-Hi, Community Colleges of Spokane

Cassidy Walter, U-Hi, Carroll College

Carolyn Cox, Gonzaga Prep, Northern Colorado

Colleen Lindsay, G-Prep, Western Washington

Katie Bischolff, Ferris, Whitworth

Ashlee Pedersen, Mt. Spo, Montana

Shannon McReynolds, Mt. Spo, Grand Canyon

Dani Crawford, Moses Lake, Hawaii

Diana DeWald, Pullman, Whitworth

Martha Heaps, Mead, Concordia

Savannah Hoekstra, Central Valley, EWU

Madison Kinsolving, CV, CC Spokane

Malia Maack, Mead, New Mexico Highlands

Lexi Smith, Post Falls, Eastern Oregon

Sienna Tanner, Lewis and Clark, Whitworth

Kourtney Wick, Lewis and Clark, CC Spokane

Boys soccer

Matt Beaulaurier, Ferris, St. Martin’s

Connor Ourada, Ferris, Gonzaga

Austin Ziegle, Mt. Spo, George Fox

Matt Beaulaurier, Ferris, St. Martin's

Nolan Eldridge, Mead, St. Martin's

Damien Lawson, Medical Lake, CC Spokane

Ben Thompson, Lewis and Clark,  Redlands

Peter Worrall, St. George's, Army

Softball

Taylor Morales, U-Hi, Bradley University

Michele Strauss, Ferris, CCS

Ashlynn Bocook, Mead, CCS

Caitlyn Seiger, Mead, Wenatchee Valley

Berkley Fisher, SP, CC Spokane

Shania Lawrence, Mt. Spo, Blue Mountain CC

Hannah Steele, , Mt. Spo, Yakima Valley CC

Track/Cross country

Taylor Smith, U-Hi, Carroll

Kai Wilmot, North Central, Wisconsin

Basketball

McKenzie Peterson, U-Hi, San Diego Christian

Volleyball

Shelby Kantner, Ferris, Puget Sound

Peighton DeVon, Shadle Park, Nevada

Tennis

Trevor Fennessey, Ferris, Whitman

Baseball

Drew Rasmussen, Mt. Spo, Oregon State

Evan Douglas, SP, CC Spokane

Jakob Leavey, Mt. Spo, Walla Walla CC

Golf

Sierra Bezdicek, Mt.Spo, Northern Arizona

Swimming

Christine Renzini, Mt. Spo, Idaho



Greg Lee
Greg Lee joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a prep reporter covering Eastern Washington and North Idaho schools.

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