Greg Lee

Despite a 30-minute suspension because of lightning – and considering the forecast earlier in the week called for Noah-like conditions – the Idaho 5A and 4A Region I track meets got underway with expected results Friday afternoon at Coeur d’Alene. The Lake City boys and Coeur d’Alene girls were tabbed as heavy favorites, and they didn’t disappoint in the first of two state-qualifying days. The final running finals will be held today at Lewiston’s Vollmer Bowl.

Shadle Park principal Eric Sylling sought much input from parents and the community on what they wanted in a new head football coach. Sylling announced the result of what turned out to be more than a four-month process Friday when he introduced Jim Mace to succeed Alan Stanfield, who resigned in January to become the offensive coordinator at Whitworth University.

Shadle Park principal Eric Sylling sought much input from parents and the community on what they wanted in a new head football coach.

Boys aren’t the only successful pole vaulters at Mead these days. Carrie Jacka, a junior transfer from Deer Park, finds herself atop the 4A state heap at 11 feet, 7 inches – 4 inches better than second – with the regular season finishing today.

When Chandler Rogers moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma last summer, he left as arguably the best wrestler in Mead history – and he still had one year left in high school. Rogers set a benchmark, winning three state titles as a Panther. He finished as a four-time state champion, going 44-0 at Stillwater High and finishing with a 133-match winning streak.

The Strandberg Invitational is being revived after being mothballed for seven years. A core of Central Valley coaches and volunteers has worked hard to bring back Saturday’s meet, the 23rd Strandberg.

They have spirit names for many of their in-district showdowns, but when the Mt. Spokane and Mead boys track teams face off at 4 p.m. today at Mead it will be nothing short of competitive and intense. Track? Intense? Yes, this dual will be intense. The outcome doesn’t decide the Greater Spokane League championship outright since both teams have final duals next week, but it will go far in determining which team finishes on top.

The 21st annual Jack Blair Memorial girls all-star basketball game will offer a little bit of everything. Members of three state championship teams, four state players of the year and three head coaches of the state championship teams.

If you had asked Andrew Black six months ago where he’d be this fall, he would have talked about all sorts of possibilities. As recently as last week the Lewis and Clark senior believed he was at a crossroad. He thought he had to choose between playing football in college or getting on with his life.

Since Grant Marchant broke on to the high school running scene as a freshman, the Valley Christian senior has been by himself on the track. When he turned out for track his freshman year, he didn’t have a clear idea what events he’d do. He remembered that in sixth grade he had the best mile time during a P.E. class.

Megan Murphy and Deja Svastisalee have big goals this spring. The North Central seniors should be the best in their events in the Greater Spokane League, but they have higher aspirations. They want to be the best in 3A.

So they've been “state” basketball games all along. And here I was getting used to just calling them regional games.

Four area basketball players were named players of the year for their respective classifications, the Associated Press announced Thursday. Race Martin of Pullman, who led the Greyhounds to a repeat State 2A championship, was a co-player of the year; Dexter Sienko of St. George’s (2B) was a co-player of the year; Jake Straughan of Colton, who is headed to the University of Idaho and led the Wildcats to a 1B title; and Jenna Moser of Colton, who led the Wildcats to a sixth straight title.