Spokane-Area Junior Athlete, Coach And Team Finalists Announced

Record-setting athletes, state championship teams and coaches are among the finalists for the 1994 Spokane-area Junior Sports Awards.

All will be honored at the Greater Spokane Sports Association Youth Awards Luncheon Feb. 1 at the Ag Trade Center.

Television announcer and former National Football League star Ahmad Rashad will be the speaker at both the luncheon and the Sports Awards Banquet later that evening. KXLY-TV sports director Bud Nameck returns as luncheon master of ceremonies.

Junior awards finalists were selected by the Inland Empire Sportswriters and Broadcasters from Spokane, its seven adjoining counties and the leagues therein.

Stacy Clinesmith, Mead - As a sophomore, she was named to the All-GSL first team for third-place State AAA basketball squad. This fall she led soccer scorers with 21 goals for league champions.

Melissa Dodge, CdA - An All-State basketball player, Dodge scored more than 20 points in two of three games at state as she led undefeated Vikings to an A-1 championship on their home floor. The 6-foot post averaged 15 points and 10.9 rebounds as she set season (273) and career marks (668) in rebounding.

Regan Freuen, Mead - MVP of State AAA tournament after scoring 20.0 per game for third-place state finishers. Was Co-MVP and second leading scorer in GSL.

Kari Hutchinson, St. George’s - State B Most Valuable Player averaged 20.7 points during the year leading Dragons to 30-0 season

Jennifer Kerns, CdA - Was named All-State and one of area’s best basketball players for undefeated (25-0) State A-1 champion Vikings. She averaged a team-leading 15.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 steals. Kerns recently was named Idaho’s Player of the Year in soccer. The midfielder had 21 goals and 16 assists in 19 games to lead Lake City to third at state. She was a four-time pick to the state all-tournament team.

Jessica Martin, Wilbur-Creston - After averaging 23.1 points per game for Bi-County West Division basketball champions, Martin led Wildcats to State B volleyball title.

Alli Nieman, Sandpoint - The All-State basketball player led Bulldogs to State A-1 consolation title in Sandpoint’s first visit to state in 10 years. She averaged 21 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, tops in the Panhandle. In the fall, Nieman, an all-tournament selection at outside hitter, led Sandpoint to state volleyball championship.

Heather Owen, Moscow - Named Idaho’s A-2 player of the year for three-time state champion Bears and one of 20 Kodak All-American prep players. Signed with Stanford where she’s seeing much playing time. She averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game and broke school record for points (1,239), a mark formerly held by NCAA All-American and Olympic gold medalist Andrea Lloyd (1,056). In the spring, Owen added another gold medal (shot put) to her large collection of individual track titles.

Chrissy Peterson, St. George’s - Multi-sport athlete was Panorama League’s second-leading basketball scorer at 22.1, was third-leading scorer in State B tournament, placed in the 300-meter hurdles and 800 in state track and was second-leading scorer in GSL for Lewis and Clark’s soccer team.

Jennifer Stinson, Davenport — Averaged 27.2 points per game for State B runner-up basketball team; was all-tournament for state runner-p volleyball team and won State B high jump.

Jeannette Zimmer, Cheney - Freshman cross country runner unseated fellow Frontier League stars to win State AA meet.

JUNIOR MALE

Robert Barlow, Lewis and Clark — Set all-time rushing record in GSL (3,232) after season of 1,219 and was named All-State running back for second year in row for league champions. Two-time league offensive MVP.

Johnnie Bevan - Spokane youth finished third in U.S. Junior Men’s Figure Skating Championships. He was third again in the U.S. Olympic Festival.

Micah Davis, Mead - After finishing second at 3,200 meters and fourth in the 1,600 at State AAA track meet, Davis last fall replaced his brother Matt as state cross country champion.

Viet Do, Medical Lake — Two-time State A champion had 63-0 record final two seasons.

Ryan Edington, Mead, - Second and fifth at state in javelin and discus, respectively, he threw nearly 200 feet to capture National Junior Olympics javelin championship in the summer.

Jan-Michael Gambill, Spokane - Nationally ranked junior tennis player finished second last year during national indoor singles tournament.

Andy Hastings, Spokane - At 13, became the youngest champion in history of prestigious PNW Amateur u-18 championship.

Todd Hering, Pullman - First places in 100, 200 and on 400-meter relay and placed fourth in 300 hurdles at the State AA championships for thirdplace Greyhounds.

Matt Sachse, Ferris — MVP of both GSL basketball and baseball. Averaged 19.9 points per game and State AAA basketball tourney MVP. Hit .667 and led in three offensive categories and was 6-1 with 1.36 ERA for league baseball champs. Signed with Seattle Mariners.

John Schroeder, CdA - The power-hitting first baseman hit .573, belted 12 home runs and had 55 RBIs. His three-year career average was nearly .500 and he finished with 27 homers and 125 RBIs. Named by USA Today as Idaho’s Player of the Year, Schroeder signed with the Minnesota Twins after being drafted in the fifth round.

FEMALE TEAM

Coeur d’Alene basketball - Undefeated in 25 games, Vikings won third Idaho State A-1 championship in four years.

Lewis and Clark volleyball - Compiled a 30-2-1 record and won second State AAA title in three years.

Moscow basketball - Team won its third straight Idaho A-2 state basketball championship.

St. George’s basketball - Completed a 30-0 season with first State B basketball championship.

Wilbur-Creston volleyball - Regained the State B volleyball championship and kept title in the Bi-County League. < MALE TEAM

Clarkston golf - Bantams won State AA championship.

Ferris basketball - Completed a 25-4 record to win Washington AAA championship.

Mead cross country, track - Won a record seventh straight State AAA cross country championship and previous spring distance runners helped Panthers to state track title.

Northwest Christian basketball - Crusaders made triumphant return to State B tournament, winning title.

Sandpoint wrestling - With five individual champs, won first state wrestling championship and first title in any boys’ sport.

COACH

Dave Fealko, Coeur d’Alene girls basketball — Guided Vikings to 25-0 season and championship of the Idaho A-1 Tournament.

Wayne Gilman, Ferris boys basketball - Saxons didn’t win league, district or regionals, but once in Seattle rolled to four straight wins and State AAA title.

Ross Thomas, St. George’s girls basketball, cross country - Dragons completed an undefeated season while winning State B basketball girls championship. Also coached State B girls cross country champions and boys runners-up.

Pat Tyson, Mead cross country - Coached Panthers to seventh straight AAA title. Previous spring his distance runners accounted for enough points to win AAA track title.

Don “Buzzie” Welch, Lewis and Clark volleyball - Coached Tigers to their second state title in three years with a 31-2-1 record.