Fealko In Line For Rare Double At Awards Show Lake City Girls Basketball Coach Finalist For Two Awards; Ex-Nfl Exec Featured Speaker At Resort
For many years, Dave Fealko’s life revolved around his family, teaching, fishing and hunting and coaching girls basketball.
Recently retired from coaching, Fealko’s other four passions receive more of his attention.
Except tonight, when Fealko is the only two-award finalist at the 33rd annual Idaho Sports Banquet, set for 7:30 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. A social hour precedes at 6:30.
Gil Brandt, former Dallas Cowboys executive, will be the featured speaker. The Idaho Hall of Fame will induct five new members: John Brogan, Ross Armitage, Ken Schrom, Steve Olson and the late Bob Angel.
Fealko, who coached Coeur d’Alene High to four State A-1 titles and last year led newcomer Lake City to another crown, is up for North Idaho coach of the year and Idaho coach of the year.
Fealko’s last CdA team (awards are for 1994 calendar year) is one of seven state champions that is a finalist for North Idaho female team of the year. The others are Sandpoint and Wallace volleyball, Moscow, Grangeville and Troy basketball, and St. Maries golf.
Other Idaho coach finalists are Tom Hilbert, who directed the University of Idaho volleyball team to a 31-3 record and one win in the NCAA Tournament, and Pokey Allen, whose Boise State football team lost in the NCAA Division I-AA title game. Allen had a cancerous tumor removed from his arm about a week ago and will not attend tonight’s event.
Idaho Hall of Fame president Bob Maker is retiring after organizing every previous banquet.
New UI football coach Chris Tormey and his staff will host a get-acquainted session with area prep coaches from 2-5 p.m. at the Resort Convention Center.
All tickets have been sold, but there is a possibility for some to be returned and dispersed to those on a waiting list. For information, contact the Resort at (208) 765-4000.
Here are tonight’s awards finalists:
North Idaho
Male Athlete
Darick Pope, Post Falls; Kyle York, Priest River; Dale Wooden, Sandpoint; Derek Zimmerman, Moscow; David Reed, Mullan.
Female Athlete
Laura Walker, Sandpoint; Heather Owen, Moscow; Cinda Neider, Lakeland; Kelli Johnson, Moscow; Alli Nieman, Sandpoint; Jennifer Kerns, Coeur d’Alene.
Male Team
Deary football, Sandpoint wrestling, Post Falls football, Mullan football.
Female Team
Sandpoint volleyball, Wallace volleyball, Coeur d’Alene basketball, Moscow basketball, Grangeville basketball, Troy basketball, St. Maries golf.
Coach
Jeff Hurst, Sandpoint volleyball; Dick Schreiber, Wallace volleyball; Dan Taylor, Sandpoint wrestling; Dave Fealko, Coeur d’Alene basketball; Bobbi Hazel tine, Troy basketball; Jerry Lee, Post Falls football.
Booster
Greg Taylor, Sandpoint; Greg Crimp, Coeur d’Alene; Clarence Riggers, Culdesac; Chester Schilling, St. Maries.
State of Idaho
Team
Boise State football, Idaho volleyball
Female Athlete
Mindy Rice, Idaho volleyball; Picabo Street, Olympic skier.
Male Athlete
Sherriden May, Idaho football; Jim Potter, Idaho State basketball; Dan O’Brien, world decathlon champion.
Pro Athlete
Jeff Robinson, Denver Broncos; Doug Reisenberg, New York Giants; Mark Schlereth, Washington Redskins; Tracy Hanson, ladies pro golf.
Coach
Tom Hilbert, Idaho volleyball; Dave Fealko, Coeur d’Alene basketball; Pokey Allen, Boise State football.