UI, Sandpoint, Cda Each Score Twice At Banquet

If you were associated with Sandpoint High wrestling, Coeur d’Alene girls basketball and University of Idaho volleyball, you probably enjoyed Saturday night’s Idaho Sports Banquet.

Each of those respective teams brought home two awards from the 33rd annual banquet, which honored athletic excellence for 1994, at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

If you weren’t with any of the aforementioned teams, you probably still enjoyed the evening, after listening to entertaining speeches of featured speaker Gil Brandt, the former Dallas Cowboys’ executive, and other novices who took stabs at comedy.

Idaho men’s basketball coach Joe Cravens served up some self-depreciating punch lines.

“I went 12-15 this year so it wasn’t any surprise that I wasn’t nominated for coach of the year,” he said. “But we held our own banquet at my house last night with my wife and two daughters. I didn’t get nominated there, either.”

Idaho athletic director Pete Liske introduced finalists for the Idaho pro athlete award, choosing to bypass the nickname of a certain Vandal rival.

“Jeff Robinson, with the (NFL) Denver football club,” Liske said. “I just can’t say that other word (Broncos, of Boise State).”

Sandpoint’s State A-1 champion wrestlers were named North Idaho male team of the year, and the Bulldogs’ Dan Taylor claimed North Idaho coaching honors.

Idaho volleyball, whose 31-3 season culmi nated in a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, was state of Idaho team of the year. All-American outside hitter Mindy Rice won Idaho female athlete of the year.

“I’m getting my exercise,” said Rice, after making consecutive trips to the head table to collect trophies.

Jennifer Kerns, who paced CdA’s state-championship hoops team in 1994 and also was the state’s top soccer player, landed North Idaho female athlete honors. Kerns’ coach, Dave Fealko, with five state titles to his credit, won Idaho coach of the year.

Other winners: Darick Pope, Post Falls,

North Idaho male athlete; Wallace’s A-3 championship volleyball team, North Idaho female team; and St. Maries’ Chester Schilling, top North Idaho booster.

In State of Idaho categories, former Lakeland High golf star Tracy Hanson, off to a fine start in her first season on the LPGA Tour, was voted top pro athlete, and Idaho All-American running back Sherriden May won the male athlete award.

The Idaho Hall of Fame inducted five members. They were: the late Bob Angel, longtime broadcaster at KVNI radio station in Coeur d’Alene; Ross Armitage, UI basketball and baseball player and Kendrick High coach; John Brogan, a CdA High standout who went on to star on Idaho’s football team; Ken Schrom, former major-league pitcher who grew up in Grangeville; and Steve Olson, a Lewiston High two-sport athlete who excelled as UI’s quarterback in the late 1960s.

Hayden Lake’s Linda Joyner won the Gar Anderson Memorial Sportsman award.