Nantz Headlines Sports Banquet

Jim Nantz, play-by-play television announcer whose assignments include the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, will help the Inland Northwest honor its 1995 sports champions during banquet day in Spokane.

Nantz, who also serves as the CBS Television anchor for the Masters golf tournament, will speak at today’s Youth Sports Awards Luncheon and tonight’s 48th Sports Awards Banquet. Both events are at the Ag Trade Center.

The events are presented by the Greater Spokane Sports Association. The Inland Empire Sportswriters and Broadcasters will present their athlete, team and coach of the year awards.

Dennis Hull returns as master of ceremonies for the evening sports banquet, which begins with a no-host social at 5:30, followed by dinner at 7.

Bud Nameck will be the noon luncheon master of ceremonies. Joining Nantz as a featured luncheon speaker will be 1992 Olympic gold-medalist Launi Meili of Cheney.

The luncheon is underwritten by local businesses allowing more than 800 high school students from throughout the area to attend at reduced cost. Spokane Youth Sports and the Athletic Round Table are the major banquet and luncheon sponsors.

Banquet finalists

Amateur male athlete of the year: Darin Blood, Mark Hendrickson, Ryan Phillips, John Rillie.

Amateur female athlete of the year: Stacy Clinesmith, Sarah Schwald, Sarah Silvernail, Jennifer Stinson.

Professional athlete of the year: Chad Little, Dan O’Brien, John Stockton, Kirk Triplett.

Coach of the year: Dan Fitzgerald, Cindy Fredrick, Skip Pauls, Pat Tyson.

Team of the year: Davenport H.S. football, Gonzaga U. basketball, Mead boys track/cross country, Washington State volleyball.

Junior finalists:

Male athlete of the year: Mica Davis, Skiy Detray, Joe Deutsch, Ryan Floyd, Isaac Hawkins, Brett Lawrence, Austin Lee, Dusty Roberts, Georgia Usai, Ian Waltz.

Female athlete of the year: Allison Beatty, Stacy Clinesmith, Melissa Dodge, Jennifer Kerns, Hayden Kristianson, Jessica Martin, Maria McConnaughey, Jana Nearing, Alli Nieman, Jennifer Stinson.

Junior coach of the year: Linda Bushinski, Sue Doering, Dave Fealko, Skip Pauls, Pat Tyson.

Junior male team of the year: Chewelah cross country, Davenport football, Mead cross country, Mead track, Sandpoint wrestling.

Junior female team of the year: Colfax volleyball, Lake City basketball, North Central volleyball, Sandpoint volleyball, Wilbur-Creston volleyball.

, DataTimes