CV Star Usai Wins Flaherty Award; Hollenbach Of U-Hi Top Lineman
Record-setting running back Giorgio Usai received the Ray Flaherty Scholarship Monday night.
The Central Valley senior was honored at a banquet sponsored by the Inland Empire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Usai was also named the Back of the Year, giving him scholarships worth $2,500. University’s Jeff Hollenbach was named Lineman of the Year, receiving a scholarship for $1,500.
Each of the other eight finalists received $1,000 scholarships.
Usai set Greater Spokane League records with six touchdowns in one game and 36 points in one game and 24 touchdowns and 146 points in eight league games. He also had the second-best rushing total in league history, 1,388 yards, and the No. 3 game with 290 yards.
He finished as the top Class AAA running back in Washington with 1,731 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was named to The Associated Press and Tacoma News-Tribune All-State teams and was the GSL offensive MVP as the 8-0 Bears won the league title.
Usai has a 3.89 grade-point average and plans to attend the University of Oregon.
Hollenbach was an All-GSL lineman. He has a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend the United States Naval Academy.
Other finalists were Rex Mangiaracina of Gonzaga Prep, Jon MacKay of Liberty, Mike Van Houten of CV, Kyle Powers and Paul Mencke of Lewis and Clark, Adam Morris of Mead, Fletcher Barkdull of Ferris and Matthew Elven of Nez Perce, Idaho.
Every school in Eastern Washington and North Idaho was encouraged to nominate a back and a lineman for the scholarships. The athletes were judged on athletics, academics and citizenship.
More than 400 people attended Monday’s banquet. Former Lewis and Clark High and Notre Dame standout Bob Minnix was the featured speaker. Minnix, who worked for the NCAA for many years, is now an associated athletic director at Florida State.
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