Top Idaho Athletes Compete For Honors
Some of Idaho’s finest athletes will gather tonight to find out who’s considered the best.
The Idaho Sports Banquet will give such well-known Idaho athletes as Dan O’Brien, Jake Plummer, John Friesz, Corissa Yasen and Picabo Street a chance to win awards.
The ceremonies, being held at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, will begin with a 6 p.m. social hour followed by the dinner and awards at 7:30. Awards will also be given out to the top athletes and teams from North Idaho.
O’Brien, who won the gold medal in the decathlon in the Olympics last summer in Atlanta, will be the featured speaker.
The Gar Anderson award will be presented to Ed Lehman from Laclede as the North Idaho Sportsman of the Year. Lehman is being honored for his work in the community and his help with the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
O’Brien, Street, Steven Symms and Frank Reberger will be inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.
Idaho award finalists
Team of the year - Lewis-Clark State College baseball; University of Idaho Volleyball; College of Southern Idaho Volleyball; U of I men’s track and field.
Coach of the year - Mike Keller, U of I men’s track and field; Ben Stroud, College of Southern Idaho volleyball; Pokey Allen, Boise State football.
Female athlete of the year - Lynne Hyland, U of I volleyball; Heather Owen, Stanford basketball; Corissa Yasen, Purdue track and field; Picabo Street, U.S. ski team.
Male athlete of the year - Jake Plummer, Arizona State football; Dan O’Brien, U.S. track and field; Tawanda Chiwira, U of I track and field; Frank Bruder, U of I track and field.
Professional athlete of the year - John Friesz, Seattle Seahawks football; Andrea Lloyd, Columbus Quest basketball; Mike Hollis, Jacksonville Jaquars football; Darin Blood, San Jose Giants baseball.
N. Idaho award finalists
Female athlete of the year - Alli Nieman, Sandpoint High School basketball; Dana Streeter, Wallace High School track and field; Jessica Johnson, Troy High School basketball, volleyball, tennis; Jeanne Korus, Moscow High School track and field; Melissa Mills, Moscow High School track and field.
Female team of the year - Moscow High School basketball; Troy High School volleyball; Troy High School basketball; Grangeville High School basketball; Bonners Ferry High School golf.
Male athlete of the year - Austin Lee, Post Falls football, track; Brad Rice, Lewiston High School football; Ryan Carver, Grangeville High School track and field; Brett Lawrence, Sandpoint High School wrestling; Justin Pluid, Bonners Ferry wrestling; Jared Lawrence, Sandpoint wrestling.
Male team of the year - Lewiston High School football; Sandpoint High School wrestling; Deary High School football; Coeur d’Alene High School golf.
Coach of the year - Bobby Hazeltine, Troy High School volleyball, basketball; Nick Menegas, Lewiston High School football; Sally Green, Moscow High School girls basketball; Dan Taylor, Sandpoint High School wrestling; Darrah Eggers, Deary High School football.
Booster of the year - KWAL radio, Osburn; Julie Minden, Potlatch; Bruce Boyer, Culdesac; Ivan Lippi, Sandpoint; Neil Compton, Orofino.