Gambill Divides Matches

Jan-Michael Gambill advanced to the doubles semifinals of the Hamlet Cup tennis tournament Thursday in Commack, N.Y., but he failed to make it through to the quarterfinals in singles.

Gambill and partner Scott Humphries won their second-round doubles match from Pablo Albano and Lucas Arnold of Argentina 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4. However, the 23-year-old from Colbert couldn’t get past veteran Carlos Moya of Spain in his third-round singles match. Moya took a closely played 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) decision.

Gambill and Humphries, fourth-seeded, had their doubles match postponed on Wednesday, when most of day’s matches were washed out by rain. They will face Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India in the semis.

Basketball

Brendon Merritt, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard for Tacoma Community College, has made an oral commitment to play for Eastern Washington University next season.

Merritt, who was a high school teammate of Gonzaga University’s Casey Calvary at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, will be a sophomore at TCC this fall. As a freshman, he averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 48.7 percent from the field in leading TCC to a 30-4 record and fourth-place finish in the NWAACC tournament.

Football

University of Idaho’s roster has undergone a few more erasures.

Senior Jesse Taylor, a reserve receiver who was battling freshman Ryan Downes to be the starting punter, has quit, according to coach Tom Cable.

Running back Blair Lewis, a JC transfer, failed to meet UI entrance requirements.

Since the end of last season, Idaho has lost five potential starters, Dennis Taeatafa, Tyree Clowe, Anthony Fuertes, Rossi Martin and Orlando Winston, for a variety of reasons. Earlier this month, Paul Nieman, Drew Owen and Casey Kuchenbuch quit the team.

Wrestling

North Idaho College assistant coach Kevin Roberts has accepted a job as assistant at Wyoming. Roberts was at NIC two years.

“It’s a good job for Kevin,” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said.

Whitcomb is in the process of looking for Roberts’ replacement. Former Lakeland High coach Jim Whiteman will help at NIC. His duties are still being determined.

Soccer

Gonzaga University scored three first-half goals, and Mike McCarthy and Joe Smith combined for the shutout as the Bulldogs topped Brigham Young University 3-0 in an exhibition men’s match at Martin Field.

BYU operates as a club team, but has won the College Cup - the national championship of club teams - the past four years.

This sidebar appeared with the story: TENNIS Gambill joins Hingis

COMMACK, N.Y. - It’s a date.

Spokane’s Jan-Michael Gambill will team with Martina Hingis in mixed doubles next week at the U.S. Open.

The world’s No. 1 female player asked Gambill on Thursday and he accepted. Gambill, 23, will play in three events over the two-week Grand Slam tournament.

The Mead High graduate, tied for 25th in the ATP Champions race, will meet wild-card entry Mardy Fish in the first round of men’s singles.

Gambill will team with Scott Humphries in doubles.