Mt. Spokane Qb Accepts Appointment To Navy

Jake Swanson, Mt. Spokane valedictorian and one of the top passers in Greater Spokane League football history, will continue his career at the Naval Academy.

A 4.0 student, who threw for 1,629 yards as a junior, the 10th highest total in city history, Swanson plans to major in engineering.

“I just feel it’s a good place to go to college and I also have the opportunity to play football there,” Swanson said. “I just visited this weekend. I liked what they’re all about and their people. … It seemed like a top, high-class organization.”

Swanson’s two-year total of 3,168 yards ranks in the top five. He led the Wildcats into the playoffs their first two years in the GSL.

Swanson, 6-foot, 185-pounds, was drawing interest from some smaller schools, including Columbia and Whitworth, before accepting the Naval Academy appointment.

“I decided I wanted to go through the Academy,” he said. “I like the education they give you, the experience. I always dreamed I (could play college football). Now I’ve got a chance to play. That doesn’t mean I’ll make it, but I have the chance. I have to take advantage of it.”

He reports June 29.

College volleyball

Jennifer Stinson has joined the Washington State volleyball team as an assistant coach, coach Cindy Fredrick announced.

The former Cougars star from Davenport replaces second assistant Shannon Hoyt, who leaves WSU after two seasons to become the top assistant at Wichita State.

“It’s great to have somebody come back who knows the program and who has been a big part of all of the program’s success,” Fredrick said.

Stinson played four years of volleyball and one season of basketball at WSU. Her volleyball career ended when she dislocated her left ankle in practice in late October of her senior year. She did not return, but had become the seventh Cougar in school history to accumulate 1,000 kills in a career.

Stinson trained with the U.S. National team, but a knee injury kept her from playing at the World University Games in 1997.

She received her bachelors degree in education in December 1999 and has been substitute teaching and coaching in Spokane.

Men’s basketball

Eastern Washington guard Deon Williams has been named a co-player of the week in the Big Sky Conference with Weber State forward Harold Arceneaux.

Williams helped Eastern secure its first-place position in the conference, averaging 16 points, six rebounds and six assists in victories over Weber and Portland State.

The 6-foot-2 senior from Los Angeles had 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 23 minutes against Portland State.

Arceneaux scored a career-high 40 points in Weber’s loss to EWU. The 6-6 senior is the third player in Wildcats history to score that many points in a game.

Women’s basketball

University of Idaho forward Alli Nieman was named Big West Conference player of the week for the second time this season and the sixth time during her career.

The 6-foot-1 senior from Sandpoint began the weekend with a career-high-tying 36 points against Pacific and also grabbed 12 rebounds. She continued against Boise State with 28 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

In the two games, Nieman hit 25 of 47 shots from the field and added five assists, four steals and two blocked shots to her 64 points and 28 rebounds as the Vandals (12-8, 5-2) took over sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference Eastern Division.