Reunion Boosts Sloan Scholarship

Thanks in part to a classmate’s vocation, the Ron Sloan Memorial Scholarship is nearly $2,000 richer.

This summer during the Central Valley High class of 1980’s 20-year reunion, the efforts of auctioneer Steven Dorsey helped boost contributions to the scholarship for CV basketball players, which was started in Sloan’s memory following his death in 1996.

During the reunion dinner at the DoubleTree Inn, Dorsey was recognized for having the most unique occupation among CV’s 1980 grads.

“When he came up for his award, the audience cheered him and wanted him to auction something off,” said Nick Shein, a reunion organizer. “He said, `Let’s make it for a good cause,’ and got people to make donations to the scholarship.”

Various amounts were pledged, including $200 by Steve Harris for a dance with classmate Laurie Maxwell.

“Ron was well-liked in class and missed by a lot of classmates,” said Shein, who played basketball with Sloan and became his friend in junior high. “We wanted to do something special.”

They found a picture of him clowning during the class’s 10-year reunion - “He was not afraid to be the center of attention,” said Shein - and sent out a flyer with it requesting scholarship contributions.

A poster of Sloan was set up during the reunion with a can for more donations. The auction was the piece de resistance.

“We didn’t want anyone to forget about him. He was a special person,” said Shein.

Sloan, who averaged 18.2 points per game as a senior player for the Bears, died at age 34 after fighting Hodgkin’s Disease for four years.

Following his death, the scholarship was started by his brother, Rick Sloan, CV’s current basketball coach.

The first four recipients of the $500 scholarship have been Travis Brown, Marc Hinckley, Patrick Libey and Kyle Boast, who personified Ron Sloan’s competitive, overachieving style of play.

“We raised $1,890, which was wonderful,” said Shein. “Rick was pretty tickled. It got the scholarship almost four more years.”

Speaking of basketball…

A group of basketball players, including three who will figure in CV High’s future, finished sixth out of 42 teams during the BCI Junior Prep Tournament in Colorado Springs.

Derek Taylor, Ryan Heacock and C.J. Nagel were part of the eight-player team that compiled a 6-4 record in the Elite U-15 division.

After losing to eventual finalists New York Gauchos, the team won four straight games over teams from Texas, Oklahoma and Minnesota.

Taylor averaged 18 points per game, including games of 32 and 21 to be named BCI All-American.

Other players were Adam Seaburg from Ferris, Zach Proett and Zach Bursch from Mt. Spokane, Bryan Williams and Adam Morrison from Mead.

Valley dentist Jim Psomas was the team’s coach.

Valley hockey player stars

Liberty Lake hockey player Tyler Johnson helped the Vancouver (B.C.) Pacific Vipers win the championship of the 11th annual Invitational Super Novice Hockey Tournament.

The tournament was played at the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta.

Johnson, 10, scored five goals and had five assists. The right wing and team co-captain scored the winning goal against Connecticut in the tournament’s double-elimination semifinals.

The tournament included teams from Boston, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Sask., Seattle, Toronto, Calgary, Detroit, Los Angeles and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnson plays for the Spokane Americans at Ice World. Teammates Erick Henderson and Josh Lindgren also played in the tournament, for the Northwest All-Stars.

Hole-in-one at club championship

The second round of the Hangman Valley Ladies Golf Club Championship was highlighted by Lynda Begler’s hole-in-one.

She used a five wood to ace the 161-yard par seven en route to a low gross 89 score in A flight.

Kathy Theisen shot 96 in B flight, Cristina Gallotti shot 103 in C, and Marge Harden had 112 in D. Net winners were Fran Nord with 71 in A flight, Dorothy Womach with 72 in B, Jan Pownell and Pam Anderson with 77s in C and Sue Crosby, also with 77 in D.

Blume leads way at Painted Hills

Steady play by Carol Blume earned her top honors during this week’s Painted Hills Ladies Club golf gathering.

She shot a 45 in A flight to post low gross of the field. Sammie Fletcher shot 51 in B flight, Krista Bighaus had 55 in C, Kathy Pryor shot 60 in C and Dixie Zahniser had no-handicap 69.

Net winners were Carla Stendin in A flight, Ronda Trotter in B with 35s, Shirley Olson in C and Nancy Hobbs in D with 33s.

Connie Hatfield and Carol McVicker both had chip-ins for birdies. Jackie Booth also had a chip-in.

Elder on top at Valley View

Valley View Ladies Club golfer Dee Elder was on top of her game.

She led all golfers as well as A flight with a low gross 46.

There was a tie in B flight between Lu Benjamin and Eileen Couper with 51, while Nola Russel shot 62 in C. Net winners were Tammy Adams with 32 in A flight and Donna Liebengood with 29 in C. B flight was a four-way tie with 33 among Edith Rains, Emma Long, Frieda Lemon and Merilyn Lloyd.

Photo correction

The CV soccer player in the Thursday Valley Voice preview photo was incorrectly identified. The player was Jamie Danelo.