Locally

Robertson to receive award at College Football Hall of Fame

Veteran radio broadcaster Bob Robertson will receive the Chris Schenkel Award on Friday during the College Football Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement Festival in South Bend, Ind.

Robertson, set to enter his 38th year as play-by-play announcer for Washington State University football, became the first Schenkel winner from the western U.S.

“It’s a great honor,” Robertson said. “I’ll be the first person from west of Kansas, and that’s a lot of people.”

Robertson, the 15-time Washington Sportscaster of the Year, is a member of the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the Inland Empire Hall of Fame. The latest honor surprised Robertson.

“This has to be right up there at the top,” Robertson said. “This is national … so, deservedly or not, you’re still in pretty solid company.”

Robertson’s football broadcasting career also included stints with the Washington and Notre Dame. He was WSU’s basketball announcer for 22 years and served as a voice for baseball’s Tacoma Rainiers for 12 years.

Robertson will miss a few games as Spokane Indians broadcaster while attending the event.

Barry Sanders, Joe Theismann and Darrell Green are among the former college players who will be enshrined during a Saturday night banquet, capping the weekend.

College scene

Spokane native and volleyball standout Barbara Moe is among those to be inducted into the Montana State University athletics hall of fame on Sept. 17. Moe was a four-time All-Northwest Volleyball League choice.

“Gonzaga University has announced DJ Gurule as the new women’s tennis coach. Gurule joins the GU staff after working as a club professional at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Ore., over the past year. Gurule was also head tennis professional at Broken Top in Bend, Ore., and served two seasons as the women’s tennis coach at Mountain View High in Bend. Gurule graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1995 after playing four years of varsity tennis.

“Season tickets are now on sale for the 2004-05 Gonzaga University women’s basketball season. Fans can purchase season-ticket packages (14 homes games) for $50. Call (509)323-4202 or visit www.GoZags.com to print off a ticket order form.

“Five local baseball players will join the Whitworth College baseball program this spring. Pitcher Steve Hare, a transfer from Gonzaga University, joins the Pirates after not playing in 2004 and appearing in only one game in 2003 because of an arm injury. Pitcher Gregg Hare is a transfer from Walla Walla Community College, where he led the Warriors in appearances last spring with 16. He finished the season with three saves and a 4.54 ERA. Joel Evans, a catcher and outfielder, has transferred from Big Bend CC. In 2001 all three led North Central to a second-place finish in the Washington 4A state tournament. Shortstop Nick Froman is another Gonzaga transfer and pitcher Steve Merriman comes from Kamiakin High in Kennewick.

“In the coaches’ poll, the University of Idaho women’s volleyball team is picked to finish fifth in the Big West behind UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Pacific. Picked to finish behind UI is CS Northridge, Utah State, Cal Poly, CS Fullerton and UC Riverside.

“Whitworth College was picked to tie for fifth place in volleyball in the Northwest Conference coaches’ preseason poll. The predicted order of finish is: Pacific Lutheran University, Willamette, University of Puget Sound, Linfield, Whitman, Whitworth, George Fox, Pacific and Lewis and Clark.

“The Whitworth College women’s soccer team was picked to finish third in this year’s NWC coaches’ preseason poll. The predicted order of finish is: University of Puget Sound, Willamette, Whitworth, Whitman, Pacific Lutheran, Pacific, Linfield, George Fox and Lewis and Clark.

“The Whitworth College men’s soccer team was picked to finish second in this year’s NWC coaches’ preseason poll. The predicted order of finish is: Puget Sound, Whitworth, Linfield, Pacific Lutheran, Willamette, Pacific, Whitman and George Fox.

Tennis

Results of the 2004 Spokane City Tennis Tournament, played July 29-Aug. 1, included Scott Fager successfully defending the Men’s Singles title over Kevin Jones 6-4, 6-2. Fager has now won the title seven times over a span of 17 years. The Men’s 45 Singles went to Mark Sullivan who beat Kent Breckenridge 6-3, 6-2.

Other titles included: Tom Allum def. Joe Carroll 6-4, 6-1 (Men’s 3.5 Singles); Larry Kraft def. Cory Heimbecker 6-1, 7-6 (Men’s 3.0 Singles); Fager and Jones def. Jeff Urie and Sean Hergert 6-4, 6-2 (Men’s Open Doubles); Mike Ross and Don Ho def. Rich Johnson and Leo Richardson 6-4, 6-2 (Men’s 45 Doubles); Anna Gullickson def. Carolyn Pratt 7-5, 6-4 (Women’s Open Singles); Nicole Seedall def. Leslie Griffith 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 (Women’s 3.5 Singles); Kristina Fager and Liz Melville def. Pratt and Lynn Coleman 6-4, 7-6 (Women’s Open Doubles) and Joanne Heyamoto and Bonnie Brodsky def. Seedall and Paige Townsend 7-6, 6-2 (Women’s 3.5/3.0 Doubles).

Track

Mark Neal won first place in the shot put in the Men’s Master Over-50 division at the Riverside Track Club Throwers All Comers Meet on Aug. 5. Neal threw a distance of 43-0½, which is a National USA Track and Field qualifying mark.