Locally

EWU finishes third in Big Sky Presidents Cup standings

Eastern Washington University improved one position to third place in the 2003-2004 Sterling Savings Big Sky Conference Presidents Cup announced by Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton. The Eagles, fourth in the award’s inaugural year in 2002-2003, had 34 student-athletes earn All-Big Sky honors and maintain a grade point average above 3.0. On the field, Eastern won league titles in volleyball and men’s basketball, and the golf team was the Big Sky runner-up for the second straight year. Although not taken into account for the Presidents Cup, EWU student-athletes earned 156 Big Sky Conference All-Academic team honors for their academic and athletic accomplishments this past school year. “We’re proud of our continued academic and athletic accomplishments,” said Eastern athletic director Scott Barnes. “Our coaches, staff and student-athletes have done a tremendous job in making academics a priority in our department.” The Big Sky Presidents Cup was created as an award for academic achievement of student-athletes at Big Sky institutions as well as performance on the athletic field of play. Schools are awarded Presidents Cup points based on individual team grade point averages, graduation rates, number of all-conference performers with a grade point average above 3.0 and women’s and men’s all-sports trophy points.

College scene

Jaymes Powell and Sterling Beardlsee were named the Community Colleges of Spokane’s male and female scholar athletes of the month for May. Powell, a freshman pole vaulter from Mead High, placed first in the pole vault at the NWAACC Championships with a school-record vault of 16 feet, 2 inches. The previous record of 15-11 stood since 1973. He also ran a leg of the third-place 4x100 relay. Beardslee, a graduate of Kettle Falls High, is a sophomore on the CCS women’s golf team. She was the medalist at the 2004 Treasure Valley Invitational and the 2004 Bigfoot Invitational. To complete her career at CCS, she finished first at the NWAACC Championships, was selected to the NWAACC all-conference team and was voted team captain by her teammates.