One final look at the highlights for Handle athletes

Allow me a moment to exhale.

We’ve come to the end of another high school sports season. Whether it’s because it’s finally the end or just a reaction to the frenzied final weeks of the year, I’m always compelled to take a deep breath.

Part of me, of course, is glad to reach this end every year. Part of me, too, would like to see it continue. That’s probably the parent in me, because, whether I want to admit it or not, I grow attached to these prep athletes – more so, I’m sure, than I should. Try as we might to be objective, journalists too have feelings (believe it or not).

Stories such as Kellogg’s Hank Yergler make the end so satisfying and sad at the same time. You say you’ve never heard of Yergler? Well, I must admit, I hadn’t either until the state track meet.

Yergler was just another face in a crowd until I met him on the blue turf at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium two weeks ago. I was trying to find out who won the 3A boys pole vault when I bumped into Yergler. I noticed he had on a Kellogg uniform. He seemed out of place under the canopy near the 50-yard line where the athletes gather to await the awards presentation for their events.

I expected to hear the name of another Intermountain League athlete as the winner. So I asked Yergler who won.

“I did,” Yergler said, trying to smile but seemingly stunned that he was actually saying what he said.

I imagine Yergler’s still stunned. He probably still has the gold medal hanging around his neck.

Stories such as his, which you don’t anticipate, help distinguish the years from each other.

As with most years around here, the individual and team feats were many. Too many, in fact, to highlight all of them here. As usual, here’s a quick look back at another year that expired too fast.

Fall

This sports season belonged largely to Coeur d’Alene High. The Vikings sent teams to state in every fall sport and most had something to brag about when they returned home.

In football, Coeur d’Alene returned to a state title game for the first time since 1987. Senior and junior running backs Gabe Le and Kevin Ah-Hi led the way, but the Vikings fell short 41-35 to Twin Falls in a game CdA did everything but win.

In 3A, Timberlake grabbed its first Intermountain League title in the first season of the post-Lakeland-dominated era. (Lakeland found life as a 4A school in the Inland Empire League more than it could handle in all boys sports and all but basketball and softball in girls sports.)

In soccer, Sandpoint’s boys and girls captured 4A state titles. It was the fourth state title in five years for both programs.

In cross country, CdA sophomore Michael Armon proved his state runner-up finish as a freshman was no fluke as he captured a state title. Equally impressive was the state title won by the CdA girls under coach Cathy Compton. The Viks return mostly intact this fall.

Lake City senior Breanna Sande added a third state runner-up finish.

Winter

The Post Falls and Kellogg boys basketball teams each brought home fourth-place trophies, as did the Coeur d’Alene and Wallace girls.

CdA returns nine of 10 players and Wallace returns all of its starters, so more good things are ahead in 2005-06 for those teams.

In wrestling, CdA took third as it captured the school’s first state trophy since 1986. Bonners Ferry was runner-up in 3A for a second straight year.

The four individual state champs were sophomore Joey Fio of Sandpoint, junior Adam Hall of Bonners Ferry, senior Jerad Madsen of Kellogg and senior Ryan Allen of CdA, who captured a second straight state title.

Spring

The feel-good team stories of this season both came from Priest River.

In baseball, the Spartans captured their first league and district titles in the 11-year history of their program.

In track, Priest River’s girls captured their first league and district titles and topped it off with a 3A state championship.

Kootenai, with no seniors and just five athletes, earned a fourth straight 1A state title. Smack dab in the middle of things for Kootenai was junior Darcy Collins, who breezed to state titles in the high jump, the 200 and both hurdles races.

The Lake City girls made a gallant attempt to defend their 5A state title. After watching their entire sprint corps graduate or move out of state, the Timberwolves still managed to come within 3 1/2 points of a third consecutive state title. That was made possible, of course, thanks to Breanna Sande (see below story for a list of her accomplishments).

In softball, CdA finished second for a fourth straight year. Yes, the Vikings came painfully close to a state title again – and it’s a position any school other than the state champ would gladly accept.

•I can’t sign off without listing some of the names of the area seniors who will no doubt use their athletic exploits as a springboard to success in life after high school. In no particular order: Ben Mitchell of Sandpoint; Travis Harmon of Lake City; Gabe Le of CdA; K.C. Billetz of Post Falls; Seth Patton of Kellogg; Tony Kraack of Kootenai; Eric DeMers of Sandpoint; Jake Flaherty of Priest River; Kam Kiefer of Lakeland; Adam Shamion of Post Falls; Ryan Allen of CdA; Ryne Eberlin of St. Maries; Ben Widmyer of LC; Jenna Griffitts of CdA; Breanna Sande of LC; Jake and Joe Wolfe of CdA; Kyle Payne of St. Maries; Scott Stockwell of Post Falls; Kelsey James of Sandpoint; Calli Jo Turner of Priest River; Kylie France of Sandpoint; Ashley Beck of Lakeland; Leslie Pulley of Post Falls; Cami Wendt of Kellogg; Lauren Stern of LC; Mindy Meyer of Lakeland; Melissa Piephoff of Timberlake; Kristi Tuntland of LC; Bonnie Millard of Priest River; and Elle Carne of Sandpoint.

•I also would be remiss if I didn’t congratulate Boundary County voters, who guaranteed Bonners Ferry will have extracurricular activities for the next two years with the passing of the override levy Tuesday. On behalf of the kids, way to go!