Area athletes make NWC academic teams
Fourteen Whitworth athletes from area high schools have been named to the Northwest Conference spring academic teams.
Here are the athletes, including their sport and where they went to high school: Dustin Frank, baseball, Lakeland; John Hauck, baseball, Northwest Christian; Sean Thompson, men’s golf, Central Valley; Kristin Watts, women’s golf, Colfax; Nicki Cavalier, softball, Colfax; Mandee Edwards, softball, Kettle Falls; Stephanie Helbling, softball, Moscow; Michelle Tully, softball, Gonzaga Prep; Leah Vaughn, women’s tennis, Mead; Nathan Anderson, men’s track and field, Timberlake; Brandon Howell, men’s track and field, Clarkston; Kristen Dormaier, women’s track and field, Almira/Coulee-Hartline; Ashley Gibbs, women’s track and field, Mt. Spokane; Stephanie Thurston, women’s track and field, St. Maries.
Michele Hegg, who went to school at Mead High and runs track and field for Pacific Lutheran University, also made the team.
Cross country
The University of Idaho men finished the season with the ninth-best grade point average in the country at 3.44, earning them All-Academic with Distinction honors from the United States Cross Country Coaches Association.
To earn the honor, teams have to have an average GPA of 3.25 or higher. The Idaho women’s team also earned All-Academic honors from the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Association with a team GPA of 3.30.
Rowing
The Gonzaga University women added seven student-athletes after they signed letters of intent to compete for the Bulldogs.
The seven Gonzaga newcomers: Mary Kate Mulcrone, Chicago; Meredith McCarty, Shelton, Wash.; Meaghan Davison, Maitland, Fla.; Madison Feddersen, Los Angeles; Kari Sulenes, Olympia, Wash.; Lauren Wood, Salt Lake City; and Liz Moore, Cincinnati.
Miscellany
The Washington State University athletic department has announced Willie Jude as an assistant strength coach.
Jude, who was a football and track and field competitor at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, came to WSU in 2002 to pursue his master’s in athletics.
Jude worked as a graduate assistant for fitness and educational development in 2003-04, as well as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for Cougars athletics.