Spokane swimmer sweeps Orcas event
Don Moravec of Spokane dominated the men’s division in the inaugural Orcas Open Water Challenge on Orcas Island, Wash., last weekend.
Moravec placed first overall in each of the four competitions in the open-water event – half-mile, 1-mile and 3-mile individual swims, and teamed with Pat McChesney, also of Spokane, to win the 2-mile relay.
“Don and Pat are excellent swimmers,” said Paul Hopkins, co-race director. “They placed the bar (high) for next year’s competition.”
The event drew 63 swimmers to Cascade Lake at Moran State Park. The women’s category had separate winners, all from Western Washington, for each individual event.
Track and field
George Mathews of Hayden Lake took home two silver medals from the USA Track & Field National Masters Weight and Super Weight Championships in Seattle last weekend.
Mathews had season bests of 65 feet, 11 1/2 inches in the 20-pound weight throw and 27-6 1/2 in the 56-pound weight throw.
The events were won by 1972 Olympian Tom Gage of Billings, Mont.
Wrestling
Brandon Richardson of Lakeland took first in freestyle at 110 pounds in the Schoolboy division and Garrett DeMers of the Buzzsaw Wrestling Club in Coeur d’Alene was second in Greco and third in freestyle at 100 pounds in the Western Regionals during the summer in Klamath Falls, Ore.
Miscellany
Dennis Kalina, in his eighth year at Bradley University, has been hired by Gonzaga University as associate athletic director for development.
GU athletic director Mike Roth said Kalina will assume his duties Oct. 9. He is in town this weekend and will attend the Bulldog Club golf tournament Monday at Manito Golf and Country Club.
“That will give Dennis a good opportunity to meet many of our key boosters in one setting,” Roth said.
Kalina replaces Mike Hogan, who resigned to enter private business in Spokane after eight years at Gonzaga.
“We are excited Dennis has agreed to join our staff,” Roth said. “He brings a wealth of experience to Gonzaga.”
At Bradley, Kalina has overseen the Braves’ marketing efforts and served as director of the booster organization. Under Kalina’s leadership, BU has reached record levels in booster club membership, donations to the athletic department and in athletic corporate sponsorships.
“North Idaho College athletics director Al Williams was selected by his peers in the Scenic West Athletic Conference to serve on several National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) committees.
Williams is the new regional director for men’s sports in Region 18, which includes all the SWAC members and Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges members who have wrestling programs.
Williams will also serve on the NJCAA standing committees for men’s Division I basketball and wrestling and the joint standing committee for districting, which oversees proposals for conference realignment and postseason playoffs between regions.