Sports notebook: GSL football teams strong as ever
High school football teams annually boast of high hopes entering a new season and this year is no different. Optimism among Valley squads is well-founded.
Games begin as early as Thursday for a senior class that entered high school with high expectations. Greater Spokane League freshman football was strong in 2004 and those players are bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced as they take their final high school fling.
Most GSL teams were junior oriented last year. A number of individuals are third-year starters, such as Tyler Cochran, a two-time All-GSL linebacker at Central Valley, and Danny Jordan, quarterback at University and an All-GSL defensive back last year.
Half a dozen senior East Valley players were rostered on the previous two playoff teams, gaining experience at the hands of their older mates.
This is their year – and it is so league-wide. As a result, the GSL is as strong as it’s been in years. Teams with rightfully high expectations will find themselves in a battle every week in order to make dreams come true.
The first week will be telling and it begins with a bang when the Bears and Lewis and Clark, two teams expected to battle for the 4A upper division, set the tone in Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. season opener.
Also on Thursday, U-Hi – co-champions of the GSL as freshmen and with two-thirds of its starting lineup returned from last year – hosts Coeur d’Alene in a nonleague game against the Idaho power.
Friday, the Knights, seeking a fourth straight 3A playoff berth, are at home against Rogers in a 7 p.m. season-opening GSL counter.
Also at 7, West Valley, whose seniors got their start in the GSL and are playing in the 2A Great Northern League for the second year, play the first of three nonleague games, at home against last year’s state qualifier, East Valley of Yakima.
Then it’s on to the Great Northern League, where the Eagles are one of five teams with legitimate title hopes.
Medal play at Liberty
Liberty Lake Ladies Nine Holers conducted week medal play on Thursday.
Lynda Sahnow led the way with low gross 55 in first flight. Nellie Auckerman shot 58 in second flight, and Polly Soderquist had 63 in third.
Net winners were Cheryl Baumker with 39 in first flight, Kathy Camyn with 35 in second, and Linda Barry with 38 in third.
Trailhead golfers compete
Weekly Wednesday golf played out as usual for Trailhead Ladies Golf Club.
Low gross score for the day was recorded by Dee Elder who shot 51 in A flight. Sharron Collins had low net with 31.
Joy Russell was B flight winner, shooting 53. There was a tie for the net lead, Iness Walth and Deanna Hauser both at 31.
Flight C was won by Renee Begovich with 60. Myrlene Haskell and Peg Nadvornick tied for low net score, each with 28.
Sammie Fletcher had a chip-in.