Locally: Eagles, Vandals present awards

Sophomore fullback Alexis Alexander (Medical Lake) was honored as the football team’s Offensive Player of the Year for the 2006 season at the Eastern Washington University football awards banquet on Jan. 13. Also, senior linebacker David Eneberg was selected as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year and senior kicker Brett Bergstrom earned Special Teams Player of the Year.

Also winning team awards were Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year Lorenzo Lomack and Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Austin Hobbs (Cheney). Both are linemen.

Brandon Nicholson, a wide receiver who sat out for more than a year with a broken femur, won the Pat Roberts Memorial Award. Nicholson returned from surgery that included having a rod inserted in his leg to catch a pass in his final game as a senior.

The Tom Oswald “Doing the Right Thing” Award was given to former EWU punter Ryan Chicoine and his wife, Amy, for adopting three foster children. Chicoine (Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls) played in 1998 for EWU. The new award was made in the memory of Oswald, the former Cheney HS football coach who died of cancer last summer.

Eneberg and junior offensive guard Matt Alfred were also honored for serving as team co-captains for the 2006 season.

“University of Idaho junior linebacker David Vobora was chosen the football team’s Most Valuable Player at the annual awards banquet Friday night.

Also honored were junior cornerback Stanley Franks as the Defensive Player of the Year and senior receiver Wendell Octave as the Offensive Player of the Year. Sophomore center Adam Korby was honored with the Wayne Walker Ironman Award, while the Wayne Anderson Coaches Award went to senior tight end Luke Smith-Anderson (Lake City).

The captains awards went to Vobora and senior offensive guard Jade Tadvick.

Junior linebacker JoArtis Ratti was the recipient of the Hec Edmundson Most Inspirational Player award and senior linebacker Robert Davis was the Special Teams Player of the Year.

The Scout Team Players of the Year were freshmen Andrew Blevins of Mead (defense) and Luke Conklin (offense).

Sophomore Jayson Bird earned the Kathy Clark Scholar-Athlete Award and senior safety Kiel McDonald was the recipient of the Eric McMillan Award

“University of Idaho volleyball players Debbie Pederson, Sarah Loney and seniors Erin Curtis and Stacy Sode were among the Vandals honored at Idaho’s fall sports banquet.

Curtis won the Amanda Gammage award, given to the most inspirational player. Curtis was also honored as the team’s most valuable player an honor she shared with fellow senior Sode. Pederson, a redshirt freshman, was selected as the volleyball team’s most improved player. Loney was selected as the team’s Kathy Clark Scholar-Athlete award winner.

Bowling

Nick Schmehl defeated Jake Sjolie 196-179 to win January’s Junior Bowling Tour event at Valley Bowl.

Schmehl totaled 928 for his four rolloff games. Jake Sjolie was the top qualifier with a 985 series.

Jake Schmehl had high game for the boys at 289 with Krista Elmore tops for the girls at 233.

The next JPT event is at Lilac Lanes on Feb. 11.