Quick hits
University star Angie Bjorklund is about ready to hit the road for a pair of prestigious all-star basketball games designed to showcase the top women’s recruits in the country.
The Tennessee-bound Bjorklund, begins with the sixth McDonald’s Girls All-American game, Wednesday at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., at 2:30 p.m. (PDT).
Three days later, on Saturday, she will play in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America game in Cleveland State University’s Woodling Gym in Ohio, 1:30 p.m. (PDT).
Of the 26 high school girls chosen to play, Bjorklund is one of 17 who will participate in both high-profile games. All but one of those players has signed to play in college, mainly for powers such as Tennessee (3), Stanford (3), Duke (2), Maryland (2) and North Carolina (2).
All-State selections
Bjorklund is one of several local athletes named to all-state teams at two Western Washington newspapers.
She was named Player of the Year for the Tacoma News-Tribune and was joined on the first team by Lewis and Clark’s Katelan Redmon.
Named to the boys first team were Ferris standouts DeAngelo Casto and Shawn Stockton.
The four were also selected to Seattle Times all-state teams, with Bjorklund, Redmon and Casto on the first team and Stockton on the second.
Ferris coach Don Van Lierop was named 4A boys Coach of the Year by both newspapers to go with his Washington State Coaches Association coach of the year honor.
LC’s Jim Redmon was the Seattle Times’ overall and 4A girls Coach of the Year.
Ronni Jo Mielke from champion Sprague-Harrington was the 1B player of the year and her coach, Ed Shields, was 1B coach of the year.
Looking down the road
Half of all sports offered in high school are played in the spring, essentially in seasons that offer the shortest time frame to complete their league schedules.
GSL competition lasts between six and eight weeks depending upon the sport – and there are no weather guarantees.
Here are some upcoming GSL events of interest:
Baseball – Friday and Tuesday, Central Valley plays Mead and North Central plays Gonzaga Prep home and home, 3:30 p.m.
Golf – The first of five league outings begins Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Liberty Lake.
Soccer – Friday, Lewis and Clark plays Mt. Spokane at Hart Field at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, East Valley hosts University at 4 p.m. and Ferris plays at Central Valley (in a schedule switch) at 6:30 p.m. in league counters.
Softball – Today and Friday, Central Valley has road games at Rogers and Mt. Spokane. Tuesday, unbeatens Shadle Park and North Central face off. All games are at 4 p.m.
Tennis – Matches begin today, including Ferris girls at University, at 3:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Ferris and Lewis and Clark do battle. The Saxons are defending boys and girls champions.
Track and field – First league meets are Wednesday at 3 p.m. including a Mt. Spokane-Mead-Shadle Park showdown at Shadle.