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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho preps: McGee succeeds in many fields

It’s no longer unique to report that a girl is playing high school football.

The novelty wore off several years ago. In fact, there are a couple of girls playing at North Idaho schools this fall.

So when Molly McGee approached Wallace coach Dave Rounds last spring about playing this year, he was more than skeptical. After all, Rounds, a Wallace graduate, is a throwback to the old Miners’ slug-you-in-the-mouth teams of yesteryear.

“I told her she didn’t have a clue how hard she was going to have to work,” Rounds said.

For McGee to play, she was going to have to do what all the boys had to do, Rounds told her. That included showing up three days a week for 7 a.m. weightlifting sessions from late March through the end of the school year, three more times a week during the summer and doing running drills once a week.

McGee, a senior, kept her end of the deal.

“She worked and worked and worked hard,” Rounds said. “She made a believer out of me. She stepped up and did everything she needed to do.”

It shouldn’t have surprised Rounds that McGee completed the tasks. It’s something she’s accustomed to doing.

McGee, who boasts a 4.2 grade-point average, is on track to be the school’s valedictorian. She’s the daughter of First District magistrate Daniel McGee.

She didn’t turn out to make a statement or anything like that.

“In elementary school I played flag football and it was my favorite sport,” said McGee, a three-year letterman in golf and two-year letterman in basketball. “I grew up as a tomboy. I turned out because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

McGee, a 5-foot-5 lineman, has started at right guard in two junior varsity games and played on defense in one varsity game.

“She’s earned her letter,” Rounds said. “She’ll start in a couple more JV games and we hope to get her in another varsity game.”

Last week, McGee was named the Wallace Elks Roundup Queen.

“So I got to share with the team that we had another first – our first Wallace Elks Roundup Queen,” Rounds said.

Catching up

You take a couple of furlough days and all hell breaks loose.

No, just kidding. But some interesting things took place in these parts Tuesday.

•In volleyball, visiting Post Falls took Sandpoint to five games before falling 25-23, 27-29, 27-29, 25-23, 15-9. The Trojans trailed 24-18 in the third game before rallying. Sources tell me that it was the Trojans’ best match of the year despite losing.

•In girls soccer, a penalty kick by Tareyn White in the 75th minute lifted Post Falls to a 3-2 win over Coeur d’Alene.

•In boys soccer, Coeur d’Alene topped Post Falls 2-0 to tighten up the race in the 5A Inland Empire League.

Big league opener

It doesn’t get any bigger when Intermountain League football teams Timberlake (2-1) and fourth-ranked Priest River (3-0) collide Friday in a league opener at PR.

•In other games of interest in the area, Gonzaga Prep (2-1) visits Lake City (0-3) in the SWX televised game of the week and third-ranked Sandpoint (3-1) visits Post Falls (2-1).

•Kootenai (4-0) moved atop the 1A Division II rankings this week.