Holland makes Olympic team

Olympics: The U.S. Olympic snowboardcross team will not be announced until Monday, but Sandpoint native Nate Holland, who lives in Squaw Valley, Calif., has earned an automatic spot.

Holland placed 19th in the final snowboardcross qualifying event Thursday in Stoneham, Quebec, but his previous performances were good enough to make the team.

Graham Watanabe secured his spot on the team with a second-place finish at the World Cup event. Watanabe finished behind Pierre Vaultier of France.

Defending Olympic champion Seth Wescott should earn a spot when the full team is announced Monday. Shaun Palmer, the 41-year-old snowboarding pioneer, finished third Thursday, making him a long shot to make the Olympics.

From wire reports

Fitz memorial Wednesday

The memorial service for former Gonzaga University basketball coach and athletic director Dan Fitzgerald will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Pend Oreille Pavilion at Northern Quest Casino.

Fitzgerald, who took Gonzaga to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1995 and compiled a 252-171 record with the Bulldogs, died Tuesday at the age of 67.

Lake City’s Helbling feted

Running: Lake City’s Cody Helbling has been named the Gatorade boys cross country runner of the year in Idaho.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character. Helbling is a finalist for the Gatorade national boys cross country runner of the year award to be announced later this month.

Helbling finished second at the 5A state championship this past season and is a three-time first-team all-state selection. He has a 3.61 grade-point average and is a member of Lake City’s student council and volunteers as a youth mentor for elementary school students.

Coeur d’Alene High’s Kinsey Gomez was named the girls Gatorade runner of the year last week.

Plushenko wins European gold

Skating: Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko won the European Figure Skating Championships, his last major test before going for a second straight Olympic gold medal next month.

Plushenko is back from a three-year layoff from competition.

Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, the silver medalist at the 2006 Games, rallied to take second. Brian Joubert of France, last year’s champion, won the bronze.

Associated Press