In brief: USTA honors Silvey’s officiating

Barb Silvey of Spokane, a veteran sports official but a relative neophyte in tennis, has been selected the outstanding official of the year for Pacific Northwest Section of the U.S. Tennis Association.

She will receive her award during ceremonies Oct. 23 in Tigard, Ore.

Silvey, a high-ranking volleyball official who has worked that sport for 35 years and a former softball umpire of 25 years with eight national tournaments to her credit, began officiating tennis seven years ago.

The Rogers High School teacher of 27 years, who has coached tennis at the school for 20-plus years, has risen quickly up the ranks in tennis officiating, working matches around the Northwest, including the Washington State Open, and at area Division I colleges.

“Barb is very deserving of this award,” said Anthony Anegon, Silvey’s college assignor and USTA PNW vice chair of tennis officials.

He said she is at least the first Eastern Washington or North Idaho official in the last 20 years to win the award.

“I am finding it so much fun to officiate these days,” Silvey said, noting she has made a lot of friends “and get to enjoy a front-row seat to some very high-level play, whether it be in tennis or volleyball.”

College

Erica Ehlo, a Grand Canyon sophomore from Lewis and Clark High School, had a couple of career-best figures as the Antelopes went 1-4 in a volleyball tournament at Sonoma State that included the 21st-ranked hosts and three teams coming off 20-win seasons.

Ehlo led Grand Canyon with 45 kills, including a career-best 17 in a win over San Francisco State. She also had a career-best 20 digs in a loss.

• Tommy Richards, a Washington State University sophomore who played second base for the Bend Elks in the West Coast League, was named the most valuable player of the wood-bat summer baseball league for college players.

Richards led the league with a .364 batting average, collected 33 runs batted in and hit two home runs.

Running

Two local runners were age-group winners in the Kauai Marathon in Hawaii last Sunday.

Gunhild Swanson of Spokane Valley won the women’s 65-69-year-old division in 4 hours, 24 minutes, 47.1 seconds. Swanson finished 116th overall.

Joe Stewart of Spokane was first in the men’s 65-69 age group, timing 5:30:02.

He was 261st in the field of 343 finishers who competed on the difficult, hilly course in 85-degree temperatures and 85 percent humidity.

Three area runners were among the 936 finishers in the companion half marathon.

Beth Clements of Spokane was fourth in the female 35-39 age group in 1:53:12, 103rd overall; Ryan Clements of Spokane was 21st in male 45-49 in 1:59:59.9, 187th overall; and Vince Weese of Coeur d’Alene was 24th in male 35-39 in 2:00:2.2, 188th overall.

Wrestling

Benny Watt of Bonners Ferry, a three-time placer at the Idaho state championships, including a second-place finish at 135 pounds as a junior last year, has signed with University of Great Falls, Argos coach Caleb Schaeffer said.

UGF is coming off a third-place finish in the 2010 NAIA championships.

• The first meeting for first-time or new officials interested in middle school and/or high school wrestling will be held at Round Table Pizza in the 5-Mile Shopping Center on Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Those interested need to contact Rich Tschirgi, wrestling assigning secretary for the Spokane area, at spokanewrestling@q.com or 448-5734.