Three Spokane teens qualify for junior nationals

Three members of the Spokane Nordic ski team, Ian McCarthy, Lauren Potyk and Brett Ford, have earned spots on the team that will represent the Pacific Northwest Ski Association at the 2014 USSA Junior National Cross-Country Ski Championships March 1-8, in Stowe, Vt.

McCarthy, 16, a sophomore at Lewis and Clark, qualified for the third time, earning his spot in his final race Sunday during the Mt. Spokane Nordic Cup and Junior National Qualifier. He was the only member of the Spokane Nordic team who qualified the last two years.

Potyk, 14, an eighth-grader at Chase Middle School, posted qualifying results during her last two races at Mount Spokane.

Ford, 15, a freshman at St. George’s, was the first to qualify, earning a spot during his fifth race at Soldier Hollow, Utah. He went into last weekend knowing he’d already qualified for the Junior National team, yet posted additional qualifying results in his last two races.

George Bryant, Spokane Nordic team coach, said the qualifying standard is high and “a skier must have five results from the eight JNQ races in order to qualify for the Junior National team.”

Bowling

Spokane had three of the top four finishers in the girls Division II singles competition at the 49th Washington State Bowling Proprietors’ Association State High School Varsity Bowling Championships last weekend at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.

Melissa Gray of Rogers was first and teammate Alexis Griego was third. Rebecca Benavidez of Moses Lake finished second and Savanna Smith of Shadle Park fourth in the division.

In girls Division I, Rebekah Hagreen of Cheney was third.

In boys singles, Clint Norlen of Deer Park/Riverside was third in Division I with Nicholas Young of Mt. Spokane third and Dylan Allison of Shadle Park fourth in Division II.

Jake Van Stralen of West Valley, who averaged 181 during the team competition, was selected to the boys Division I all-state first team and Dylan Young of Shadle Park, with a 172 average, was on the second team.

Ashleigh Hash of Moses Lake was a girls all-state selection with a 170 average.

In the team competition, Shadle Park was fifth in boys Division I with Cheney seventh and West Valley ninth. In Division II, Moses Lake was fifth and Rogers eighth.

Oak Harbor teams won boys Division I (for a fourth straight year) and Division II (second straight) with Shorecrest winning Division III.

Shooting

Spokane Junior Rifle Club had three champions and seven others with top-seven placings in a Washington state-level match that was a qualifier for the National Junior Olympics.

And two SJRC members, Cassidy Wilson, Riverside/home schooled, who shot in the Washington match, and Randi Loudin, Post Falls, who shot in the Idaho match, qualified for the National Junior Olympics, April 26-30 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Wilson, 13, qualified in both small-bore (0.22), placing second in the state in D class with a score of 511 out of 600, and in international air with a 371 out of 600. She was second in women’s C. Loudin, 17, qualified in the air expert class with a score of 380 out of 400.

In the Washington three-position small-bore event, Jesse Johnson of Colbert placed first in the C class with a score of 429 out of 600.

Mike Cooper from Mt. Spokane placed in both events. He was second in the small-bore A class with 537 out of 600 and second in international air men’s B with 588 out of 600.

Other SJRC placers in small-bore: A class – Aidan Maddox (532/600), Mt. Spokane, fourth. D class – Zach Taylor (440/600), Ferris, seventh.

In international air, where competitors get 60 shots standing from 10 meters, Maliya Hillman of Lewis and Clark was first in women’s A with a 375 score out of a possible 400 and Daniel Enger, an SJRC member from Walla Walla, was first in men’s AA with 561 out of 600. Katie McAdam (351/400), Northwest Christian/home schooled, was third in women’s D.

Cooper, Hillman and Wilson earned the Spokane Junior Rifle Club Gold team fifth place in the air team competition.

Other SJRC members who competed in the Washington meet were David Wright, home schooled; Mason Maystrovich, NWC; Mary Maystrovich, NWC; Taylor Christian, Horizon Middle School; and Chris Taylor, Ferris. Kati Loudin, Post Falls, also shot in the Idaho match.