Sunday’s local watch: Jonathan Yake, McCall Skay among state finalists for High School Heisman
Five area athletes, including Jonathan Yake of Gonzaga Prep and McCall Skay of West Valley, are among the state finalists in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program.
Other area finalists include Andrew Montemayor of Othello among 19 on the Washington list and Daniel Challinor of Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy and Arika Arnzen of Nezperce among 17 on the Idaho list. Yake, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, is listed among the Idaho finalists.
Skay is an All-Great Northern League cross country and track standout who was fourth in the State 2A cross country championships in 2013. Yake is a three-sport athlete in cross country, wrestling and lacrosse.
Also three-sport athletes are Mortemayor, who plays football, basketball and baseball, and Arnzen, in volleyball, basketball and track and field. Challinor is a soccer and tennis athlete.
In its 21st year, the Wendy’s Heisman program recognizes outstanding high school seniors for their achievements in the classroom, on the field and in the community. One male and one female state winner will be announced Monday. Twelve national finalists will be chosen from the pool of state winners to compete for national honors in New York City on Dec. 19.
College scene
• Heather Johnson, a Gonzaga junior, was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic first team in women’s soccer for the second year in a row, and four Bulldogs earned honorable mention.
Johnson, a midfielder from Southridge of Kennewick, has a 3.71 GPA as a business administration major.
Tori Lee, a senior with a 3.88 GPA as an economics major, and Katey Pennington, a senior with a 3.72 GPA in biology, are honorable mention for a third time. Cricket Harber, a senior with a 3.70 GPA in business administration, earned honorable mention for a second time. Sophomore Karley Baggerly was honored in her first year of eligibility with a 3.48 GPA.
• Kali Klotz-Brooks from Cheney, Sofia Marikis from Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls and Dan Anderson from Sandpoint are among Western Washington athletes named 2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic All-Stars.
Klotz-Brooks, a junior with a 3.28 GPA with a business and sustainability major, and Marikis, a sophomore with a 3.58 GPA in kinesiology, were recognized in cross country. Anderson, a junior with a 3.44 GPA as a recreation major, was honored in men’s soccer.
• Jenni White, the Western Washington point guard from East Valley, got her senior season started off right, scoring a game-high 25 points in the Vikings’ 68-62 women’s exhibition basketball victory over University of British Columbia last week. She hit 9 of 14 field goals and added five assists and five rebounds.
Golf
Sierra Kersten of Spokane has repeated as Washington State Golf Association Junior Girls Player of the Year.
The Lewis and Clark senior finished third in the WJGA Girls State Championship, was runner-up in the WIAA girls State 4A championship and runner-up in the American Junior Golf Association Ryan Moore Invitational. Kersten also placed 32nd in the Girls Junior World Championship, considered one of the world’s biggest junior championships.
It is the second major award Kersten has received in the last month. She earlier was named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American by the AJGA.
The two-time All-Greater Spokane League MVP is the only WSGA player of the year from Eastern Washington.
Motorcycle racing
Five of the 19 riders who will pick up championship trophies when Spokane Speedway passes out awards Nov. 21 at The Venue, 6416 N. Cincinnati, captured two classes each during the 2014 season.
Double winners were Kody Kopp, 65cc and 85cc; Will Norris, 250/450 Am and Open Am; Wyatt Anderson, 450 Pro and Open Pro; Ronnie Dennison, Quad Am and Quad open; and Jeff Tucksen, Quad 40+ and Quad 400.
Other class winners: Tucker Hawk, 50 beginner; Kolby Trejbal, 50cc intermediate; Waylan Burgess, 50cc advanced; Logan Schultz, 65cc beginner; Noah Treijbal, 125/250cc; Shana Maguire, Lipstick; Steve Liberty, Over 40; Dennis Kanegae, Vintage; Paul Morgan, Twins; Warren Ostrom, Over 50; Tim Taigen, Mx Grudge I; Troy Allen, Mx Grudge 2; Kaven Tucksen, Quad mini; and Montana Moffatt, Quad Blaster.