The Front Row with MARK NELKE October 7, 2010
In between barbs directed at others at the head table - or anyone else within eyesight - North Idaho College coaches gave updates on their teams last week at a booster function at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
Some highlights:
* Men's soccer coach Scott Moorcroft is hoping the Cardinals can earn a berth to the West District championships in Arizona in November, after NIC missed out last year. Just like last year, since they are playing as an independent, the Cardinals must have a record of .500 or better to advance to districts. This year, they are at 4-7-1 with six matches remaining in the season.
"We're starting the second half of the season with the goal of making it to Arizona, and I think we've got the guys to do it," Moorcroft said.
* College golf plays its national tournaments in the spring, but many play events in the fall as well. NIC, under first-year head coach Derrick Thompson, played host to an invitational last weekend at Avondale. He's taking the men's team to a tournament Oct. 14-15 in Odessa, Texas, dubbed a national tournament preview and including the top men's teams from last year.
NIC's men were 17th at nationals last spring, the women 14th.
"We'll see the course we get to play at nationals next spring," Thompson said of the men's squad.
* With only six returning players, including just two starters, a new system and a new assistant coach, NIC's women's soccer team is 7-3-1 with six games remaining.
A .500 record or better will qualify the Cardinals for the District B championships in Kansas City, Kansas, on Nov. 5-6.
"We have our goals set pretty high," NIC coach Dan Hogan said. "We want to make it back to the national tournament like we did two years ago (when NIC placed third in its first trip to nationals), and effort's going to have to be a part of it."
* Led by a returning honorable mention All-American (right side hitter Fei Gao) and a potential All-American this year (outside hitter Tina Strahinic), NIC's 10th-ranked volleyball team is cruising, off to a 17-5 start, including 3-0 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
"Basically I feel like I've been hired to steer the ship," first-year NIC coach Colleen Frohlich said.
The Good Ship Cardinal will get a test this week when Snow visits tonight and No. 2 Salt Lake comes to town Saturday.
* Basketball practice at NIC tipped off last weekend, and the Cardinals have nearly everybody back from last year's squad which finished eighth at nationals. It was the second straight appearance for NIC at nationals, and the Cardinals are hoping to three-peat as Region 18 champs.
"We're not sneaking up on anybody anymore," Cardinal coach Chris Carlson said. "We've got the bulls-eye on our back."
* NIC's men's basketball team has won two straight Scenic West Athletic Conference titles, and is looking to make it back to nationals for the first time since 1997.
Coach Jared Phay praised his returning point guard, Michael Hale III, who is attracting plenty of interest from four-year schools.
"He can say (during a timeout), 'What we're running is not working - what are you thinking?', and since he's the point guard, I'll listen to him," Phay said.
* Wrestling season is also under way at NIC, and coach Pat Whitcomb highlighted his returning All-Americans, Kyle McCrite (Lakeland High; third at nationals) and Jesse Nielsen (Coeur d'Alene High; sixth at nationals).
Whitcomb said McCrite was eligible to leave after his freshman season, but opted to return to pursue a national title.
And about Nielsen's wrestling style?
"He's like a fat kid at a buffet," Whitcomb said. "He just hangs out and hangs out and hangs out, and pretty soon he's going to get something done."
NIC is looking forward to hosting the NJCAA tournament Feb. 25-26 in Spokane.
* NIC softball team lost two standouts to four-year schools (Lauren Maloney to Stony Brook and Amanda Krier to Adelphi), but returns two pitchers and added a third in transfer Blake Meredith, the former Post Falls High standout who played at South Carolina-Upstate last year.
"The last time we had a lefty pitcher (Kelcey Cavan) we went far (second at nationals), and we're hoping she (Meredith) can take us great places," Cardinal coach Don Don Williams said.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.