The Front Row with MARK NELKE October 28, 2010

It’s been a spirited fall so far in Spirit Lake.

Timberlake High has sent — or will send — every one of its fall sports teams to state.

The Tigers football team has already qualified for the state playoffs, with one game still remaining in the regular season. The volleyball team placed second at the 3A District 1 tournament last week to make it back to state for the first time since 2005. They start play Friday at Wendell High.

Both cross country teams are headed to state this Saturday at Kelly Park in Soda Springs. Timberlake’s girls, the defending state champions, won the district meet, and Timberlake’s boys were second.

And the Tigers’ girls soccer team, in just its third season, placed third at last weekend’s state tournament in Twin Falls. Timberlake won the IML and district crowns.

So it got me to thinking if any other teams in the area will have sent all their fall sports teams to state.

Coeur d’Alene: Will go to state (5A) in football, boys cross country and girls cross country, and went to state in boys soccer. Did not qualify in volleyball and girls soccer.

Lake City: Sent teams to state (5A) in boys and girls soccer, and the football team will be in the state playoffs next week. The girls cross country team is also state-bound. Did not qualify in volleyball and boys cross country.

Post Falls: Headed to state (5A) in volleyball and boys cross country. The other four teams did not qualify.

Lakeland: Did not qualify any teams to state (4A).

St. Maries: Headed to state (3A) in volleyball starting Friday at Wendell.

Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy: On to state (2A) in two of the three sports it offers in the fall — boys and girls cross country.

Kootenai: Advances to state (1A Division II) in football with a win over Clark Fork on Friday. Did not qualify in volleyball.

Lakeside: Sending its volleyball team to state (1A Division I) beginning Friday at Declo High. Football team needs to beat Wallace on Friday, then beat the Miners again in a Kansas tiebreaker Monday to make the state playoffs.

Hopefully I didn’t miss any teams, but in any event, it points to a pretty good fall for Timberlake — and not a bad one for Coeur d’Alene and Lake City.

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.