The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 15, 2011
With it getting close to awards season, it was time recently to start researching some of the area’s top athletes, teams and coaches of 2011.
The conclusion — if you didn’t win a state title (more than one would help), it will be hard to get some love around here, as there were so many state champs in the area this year.
Where do we begin?
Most recently, there was the Coeur d’Alene High football team winning its second straight state 5A title, and quarterback Chad Chalich was named All-Idaho 5A Player of the Year by The Idaho Statesman newspaper of Boise for the second straight year. After years of hearing, “when are you going to beat Lake City?” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos now might be hearing, “hey, when are you going to let somebody else win a state title?”
Also this fall, Timberlake’s girls won their third straight state cross country title. Coeur d’Alene’s boys won the state 5A cross country title, and the girls were second...Lake City’s boys won a state swimming title....Post Falls placed second at the state 5A volleyball tournament — its best finish in school history — and Lake City placed third.
With its third coach in three seasons, the North Idaho College volleyball team qualified for nationals again this year, winning out after dropping its first match and finishing ninth. NIC’s best-ever finish at nationals was fourth (I mistakenly said last week the Cardinals’ best finish was fifth).
LAST SPRING, Lake City dominated 5A softball behind pitcher Casey Stangel, going undefeated en route to a state title....Kinsey Gomez of Coeur d’Alene capped a sparkling prep career by winning the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the state 5A track and field meet. Cody Curtis of Coeur d’Alene won the boys 1,600 and 3,200, and placed third at state this fall in cross country ... over in the Silver Valley, Kaceelyn Pouttu won her second straight state title in 3A golf.
LAST WINTER, North Idaho College, coached by Chris Carlson, won its first national title in women’s basketball. Kama Griffitts, the former Coeur d’Alene High star, was named MVP of the NJCAA tournament, and was named a second-team All-American. Teammate Tugce Canitez was a first-team All-American, after being named to the second team as a freshman.
Coeur d’Alene High’s wrestling team, coached by Jeff Moffat, won its second straight state 5A championship....Post Falls had three individual state champions, led by repeat winner James Ost.
After years of traveling to nationals, NIC brought the NJCAA tourney out this way, and finished second at nationals in Spokane. Two Cardinals won national titles — Jamelle Jones and former Coeur d’Alene High standout Jesse Nielsen.
In basketball, two local teams played for state high school titles, both finishing second. Coeur d’Alene’s girls were runners-up to Lewiston in their sixth straight trip to the title game, and Timberlake’s girls were second in their first appearance in the state title game.
And that’s not to mention all the other teams and individuals that were third, fourth, fifth ...
And, despite that lengthy list, I’m sure I’ve forgotten an outstanding accomplishment or two.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.