The Front Row with MARK NELKE Dec. 13, 2012
Was it the Saturday in mid-October when North Idaho teams finished off their domination of the state 5A soccer tournaments - Post Falls winning its first boys title, and Lake City's girls beating Post Falls in an all-North Idaho final?
Was it Coeur d'Alene's shocking victory over defending champion Lake City in the state 5A softball title game?
Was it the last baseball game ever played at storied McEuen Field?
Was it any number of other state titles won by local high school teams?
What do you think was the top local sports story of 2012?
And if you branch the list out regionally, where does Idaho football news fit in - with a coach fired, the interim coach not retained, a new coach brought in to rebuild a program which went 1-11 this season and has to play as an FBS independent next season?
Email us your thoughts on the top local sports stories of 2012 to sports@cdapress.com
* An intriguing nonleague boys basketball game is on the schedule for Thursday night, when 5A Coeur d'Alene travels to Spirit Lake to play 3A Timberlake.
Coeur d'Alene, with no returning starters and few returning varsity players, is off to a 2-0 start. Timberlake, which is trying to qualify for state this year for the first time since the school opened in 1998, is 3-0.
* Writing about Timberlake reminded me of covering the Tigers' first playoff game this season, a 15-13 victory over Weiser at Spirit Lake.
On a rainy, miserable afternoon, Weiser missed a chip shot field goal which would have put the Wolverines into the state 3A semifinals against Snake River Valley Conference rival Fruitland.
The tears the Weiser players and coaches shared on the field after the game were not to be confused with the raindrops. Still, despite the emotional loss, Weiser coach John Shrolec Jr. still was able to praise Timberlake.
"That's a good staff ... they run a class program up here," Shrolec said, moments after his talk with the team. "And it's no wonder they're always at the top of the IML. We've played them a lot of times in the last six years, and ... they're always classy, and they're good players."
* Coeur d'Alene High lost another one of its former coaches recently with the passing of Ruth (Palm) Lynch, who started the volleyball program at Coeur d'Alene High in 1971.
Ruth died Nov. 6.
She started the girls track program at Coeur d'Alene in 1963, and helped start the Viking girls basketball program in 1974.
Ruth coached the Viking varsity volleyball team for 11 seasons.
“Ruth was a pioneer for women’s athletics,” former Coeur d’Alene High coach and athletic director Larry Schwenke said.
According to a “Return of the Legends” program produced by Coeur d’Alene High, Ruth was one of several advocates for girls sports in North Idaho who met regularly in an effort to improve girls programs. Others were Sherie Patano of Post Falls, Pat Smith of Sandpoint, Alice Deaver of Lakeland, Mary Jean Hinkemeyer of Kellogg and Judy Linehan of Bonners Ferry.
Ruth taught in the Coeur d’Alene School District from 1957-90.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.