Locals honored at SWABS luncheon
SPOKANE - The Coeur d'Alene High School football team and Lake City High softball team received honors for their efforts during the 2011 season during the annual Inland Northwest Sports Writers and Broadcasters Luncheon at the Spokane Convention Center on Wednesday.
The Vikings were named the Male Team of the Year following a second straight state 5A football championship in November. Lake City's softball team was awarded Junior Female Team of the Year.
"It was a good day to be a Viking," Coeur d'Alene High coach Shawn Amos said. "There was a lot of time and effort put in to get this award and a lot of guys putting time in. We're just lucky enough to have enjoyed it."
Coeur d'Alene beat Eagle 49-28 at Bronco Stadium in Boise in November.
Viking quarterback Chad Chalich, who signed a letter of intent to play football at Idaho, also won Junior Male Athlete of the Year. Chalich was named the 5A Player of the Year for the second straight year by the Idaho Statesman after passing for 3,641 yards and 42 touchdowns with just two interceptions as the Vikings finished 12-0.
"He just keeps adding up the awards," Amos said of Chalich. "The good thing about him is that, even though it’s an individual award, he knows it comes with teammates that you can’t do it without.”
Amos was also named Junior Male Coach of the Year.
“It’s a result of 100 people doing a 1,000 hours of work so I can accept that award for the football program,” Amos said. “It was a good day for us. It was kind of a reward for a lot of people doing a lot of hard work.”
Lake City went 26-0 en route to the 2011 softball championship over the Timberline Wolves, finishing with the school’s first undefeated season in school history and first state title since 2001.
“It was very, very exciting to win such an award,” Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann said. “We’re very honored to win such an award. With the competition you’re up against — the hard work paid off.”
Casey Stangel, a sophomore last year, struck out 15 and allowed one hit against the Wolves in the championship game.
“I’ve been taking student-athletes to the banquet for five or six years,” Tolzmann said. “The reality of last season came true today. We’re very honored as a group. This is a very elite group of athletes that are represented and we’re really excited about it.”
Lake City lost two players to graduation as they attempt to repeat this spring.
“I told the girls today it’s a good start going into the season,” Tolzmann said. “It brought back some good memories. Next Friday, we begin again on the next journey. I’m very proud of the girls and our season.”
Awards were also presented at the college and professional level on Wednesday.
JUNIOR AWARDS
Male Team of the Year — Coeur d’Alene football
Female Team of the Year — Lake City softball
Male Athlete of the Year — Chad Chalich, Coeur d’Alene
Female Athlete of the Year — Katie Knight, North Central
Male Coach of the Year — Shawn Amos, Coeur d’Alene football
Female Athlete of the Year — Jim Redmon, Lewis and Clark basketball
SENIOR AWARDS
Coach of the Year — Kelly Graves, Gonzaga women’s basketball
Team of the Year — Gonzaga women’s basketball
Female Athlete of the Year — Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga
Male Athlete of the Year — Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington
Pro Athlete of the Year — Tyler Johnson, Spokane Chiefs