NORTHWEST NOTES: Friday, April 29, 2016

NIC athletics awards banquet

scheduled for May 7

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College will hold its annual athletics awards banquet on Saturday, May 7, in the Edminster Student Union Building. The social will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the Cardinals Athletics Awards at 6 p.m.

The annual banquet will honor the male and female academic and athletic award winners, Team of the Year, and Booster Club Member of the Year. The awards banquet will also honor NIC faculty and staff members of the Year, among other awards.

Tickets for the induction ceremony and athletic awards dinner are available for $25 and can be purchased at the NIC athletic department office.

Information: 769-3348, nic.edu/athletics.

Zags’ Tinkle granted

medical hardship waiver

SPOKANE — The West Coast Conference has approved a medical hardship waiver for Gonzaga senior Elle Tinkle, making her eligible to compete for the Zags in 2016-17.

Gonzaga sought the waiver on Tinkle’s behalf after she missed all but 10 games in 2015-16 due to a knee injury sustained in November. In those 10 games, the Missoula, Mont., native averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

In 110 games in a GU uniform, including 39 starts, Tinkle has averaged six points and 3.2 rebounds, while shooting nearly 43 percent from the field. She has 657 points and 357 rebounds in her career. Tinkle opened the 2015-16 season on the preseason All-Conference team after being selected All-WCC First Team in 2014-15 season.

Empire sign two,

host Tri-Cities tonight

SPOKANE — The Spokane Empire has signed defensive lineman D.J. Yendrey and quarterback/wide receiver Diondre Borel.

Yendrey (6-4, 280, Texas State) joins the Empire for his rookie season as a member of the IFL. D.J. played his final season of collegiate football at Texas State in 2013. Prior to transferring, Yendrey played his first three seasons at Texas Christian where he was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection.

Borel (6-0, 195, Utah State) joins Spokane for his first season in the IFL. In 2015 with the AFL champion San Jose Sabercats, Borel played in seven contests and recorded eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. After finishing his collegiate career at Utah State, Borel was signed as an undrafted free agent by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers (2011) where he was converted from a college quarterback to a wide receiver. He also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012) and Tennessee Titans (2012-13).

Spokane hosts Tri-Cities tonight at 7.