NORTHWEST NOTES: Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Ex-Post Falls swimmer

takes D-I assistant job

Christine Mabile, head swim coach at the College of Idaho the past five seasons, has resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at Division I University of Missouri.

“It has been such a pleasure watching Christine grow from a young, inexperienced head coach into a strong, dynamic leader — and the success the Coyotes have had in the pool is a direct correlation to her coaching ability,” College of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly said. “Though I am extremely sad that she will be leaving the C of I, I have no doubt that the University of Missouri is getting an outstanding coach that will accomplish big things in the future.”

In her five years at C of I, Mabile led both programs to five consecutive NAIA championship appearances — with the Lady Yotes recording three-straight top-10 finishes, including a school record seventh-place finish in 2016. During her tenure, she compiled a combined 32-28 dual meet record — the most wins by a swim coach in program history.

“I wasn’t going to leave C of I for any job,” said Mabile, a former Post Falls High swimmer. “The relationships I made here at the C of I are incredible. However, to be able to assist at a top-10 national program like Missouri, which has an amazing staff and a team that has 30 Olympic Trial qualifiers and three athletes who have qualified for the Olympics in Rio, is something I can’t pass up.”

This past season, the Missouri men placed eighth and the Tiger women placed 11th at the NCAA championships.

“Christine’s head coaching experience of both men and women by herself at the College of Idaho will bring a lot of experience to our pool deck,” Missouri head coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said in a release.

It marks Mabile’s second job at a NCAA Division I program, as she spent four years as a volunteer assistant coach at Boise State prior to landing the job at C of I.

Mabile was a member of Post Falls’ state championship girls teams in 2003 and ’04, then swam two seasons at the College of Idaho.

Vandals topple

Lithuania again

ZHUZHOU, China — Tyler Brimhall scored 14 points as the Idaho men’s basketball team rolled to an 83-61 victory over Lithuania on Tuesday evening.

Idaho also defeated the perennial European power to open up the Atlas Challenge last week.

Brimhall hit 4 of 5 3-point shots, and also grabbed six rebounds for Idaho.

Idaho outscored Lithuania 24-16 in the first quarter and built a 15-point advantage into the half. Idaho outrebounded Lithuania 44-24, grabbing 19 offensive boards.

Nate Sherwood went 6 of 9 from the field and finished with 13 points. He also led the team with eight rebounds, five offensive. Jake Straughan had 11 points.

Today the Vandals will take on Macedonia, marking the third meeting between the teams in the last week. Tipoff is set for 6 a.m. PDT. Macedonia beat Idaho in the first two meetings.

The Vandals close the trip out against China on Thursday morning at 6 a.m. PDT. The game will be streamed online at CBA.LeSports.com.