And now, the rest of the (NIC) story
Space permitting, here are other tidbits from North Idaho College coaches and athletes, as told at a recent booster function — back when it was still summer:
- Off to a 13-5 start following Saturday’s victory, fourth-year NIC volleyball coach Kelsey Stanley said her team is “doing well, but we can do so much better.”
Making a mental list of potential impact players eventually included basically everyone on the team.
One of the newcomers, Hailee Etter, a 6-foot freshman middle blocker from Shadle Park, “is a skinny little thing that can hit the crap out of the ball,” Stanley said.
- NIC men’s soccer coach Ken Thompson noted, of the 25 players on his roster, only four return with experience.
One of the returnees, Cade Roske, a sophomore defender from Century High in Pocatello, was asked to explain what drew him to NIC and Coeur d’Alene.
He mentioned a “very open and accepting community.” Then, looking out over the Spokane River on a peaceful weekday night, he added, “Look around you — how can you not like this place?”
- With an overall dual record of 685-85-4, NIC’s wrestling program is just 15 wins away from 700 victories. The Cardinals, seeking their 15th national title, return seven national qualifiers, including three NJCAA All-Americans.
One of the returnees, 149-pounder Hasaan Hawthorne, came to NIC from Alabama.
“That’s not a huge wrestling state,” he said of Alabama. “We play football — Roll Tide.”
Hawthorne had never heard of NIC until being recruited by coach Pat Whitcomb, who is beginning his 21st season.
“He showed me his (national championship) ring and said, ‘You want one of these?’” Hawthorne said. “I basically came here for a national title.”
Heavyweight Damian Trujillo was an All-American two years ago, then redshirted last year. His reason for coming to NIC was simple.
“He (Whitcomb) offered me a scholarship, and he was the only one who did,” Trujillo said.
- Corey Symons will begin his fourth season as NIC men’s basketball coach with an 86-12 overall record. He credited the 86 wins to assistant coach George Swanson, who he called “one of the top recruiters in JUCO basketball. We tried to keep that level of recruiting (as we did in the NJCAA), and he’s a big reason for that.”
One of NIC’s newcomers is guard Tyler Brimhall, a transfer from Idaho who scored 16 against Stanford last season. He picked Idaho over full-ride offers from CSI, Salt Lake and some Arizona NJCAA schools.
“B.J. Blake (Idaho guard and former NIC star) is one of my best friends,” Brimhall explained of his decision.
- NIC has three returnees each to its men’s and women’s golf teams, who play a few tourneys in the fall, then crank it up in the spring for the chase for the conference title. Both teams are among the NWAC’s best.
One of the returning men, Australian Sean Langham, recently verbally committed to Idaho.
“Hopefully we can go out and bring back the NWAC title again,” sophomore Todd Henderson said.
- Randy Boswell’s love for NIC is undeniable. His voice cracked several times (either that, or the mic was cutting out, but I think it was more his voice cracking) as the longtime Cardinal athletic trainer talked about his time this summer on the staff of Team USA, which won the world wrestling championships. With the championship on the line in the final match, an American scored late to win and give the USA the world title.
He said he was asked if that was the most fulfilling moment of his career.
No. He mentioned 2011, when NIC’s women’s basketball team captured the national title. He recalled 2003, when NIC beat Colby, which had routed the Cardinals in a dual earlier in the season, en route to a national championship. He remembered being a part of starting the golf program at NIC.
“I am so thankful to be in your program, and on your bench,” Boswell told the NIC faithful.
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@CdAPressSports.