Signing day roundup: Area foursome to continue at Division I level
Courtesy photo Coeur d'Alene High senior Skylar Burke signs a letter of intent to play basketball at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday at Coeur d'Alene High. In the front row, from left, are: Chloe Burke, Skylar Burke and Jodi Burke. In the back row, from left, are: Coeur d'Alene athletic director Bill White, Northwest Blazers coach Steve Klees, Northwest Blazers coach Chris Colvin, Coeur d'Alene girls basketball coach Nicole Symons and Coeur d'Alene girls basketball assistant coach John Naccarato.
From news services
Area athletes took full advantage of early signing day on Wednesday, signing letters of intent to play at various Division I programs.
Hanah Stoddard, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Lake City High, signed a letter of intent to continue her volleyball career at Gonzaga.
Stoddard’s Lake City teammate Nellie Reese, a 5-10 setter, signed with Montana State.
Also on Wednesday, Coeur d’Alene High senior Skylar Burke signed to play basketball at UC Santa Barbara and Viking senior Ryan Schneider signed to play baseball at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
Stoddard led the Timberwolves to back-to-back state tournaments in her last two seasons while earning All-IEL honors in the process, and was ranked on Scorebook Live’s Top 25 Watchlist for the state of Idaho this past season before being named as her team’s MVP and as a nominee for Idaho’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Stoddard lettered in four sports during her time at Lake City, and has served as captain for both the Timberwolves and her club team.
Reese, a four-year letterwinner at Lake City, led her team to an 18-8 overall mark this season. As a senior, she was named first-team all-league playing in 5A Inland Empire. Reese also garnered the 2021 coaches award. In addition, she was a first-team all-league pick as a junior and a second-team all-league honoree as a sophomore. Reese helped guide the Timberwolves to a fourth-place state finish in 2019, and a state runner-up showing as a freshman.
“Nellie is a dynamic setter that came on our radar just recently,” Montana State coach Daniel Jones said. “We moved quickly to get her because we like what she does. Nellie brings a lot of experience and is the daughter of a coach. She lives and breathes the game and has a huge amount of passion for volleyball. She will really add to our depth at the setting position.”
Burke, a 5-foot-8 guard, averaged 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game for the Vikings as a junior, and was named second team all-state team.
Schneider hit .378 (17 for 45) with 10 runs batted in as a junior for Coeur d’Alene last spring. On the mound, Schneider appeared in two games — both at the state 5A tournament — striking out five against Rocky Mountain.
“I chose to attend Gonzaga for the amazing education provided as well as a great team atmosphere,” Stoddard said. “When I was recruited as a Zag, it felt like I was truly wanted to come in and add to the program physically and mentally. There was also a big emphasis on developing humans, not just players, which is very important to me.
“I loved the student-to-teacher ratio as well, with the opportunity to build connections with my teachers. The school has everything I am looking for.”
Stoddard, who played at outside hitter this fall, was recruited to be a setter.
“Hanah is a standout person and player that immediately caught our attention,” Gonzaga coach Diane Nelson said. “Her competitive spirit separates her. She will contribute in her first year for Zags volleyball. She is poised with a talent in both setting and attacking.”