Northwest Notes Sept. 22, 2021

Kraziness in the Kennel

returning on Oct. 9

Gonzaga basketball will host Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel at 1 p.m. on Oct. 9, and Numerica FanFest at 4pm on Oct. 16, with doors opening one hour prior to both events.

Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel will be the first look at the 2021-22 men's basketball team, while Numerica FanFest will be the annual early glance at the women's basketball team.

While both events remain free to attend, Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel will be a ticketed event with attendees needing to claim a ticket for entry. A limited number of tickets will be made available to the general public on October 4th. Details on how to claim tickets to Numerica Kraziness in Kennel will be posted on www.gozags.com at a later date.

Earlier this week Gonzaga announced an updated Fan Attendance Policy which will be in effect for both events, with fans 12 and older are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry.

“We are looking forward to hosting these annual public events for our basketball programs,” said Gonzaga Athletic Director Chris Standiford. “We are excited to have our students and fans back in The Kennel to celebrate the start of the season.”

Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel will be streamed live online at 1 p.m. and televised locally on SWX at 4 p.m.

Ethridge agrees to extension

with Washington State

Washington State Athletic Director Pat Chun announced Wednesday that women's head basketball coach Kamie Ethridge has signed a contract extension keeping her in Pullman through the 2026-27 season. Ethridge's initial contract was for six years and ran through the 2023-24 campaign.

Despite playing through the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 campaign for WSU Women's Basketball will be remembered as arguably the greatest season in program history, as the Cougars earned their first top-25 ranking ever and made a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three decades.

"Kamie has rejuvenated our women's basketball program in a very short time and we are fortunate to know she will be leading the Cougars for many years to come," said Chun. "Competing in the best women's basketball conference in the nation, she has elevated WSU to the national stage and we are excited to see the upward trajectory of this program continue."

Washington State ended its third season under Ethridge at 12-12, marking the first time the program has posted a .500-or-better overall record since the 2014-15 campaign. The Cougars knocked off three top-25 teams in 2020-21, which included a 67-63 win over No. 5 UCLA in Pullman. The win over the Bruins marked the program's first victory over a top-five opponent. WSU also defeated the eventual national runner-up Arizona in Beasley Coliseum, as the Cougs knocked off the No. 7 Wildcats, 71-69 in overtime, in Beasley Coliseum.

"I sincerely appreciate the opportunity Director of Athletics Pat Chun and President Kirk Schulz have afforded me to continue to represent this tremendous university as head coach of Washington State's women's basketball program," said Ethridge. "I am extremely proud of the historic season we just completed and am proud to be representing Coug Nation as we head into the future. I love it here. I love what it means to be a Coug. I look forward to recruiting future Cougs who want to help us build upon the amazing energy and momentum surrounding our program. Our hope is, with our fans back in Beasley, we will continue to take this program to new heights year after year! Go Cougs!!"

Washington State won nine Pac-12 games during the 2020-21 season, which is tied for the second-most Pac-12 wins in a single season in program history. Academically, the Cougars posted their highest cumulative grade point average in program history in 2020-21 with a team GPA 3.629. Washington State was selected to the 2020-21 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for the first time in program history, posting the 20th-best team GPA in all of NCAA Division I women's basketball that season.

Ethridge has recruited elite talent from all over the globe during her tenure at Washington State, which includes New Zealand native Charlisse Leger-Walker, who was a 2020-21 USBWA All-American Honorable Mention selection and the 2020-21 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. WSU players such as Ula Motuga (Australia), Johanna Teder (Estonia), Genesis Prep standout Bella Murekatete (Rwanda), Krystal Leger-Walker (New Zealand) Jessica Clarke (Canada) and Tara Wallack (Canada) have gone on to play for their national team programs.

Ethridge was named the head coach of WSU women's basketball on April 15, 2018. She came to Pullman following four seasons as the head coach at the University of Northern Colorado, where she posted a combined 83 victories and led the Bears to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in her final season.

Gonzaga Athletics to implement updated fan attendance policy

SPOKANE — In accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines, Gonzaga University Athletics has instituted the following policy related to fan attendance for all ticketed athletic events, beginning this Saturday with the women’s soccer match vs. Nebraska-Omaha:

· Fans ages 12 and older are required to provide proof of vaccination, including a CDC-issued Vaccination Record Card (or photo of the card) to enter ticketed athletic events.

· Fans ages 12 and older who cannot provide proof of vaccination may present proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours instead of proof of vaccination.

· Fans ages 11 and under do not need to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test.

· Fans over the age of 5, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face mask coverings over their nose and mouth while inside the venue. Masks may be adjusted while actively eating or drinking.

· Gonzaga University students, faculty and staff can show their valid University ID as proof of compliance with the university’s COVID-19 campus vaccination policy.

· This policy will be evaluated as federal, state, and local guidance is revised.

NIC golf coach Grove tied for

sixth at PGA Professional Championship

North Idaho College men’s and women’s golf coach Russell Grove is tied for sixth after the second round of the Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore.

Grove shot a 69 in the first two rounds and is at 138 heading into today’s final round.

Colin Inglis of Shadow Hills Country Club leads the tournament with a 64-68—132.

The top seven qualifiers will advance to the 2022 PGA Professional Championship at OMNI Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, April 17-20, 2022. Additionally, the low 20 scores from the tournament in Austin advance to the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa., Okla., in May 2022.