Northwest Notes Jan. 13, 2023
Courtesy Virginia athletics Lake City High senior Blake Buchanan signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Virginia on Wednesday during the first day of the NCAA early signing period.
Lake City's Buchanan nominated for McDonald's All-American Games
Lake City High senior center Blake Buchanan is one of 722 boys and girls basketball players nominated to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Games.
Buchanan, who has signed with Virginia, is the lone nominee — boy or girl — from Idaho.
Tyce Paulsen of Curtis High in University Place, Wash., which Lake City beat earlier this season to win the Curtis Winter Classic, is among the other nominees.
The boys McDonald's All-American Game is scheduled for March 28 in Houston.
From the list of nominees across the country, 48 players (24 boys, 24 girls) will be selected to participate in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Games. That final 48-player roster will be revealed on Jan. 24.
WSU names Schmedding defensive coordinator
PULLMAN — Washington State football coach Jake Dickert named Spokane native Jeff Schmedding as the Cougars’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, it was announced Thursday.
Schmedding returns to the Pacific Northwest having spent the past two seasons at Auburn, most recently serving as defensive coordinator.
Schmedding spent the previous two seasons at Boise State as defensive coordinator.
Prior to arriving in Boise, Schmedding spent 15 seasons (2004-18) at Eastern Washington, helping to lead the Eagles to the FCSchampionship in 2010. EWU also made the national title game in 2018 – one of 10 total FCS Playoff appearances during Schmedding’s time with the program.
Schmedding, an EWU grad from University High, served as EWU’s defensive coordinator from 2015-18, while also coaching safeties and rovers. He spent seven seasons (2008-14) as the Eagles’ special teams coordinator, coaching linebackers (2008-09), safeties and nickels (2010-14). He coached safeties in 2007 and previously worked with linebackers (2004), the secondary (2005) and safeties (2006) as a graduate assistant from 2004-06 in his first three seasons at EWU.
Gonzaga’s Bosselmann, WSU’s Minniss
taken in NWSL draft
PHILADELPHIA — Gonzaga goalkeeper Lyza Bosselmann was selected 28th overall, in the third round by the Washington Spirit, in the NWSL draft on Thursday.
Fifth-year WSU senior Mykiaa Minniss was selected in the third round, 35th overall, by the Kansas City Current.
Minniss is the ninth Cougar to be drafted into the NWSL.
Bosselmann becomes the second Zag ever drafted into the NWSL, joining Jordan Thompson who was selected 50th overall, in the fourth round last season.
Bosselmann tops Gonzaga’s top-10 lists in fewest goals allowed in season (13 in 2022) and in a career (47 since 2019). She is also first all-time at GU in career goals against average (0.86) and in a season (0.72). Bosselmann is second all-time at GU in career shutouts with 20 and eighth with 182 career saves.
Minniss, a fifth-year senior defender, had 92 career starts, the most all-time in program history for matches started by a field player, and finished with over 8,300 minutes played. Over five seasons, she led WSU to the 2019 College Cup, and scored three goals while tallying eight assists from the back line.
Minniss is the fourth WSU player in four seasons to be drafted. In 2020, Morgan Weaver was selected No. 2 overall by the Portland Thorns, followed by Trinity Rodman in 2021 as the second overall pick to the Washington Spirit. Last year, Elyse Bennett was selected No. 7 to Kansas City Current.
The 11th annual draft was held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Alyssa Thompson of Harvard-Westlake Prep was selected first by Angel City FC.
The NWSL season begins March 25.