THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: When locals are on the roster, it's even easier to root local

Local college teams are even more fun to follow when local kids are playing for them.

Washington State’s women’s basketball team has captured the hearts of the region, not to mention Shania Twain (“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”).

But we’ve been more curious about the Cougars since Bella Murekatete showed up in Pullman and began making an impact, after starring at Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls, where she nearly led the Jaguars to a state championship in 1A Division II.

Ditto Idaho women’s basketball, which in recent years had Allison Kirby (Timberlake) and Nina Carlson (Lake City) — and, years ago, the great Alli Nieman (Sandpoint).

Same with Idaho women’s soccer, with Maddy Lasher (Lake City), and WSU women’s soccer, with Bridget Rieken (Lake City) and, soon, with Georgia Whitehead and Elliotte Kortus (both Lake City).

Also in Pullman, there was Renee Bordelon (Lake City) with WSU women's volleyball, and Kyle Manzardo and Kodie Kolden (both Lake City) with WSU baseball.

A few years ago, Idaho men’s basketball featured Connor Hill (Post Falls).

Lewis-Clark State baseball has had local kids in the past — Kelly Moffat (Coeur d’Alene) years ago, more recently guys like Travis Georgius (Coeur d’Alene) and Zach Clanton and Trent Bridges (both Lake City).

And LCSC women’s basketball nearly won an NAIA national championship a few years back with local stars Caelyn Orlandi and Brittany Tackett (both Coeur d’Alene) and Brooke Litalien (Post Falls).

Eastern Washington University doesn’t bring in a lot of North Idaho talent, but every now and then someone like Grace Kirscher (Sandpoint High) makes an impact as an Eag.

Gonzaga’s a little different animal, because it’s almost against the law not to root for the lovables — men or women — no matter who’s on the roster.

But the GU women got a little extra look the past few years when Melody Kempton (Post Falls) was helping the Zags keep their run of NCAA appearances going.

And even some two decades ago, when Katy Ridenour (Post Falls) played for the Zags.

The GU men, of course, attract an unconditional love, no matter where the players come from.

Still, long ago, before the Zags were “The Zags,” Mike Winger (Coeur d’Alene) was a Zag. And these days, of course, there’s Anton Watson, who we keep being told is a “Spokane native” even though he grew up in North Idaho, even played for Coeur d’Alene Little League, before eventually moving to Spokane and attending Gonzaga Prep and, then, GU.

His older brother, Deon Jr., starred at Coeur d’Alene High (and later at Idaho) and his sister, Haile, played high school volleyball over here before playing at Eastern Washington and Fresno State.

Same with Idaho football, to a lesser degree. Many Vandal fans are Vandal fans, no matter where the players are from.

But there is a little more interest when some players are from around here — from John Friesz (Coeur d’Alene), a Walter Payton Award winner more than three decades ago, to Nate DeGraw and Tommy Hauser (both Post Falls in recent years, to the influx of North Idaho kids — Zach Johnson and Alex Green (Lake City), Trevor Miller (Post Falls) and Matyus McLain (Priest River) in this year’s recruiting class.

And I’m sure I’ve missed a few names, but you get the drift.

OTHER RANDOM thoughts …

Wouldn’t it be funny if this year turned out to be the “Year of the Parade?”

Not even Zag fans are talking about their lovables winning a national title this year. But every team this year has its warts, great performances followed by absolute stinkers, and it seems like any of a dozen teams — including the lovables — could win it all.

I still want to see a Boise State-Gonzaga matchup somewhere along the line in the NCAAs, just because. We should have had one in the second round last year, but BSU couldn’t beat Memphis.

Here’s a sentence absolutely no one thought would have come true if written one year ago:

“Geno Smith will emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL in 2022, sign a lucrative contract after the season … AND … will possibly be asked to tutor his successor as quarterback of the Seahawks.”

Geno Smith? The Human Turnover with the Jets, with 34 interceptions and eight fumbles (four lost) in his first two seasons there?

Kudos to Eugene Cyril "Geno" Smith III for his breakout season last year, when he actually turned into an upgrade over The (Formerly) Great Russell Wilson — like we all expected — with 30 TD passes and 11 interceptions in the regular season, aided by throwing to two of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

Diehards will overlook that seven of those picks came in the final seven games of the regular season, as well. And his pick and a lost fumble in the wild-card loss to the 49ers.

But still …

Maybe “Geno magic” happens again next season … who knows? The point is, if anyone saw this coming a year ago … well, they were probably influenced by shopping at businesses owned by Shawn Kemp.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.