North Idaho Hall of Fame announces award finalists for April 12 banquet
COEUR D’ALENE — Athletes, teams and coaches from 29 high schools and three colleges in northern Idaho have been selected as finalists for the 62nd annual North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame awards, NIHOF officials announced Wednesday
The award winners will be announced at the annual banquet, which is set for Saturday, April 12, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and will take place along with the induction ceremonies for the North Idaho Hall of Fame. The five inductees are former Lake City and Coeur d’Alene High basketball coach Jim Winger, track throwing coach Bart Templeman, former University of Idaho volleyball coach Debbie Buchanan, former Coeur d’Alene High and University of Montana football athlete and community booster Rick Rasmussen, and Mike Iupati, former UI and NFL defensive lineman
Tickets for the banquet, which also features the North Idaho High School Awards, are $40 each and can be purchased online either by going to www.nihof.org starting today and clicking on the “Purchase Tickets” brown box. Reserved tables for eight also can be purchased for $400. The new University of Idaho football coach Thomas Ford will be the featured speaker.
A social hour where nominees can pick up their certificates and pose for photos begins at 5:30 p.m., with the banquet room doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
The event usually sells out so it will be livestreamed by IdahoSports.com on its website as well as the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame website, www.nihof.com.
The North Idaho Hall of Fame awards honor District I-II high school athletes, coaches and teams for their outstanding play, along with the athletes, coaches and teams from the University of Idaho, North Idaho College, and Lewis-Clark State College. A special award is also presented to a former area high school graduate who is performing well outside of northern Idaho. The awards cover the 2024 academic spring season and the 2024-25 academic fall and winter seasons.
Also, during the evening the 5th annual Hagadone High Character Award winners will be announced. A female and male athlete from each school is honored. The award is named after Duane Hagadone, who founded the North Idaho Hall of Fame. In defining the award, it recognizes a student-athlete who excelled in the classroom and as a teammate; has outstanding work ethic and integrity, displays sportsmanship and true character in all walks of life, and is just an all-around good individual. Civic and community involvement is a plus.
Nominations for each category are reviewed by the NIHOF committee, which selects the finalists and eventually the winner.
Each finalist receives a certificate, and the winners also receive a plaque. The athlete, coach, and team of the year awards for both high school and college receive trophies. These awards are handed out during the banquet.
All finalists for the awards and Hagadone High Character Award winners receive one free ticket to the banquet, but they must register on the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame website, www.nihof.com, to receive the free ticket.
Here are the finalists for each award:
2024 SPRING SPORTS
GIRLS GOLF (3A-1A) — Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Chiara Lehman, Genesis Prep
BOYS GOLF (3A-1A) — Beau Jones, Lakeside; Seth Swallows, St. Maries; Palmer Coleman, Priest River.
GIRLS TENNIS — Alexandria Montgomery, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Pepper Rickert, Sandpoint; Neva Reseska, Sandpoint; Madison Nesbit, Lake City.
BOYS TENNIS — Tate Burkholder, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Owen Sharp, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Jacob Dawson, Sandpoint; Conor Judson, Coeur d’Alene.
SOFTBALL (5A-4A) — Jenna Davenport, Coeur d’Alene; Kaci Kiblen, Moscow; Megan Highfill, Moscow; Cadence Skibitsky, Sandpoint; Jenna Barney, Lewiston.
SOFTBALL (3A) — Jesi Kitchen, Timberlake; Logan Walsh, Timberlake; Mattie Thacker, Grangeville; Kendra Meyer, Genesee; Jessica Ketola, Clearwater Valley.
BASEBALL (5A-4A) — Cooper Smith, Lake City; Levi Anderson, Moscow; Tyson Izzo, Moscow; Cooper Reese, Lake City; Austin DeBoer, Post Falls; Aidan Blanco, Coeur d’Alene.
BASEBALL (3A-1A) — Caden Robinett, Timberlake; Trey Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Aiden Olive, Orofino; Jameson Morris, Potlatch; Sam Lindsley, Grangeville; Dashel Barlow, Orofino
GIRLS TRACK (5A-4A) — Mattea Nuhn, Moscow; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Ivy Smith, Sandpoint; Mara Kessinger, Lewiston; Devin McDaniel, Sandpoint.
GIRLS TRACK (3A-1A) — Lindi Kessinger, Orofino; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Kathryn Burnette, Potlatch; Sage Elven, Prairie; Sara Casebolt, Logos.
BOYS TRACK (5A-4A) — Klein Fragoso, Sandpoint; Cobe Cameron, Post Falls; Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Jakan Lawrence, Coeur d’Alene.
BOYS TRACK (3A-1A) — Nathan Russell, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Caius Tebbe, Timberlake; Trenton Lorentz, Prairie; Alexzander Lambson, St. Maries; Noah Watson, Highland.
FALL SPORTS
GIRLS GOLF (6A-5A) — Jossetta Williams, Coeur d’Alene; Ella Wilson, Coeur d’Alene; Taylor Mire, Sandpoint; Mady Riley, Coeur d’Alene.
BOYS GOLF (6A-5A) — Chase Lovell, Moscow; Tyler Zachary, Lakeland; Ben Focke, Coeur d’Alene; Hunter Paquin, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY — Hazel Kunkel, Lake City; Kaylynn Misner, Post Falls; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Olivia May, Coeur d’Alene; Vanessa McLachlan, Timberlake.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY — Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Zach Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Wyatt Carr, Coeur d’Alene; Mitchell Rietze, Coeur d’Alene; Gabe Heule, Coeur d’Alene; Rowan Henry, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS SOCCER — Kennedy Hartzell, sr., Lake City; Lydia Lehosit, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Lucy Simpson, Timberlake; Lillianna Brinkmeier, Sandpoint; Asia Roberts, Lewiston; Avery Lathen, Lewiston.
BOYS SOCCER — Kason Pintler, Coeur d’Alene; Huxley Hall, Sandpoint; Ben Hannigan-Luther, Lake City ;Wyatt Thornycroft, Moscow; Nikita Rawson, Bonners Ferry; Treffen McCord, Coeur d’Alene Charter.
GIRLS SWIMMING — Tillie Sobek, Lake City; Taylor Quinn, Lake City; Ava de Leeuw, Sandpoint; Mia Driggs, Sandpoint.
BOYS SWIMMING — Noah Crossler, Moscow; Eli Shaw, Lake City; Andrew Davis, Coeur d’Alene.
VOLLEYBALL (6A-5A) — Paisley Goings, Coeur d’Alene; Mia Carr, Post Falls; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Olivia Zazuetta, Lakeland; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston.
VOLLEYBALL (4A-1A) — Helene Rae, Bonners Ferry; Adalei Lefebvre, Grangeville; Tylah Lambert, Lakeside; Madi Cooper, Genesis Prep; Emma Krogh, Kamiah; Tessa Stoner, Troy; Ashlyn Strunk, Troy; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Chloe Dorman, Kootenai; Madeline Junkin, Coeur du Christ; Chloe Grieser, Genesee
FOOTBALL (6A-5A) — Kai Wheeler, Coeur d'Alene; Isaac McKeown, Post Falls; Tyrus Blake, Post Falls; Ben Murray, Coeur d’Alene; Cole Arlint, Lewiston; Kage Weil, Lakeland; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Terry Davis, Lakeland; Drew Lehman, Sandpoint.
FOOTBALL (4A-1A) — Keaton Frei, Moscow; Cooper Poxleitner, Grangeville; David Kludt, Kamiah; Seamus Wilson, Logos; Sawyer Hewett, Kendrick; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Brock Boyer, Kendrick; Cooper Miller, Wallace; Tyson Charley, Lakeside.
WINTER SPORTS
GIRLS BASKETBALL (6A-5A) — Brookeslee Colvin, Coeur d'Alene; Sadie Zimmerman, Lake City; Brecken Mire, Sandpoint; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston; Kelsey Carroll, Coeur d’Alene; Landree Simon, Lakeland.
GIRLS BASKETBALL (4A-1A) — Malia Miller, Timberlake; Sydney Hinthorn, Bonners Ferry; Madalyn Green, Grangeville; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Emma Krogh, Kamiah; Kyleigh Wolfe, Lakeside; Brooklyn Charles, Kootenai Chloe Grieser, Genesee.
BOYS BASKETBALL (6A-5A) — Conner Carver, Post Falls; Jordan Carlson, Lake City; Reese Strawn, Lake City; Cason Miller, Lake City; Royce Fisher, Lewiston; Grant Abendroth, Moscow; Parker Bogar, Lewiston.
BOYS BASKETBALL (4A-1A) — Thomas Bateman, Bonners Ferry; JJ Yearout, St. Maries; Nate Stifel, Priest River; Dave Kludt, Kamiah; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Everett Lovell, Potlatch; Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry; Tyson Charley, Lakeside; Dylan Tosh, Genesis Prep; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ; Hyson Scott, Clearwater Valley.
GIRLS WRESTLING — Joely Slyter, Lewiston; Alexxis Johnson, Lake City; Shelby Garten, Timberlake; Hayley McNeal, Potlatch.
BOYS WRESTLING (6A-5A) — Matthew Hamilton, Post Falls; Colton Tucker, Coeur d’Alene; Brock Armstrong, Coeur d’Alene; Seth Martin, Post Falls; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Zach Teal, Lakeland; Carson Leonard, Lakeland; Jorden Tyler, Sandpoint.
BOYS WRESTLING (4A-3A) — Colton Storey, Kellogg; Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River; Aiden Yearout, St. Maries
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Sandpoint tennis; Sandpoint swimming.
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Genesee softball; Logos track.
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Moscow baseball; Coeur d’Alene cross country; Sandpoint swimming.
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Orofino baseball; Potlatch baseball; Kendrick football; Bonners Ferry basketball; Kendrick basketball
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Kent Anderson, Sandpoint tennis; Greg Jackson, Sandpoint swimming.
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Brian Malcolm, Genesee softball; Gwen Spencer, Logos track.
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Griffin Rod, Moscow baseball; Emry Carr, Coeur d’Alene cross country; Greg Jackson, Sandpoint swimming.
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Scotty Tondevold, Orofino baseball; Trent Baysinger, Potlatch baseball; Zane Hobart, Kendrick football; Nathan Williams, Bonners Ferry basketball; Steve Kirkland, Kendrick basketball.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Mattea Nuhn, Moscow; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston; Kelsey Carroll, Coeur d’Alene.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Hali Anderson, Kendrick; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Sara Casebolt, Logos; Sage Elven, Prairie; Chloe Grieser, Genesee; Kendra Meyer, Genesee
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (6A-5A) — Kai Wheeler, Coeur d’Alene; Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Caleb Jimmerson, Post Falls; Butch Kiblen, Moscow; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Connor Isakson, Moscow; Drew Lehman, Sandpoint; Tyson Izzo, Moscow.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (4A-1A) — Palmer Coleman, Priest River; David Goicoa, Grangeville; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; David Kludt, Kamiah; Seamus Wilson, Logos; Brody Rice, Bonners Ferry; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ.
COLLEGE
MEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Josh McCartain, North Idaho College golf; Joe Sykes, Idaho golf; Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho football; Tommy McCormick, Idaho football; Alton Hamilton, Lewis-Clark State basketball; Vaughn Weems, North Idaho College basketball.
COACH OF THE YEAR — Russell Grove, North Idaho College golf; Jason Eck, Idaho football; Mike Collins, Lewis-Clark State track and cross country.
TEAM OF THE YEAR — North Idaho College golf; North Idaho College soccer; Idaho football.
COLLEGE
WOMEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Kennedy Hobson, North Idaho College softball; Hanna Tait, Idaho track; Alyssa Peters, Idaho soccer; Ginger Kiefer, Idaho swimming; Olivia Nelson, Idaho basketball.
COACH OF THE YEAR — Russell Grove, North Idaho College golf; Shay Chapman, North Idaho College softball; Jeremy Clevenger, Idaho soccer; Caelyn Orlandi, Lewis-Clark State basketball
TEAM OF THE YEAR — North Idaho College softball; North Idaho College golf; Idaho soccer; Lewis-Clark State basketball
COLLEGE ATHLETE AWAY FROM AREA — Ridge Lovett, Nebraska wrestling.