MARK NELKE
Mark Nelke covers high school and North Idaho College sports, University of Idaho football and other local/regional sports as a writer, photographer, paginator and editor at the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has been at The Press since 1998 and sports editor since 2002. Before that, Mark was the one-man sports staff for 16 years at the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint. Earlier, he was sports editor for student newspapers at Spokane Falls Community College and Eastern Washington University. Mark enjoys the NCAA men's basketball tournament and wiener dogs — and not necessarily in that order.
Recent Stories
Circling Raven Championship: Ren triumphs in playoff
“I never see the scoreboard when I’m playing. I just do my best,” Ren, 22, said after her first victory on the tour where the top 10 money winners at season’s end qualify for the LPGA Tour. “I knew there was a scoreboard there (to the left of the 18th green, as the players walk up the fairway), but I never see it. I don’t know my score, I just play my best. This is best for me, because if I see the scoreboard I just think too much, like get nervous.”
A Zags fan's dying wish comes true
“I just have a huge smile on my face,” Dr. Carey Chisholm, a longtime Zags fan who has stage 4 lung cancer, said via phone on Saturday, while en route to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to watch Gonzaga play in the NCAA semifinals.
State 5A boys basketball championship: Not the T-Wolves' time ... Meridian denies Lake City its first state title
“We just have to remember how it feels, watching them win state, and it was brutal,” said Lake City sophomore wing Zach Johnson, who finished with 14 points. “But we’re all sophomores; we have two more seasons left, and I think we can come back and win one the next two years.”
State 2A boys basketball championship: Green is gold once again ... St. Maries wills its way to first title since 1960
St. Maries made big plays late for the second time in less than 24 hours, and edged the Ambrose Archers of Meridian 51-50 in the state 2A boys basketball championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center for the Lumberjacks’ first state title since 1960, and second in school history.
State 4A boys basketball: Lakeland without key piece for state
Star forward Skalskiy suspended, but Hawks still have high hopes
Lakeland has never won a state title in boys basketball. But this talented group, despite being shorthanded this week is poised to change all that.
Trio of stars: Post Falls High seniors and three-year starters Alex Horning, Caden McLean and Cole Rutherford are leaving their mark on Trojan basketball history
In the 2016 NCAA championship game, with the score tied in the final seconds, the guard pushed the ball up the floor, dropped the ball off to a trailing teammate just to the right of the top of the 3-point arc. That teammate rose up and buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer. National champs!
When it came to pass ... Pottenger's pass, pick help Coeur d'Alene roll past Lake City
The win by Coeur d'Alene (6-0, 2-0 5A IEL), coupled with the 43-28 victory by Post Falls (5-2, 2-0) at Lewiston, sets up a matchup between the two teams next Friday at Post Falls for the league title.
Special forces: Langley's two big special teams plays help Coeur d'Alene pummel Post Falls
Post Falls traveled to Coeur d'Alene for a nonleague football game between 5A Inland Empire League rivals that wasn't as close as anticipated.
Lakeside bus struck by unknown 'projectiles'
As a Lakeside school bus was leaving Clark Fork, an unknown projectile or projectiles struck the bus, shattering several windows and causing minor scratches and cuts from the glass.
Moscow soph Buchanan transferring to Lake City
Sophomore basketball standout Blake Buchanan, son of Idaho volleyball coach and former St. Maries High star Debbie (Martin) Buchanan, is transferring from Moscow to Lake City.