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
Tough foes for 5A girls squads
Cd'A, Lake City, Post Falls among local teams tipping off tonight
Coeur d'Alene, which finished third in the state in 5A last year, opens its girls basketball season vs. three teams from the 4A Inland Empire League.
'A pack of Tigers'
Rhodes, Timberlake 'D' shines in 3A playoff win
SPIRIT LAKE - At 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, Timberlake High junior Preston Rhodes was deemed too small to continue his football career as a linebacker, so he was switched to cornerback this season.
Vandals return to action with new QB, interim coach
The opponent on the field and the scoreboard today will be San Jose State, but in the wake of the recent developments at Idaho, the focus has been on the Vandals themselves heading into the Western Athletic Conference football game at the Kibbie Dome.
Leaders on the line
In very different ways, Trevor Woodall and James Hunt have Lake City's football team headed in the right direction
Chemistry can bring an offensive line together.
5A title could be up for grabs
The state 5A playoffs begin tonight, without a clear-cut favorite from either North Idaho or the Boise area.
Bushnell to start at QB for Vandals
Gesser says he will not pull redshirt of freshman and former Cd'A quarterback Chalich
Senior Logan Bushnell will start at quarterback for Idaho (1-7, 1-2 Western Athletic Conference) on Saturday vs. San Jose State (6-2, 2-1), but junior Taylor Davis will also see action during the game, interim Vandals coach Jason Gesser said Monday.
T-Wolf 'D' stops Trojans
COEUR d'ALENE - Lake City's defense gave up some yardage to Post Falls, but when it came down to making stops Friday night, the Timberwolves came up big.
The play(in)'s the thing this week
No, these technically aren't playoff games yet, though the losers are done for the season.
Newcomers shine at Vandal scrimmage
COEUR d'ALENE - After losing three starters from last year's team that finished an impressive third in the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho men's basketball coach Don Verlin has apparently reloaded well.
Gesser hopes to seize the moment
Jason Gesser teared up Monday morning at a news conference in Moscow as he talked about his new opportunity as head football coach of the Idaho Vandals, as well as about the man whom he replaced, Robb Akey, who was fired Sunday.
Idaho fires Akey
In 2009, his third season as coach, Robb Akey guided the Idaho Vandals to their first bowl game in 11 seasons, and things appeared on the upswing in Moscow.
Coeur d'Alene topples Lake City for league title
Vikings to host Lewiston, LC to host Post Falls in state play-in games
COEUR d'ALENE - Trailing 7-6 and needing a boost of momentum, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings got it with the ball to start the second half, and the wind at their back.
Cd'A, Lake City meet for 5A IEL title
Coeur d'Alene has had the upper hand over Lake City in recent years, winning the last four matchups, starting with the first round of the 2009 playoffs.
A step forward, a step back
Though the loss dropped them to 0-4, the Idaho Vandals thought they were headed in the right direction after a 40-37 overtime setback to Wyoming at the Kibbie Dome.
Expect the unexpected
Post Falls girls in field for first time; Trojan boys more mature this year
From the start of the season to the regional championship match, Post Falls girls soccer coach Briggs Anderson has stressed the importance of getting everyone on the roster involved.
Vikings look to keep it rolling at Lewiston
The Coeur d'Alene Vikings returned to their winning ways last week with a 51-7 triumph at Post Falls in the Vikings' 5A Inland Empire League opener.
Vandals shed anchors, gain freedom
It's not like you can flip a switch for an 0-5 team and say, hey, we're 0-0 in conference.
Vikings deny Lake City tie for league title
Coeur d'Alene's decisive victory gives Lewiston top seed to regionals in 5A volleyball
Trojans advance to state
Post Falls tops Coeur d'Alene; Vikings must win play-in game to move on
Vikings back on the run
Mahaffy rushes for 198 yards, 4 touchdowns
POST FALLS — The Coeur d’Alene Vikings were hoping to beef up their running game, and were also looking to see what Reece Mahaffy could do carrying the ball.
Next year's independents collide
Vandals seek first win in WAC opener
The Independence Bowl has been played every December since 1976.
Lake City fends off Post Falls in 5A IEL volleyball
T-Wolves stay on heels of league-leading Lewiston
POST FALLS - With scrappy defense, and playing some of their best volleyball of the season, the Post Falls Trojans had their chances to knock off the Lake City Timberwolves in 5A Inland Empire League volleyball Thursday night at The Arena.
Viks back in action after big losses, bye
Coeur d'Alene High football coach Shawn Amos said back-to-back one-sided losses haven't damaged the confidence of the Vikings (3-2), who are coming off a bye week in preparation of tonight's 5A Inland Empire League opener at Post Falls (1-4, 0-1).
Vandals still seeking elusive 1st win
The Idaho Vandals and coach Robb Akey have enough to worry about this week, what with being 0-5 and trying to secure that elusive first victory when New Mexico State (1-4) visits the Kibbie Dome on Saturday in the Vandals' Western Athletic Conference football opener.
Trying to stay on their 'Heels
Idaho's defense could get a workout in today's nonconference test vs. North Carolina (2-2) at Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Lake City pulls off road win
Bevacqua sparks Timberwolves in 5A IEL victory at Lewiston
LEWISTON - Mitch Bevacqua returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a Lake City touchdown, and the Timberwolves went on to build a two-TD lead in the first half of their 5A Inland Empire League football matchup with Lewiston.
Lake City thrashes league-leading Lewiston
Curtis, Farrell, Watson help T-Wolves muddy up 5A IEL race
COEUR d'ALENE - Kylie Curtis' future in volleyball may very well be as a setter.
Lake City looks to keep it going
One team is trying to build on some recent momentum, the other still trying to find its way under new management, as Lake City (2-1-1, 1-0 5A Inland Empire League) travels to Lewiston (2-1, 0-0) tonight.
Vandals pass 'D' cause for concern
Lots of things went well for the Idaho Vandals in their 40-37 overtime loss to Wyoming last Saturday in the Kibbie Dome, which dropped the Vandals' record to 0-4.
Vandals face Mountain West foe
The Wyoming football program is in a place the Idaho Vandals would love to be someday soon.
Sort of like old times
Timberwolves rack up lots of yards, points
COEUR d’ALENE — For a second straight week, there were smiles and hugs on the Lake City sideline after another decisive Timberwolf victory.
Out of character
Cardinals fall in SWAC opener; Bruins' Matheson shines in return
COEUR d’ALENE — In its first match after rising to No. 1 in the NJCAA volleyball poll, the North Idaho College volleyball team came out Thursday night and played out of character, in the words of their coach.
Post Falls, Lake City square off in league opener
League play in the 5A Inland Empire League begins tonight with one team looking to build off a big win last week, and the other still searching for answers.
One game, two Vandal bowl-winning coaches
Robb Akey and Chris Tormey have one thing in common - they're the only two coaches to guide the Idaho Vandals to a bowl game.
Trojans' Failor to play basketball at Army
Dani Failor said she likes structure.
Fallen teammate always on minds of Vandals
Ken McRoyal is still on the minds of the Idaho Vandals, perhaps no more so than this week.
Still a work in progress
Post Falls succumbs to balanced Knight squad
More than just another game
Vikings excited for matchup with Skyline
Many are wondering whether the Coeur d'Alene High football team can hang with Pacific Northwest football power Skyline (2-0) of Sammamish, Wash., when the two teams square off Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow in the finale of the four-game Idaho Football Classic.
QB Blackman proved worth the wait
It happened one game later than many expected, but the Idaho debut of quarterback Dominique Blackman was definitely an encouraging sign for the Vandal football team.
Vandals look to bounce back at Bowling Green
Idaho football coach Robb Akey watched this week's foe, Bowling Green, play live on TV last Saturday. He also said he's seen tape of the game "2,000 times."
Hawks can't contain Talley, Knights
Star back helps East Valley pull away in 2nd half
Farrell, T-Wolves block Viks
Lake City rallies in all three games to sweep Coeur d'Alene
COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene Vikings were well on their way to victory in the first game of Thursday night's 5A Inland Empire League volleyball match with Lake City when the Vikings ran into a roadblock.
Loper transfers to Oregon
Former Post Falls High basketball star played last two seasons at Hofstra
Growing up, Katelyn Loper said she always wanted to play basketball in the Pac-10 Conference - now the Pac-12.
There's games, but you'll have to travel
It's one of those quirks in the schedule - but for the second time in the first three weeks of the season, there are no Friday night high school football games scheduled for the Coeur d'Alene area.
Vandals look to bring it to the field
Idaho football coach Robb Akey said the Vandals have looked good everywhere this fall - everywhere, that is, except for when it counts the most.
Viks' speed buries West Linn
Amos throws for 5 TDs, rushes for 2
False start
Vandals struggle on offense with backup QB
Amid distractions, Vandals open season
With the start of the season finally here, Idaho football coach Robb Akey was hoping that the actual games would take the Vandals' minds off the distractions of where the program was headed after this season.
Trojans don't mind later start to season
Their 5A brethren in the county kicked off their seasons last week, but the Post Falls Trojans were content to conclude their week with a jamboree at Lakeland.
Chalich, Watson begin season on 'red alert' status
Idaho football coach Robb Akey would ideally like to redshirt true freshmen Chad Chalich and Deon Watson from Coeur d'Alene High.