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
Overseas adventures
Former NIC, Idaho standout Gordie Herbert has spent the past 30 years playing, then coaching, basketball in Europe
He has had potatoes thrown at him, been dunked on by Michael Jordan, and watched as opposing fans started a fire in the basketball arena where he was coaching.
Vikings, T-Wolves open tonight
With new starters at seven of the 11 positions on offense and defense, Coeur d'Alene will find out what its newcomers are made of in a hurry tonight.
Lumbermen, Cardinals looking for better finish at state AA tournament
Loggers, St. Maries open state A tournament today
One team was bitten by the injury bug in its class AA American Legion baseball state tournament appearance last season. The other had to develop confidence in its first appearance in over eight years.
Catching up with ... Dennis Erickson
Former football coach at Idaho, Washington State and elsewhere looks back on long career, weighs future options
For the first year since he started his career as a grad assistant in 1969, Dennis Erickson is preparing for a fall season that doesn't include coaching football.
Game boasts strong Coeur d'Alene flavor
5 of 9 Idaho players in game are Vikings
Unlike some years, the Region roster for the 19th annual Jack Blair Memorial girls high school all-star basketball classic has a largely Idaho flavor.
Different paths, similar standards
Trent Bridges and Zach Clanton, former Lake City High standouts, hope to win an NAIA World Series in their final try as seniors at Lewis-Clark State
One took the direct route south to Lewis-Clark State College; the other took a more roundabout path, through south-central Washington and south-central Idaho.
Vikings look to seize opportunity
State baseball opens today with Cd’A, Lakeland, St. Maries, Timberlake in action
Some of their best work this season has been done in Kootenai County.
Relaxed T-Wolves primed for repeat
State softball tourneys begin Friday; 3As at Ramsey Park
It was one swing of the bat in late March, but it meant the difference between the pressure of trying to complete a second straight undefeated season — and the relief of all that weight being lifted off their shoulders.
Just for kicks
Bill Eisenwinter Hot Shot soccer tournament draws 183 teams
A total of 183 teams - the second-highest total ever - are signed up to play in the 21st annual Bill Eisenwinter Hot Shot youth soccer tournament, which begins tonight and runs through Sunday on several area fields in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden.
Lake City has a senior moment
Timberwolves return to state; Coeur d'Alene to play Lewiston for region's second berth
COEUR d'ALENE - Lake City only has three seniors, but they all went out in style on their home field Tuesday.
Vandals ponder next move
The University of Idaho wants to remain a Football Bowl Subdivision school if at all possible, but would consider the feasibility of dropping to the Football Championship Subdivision level, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said Friday afternoon in a media teleconference.
A defensive show
Vandal ‘D’ has 10 sacks, 3 interceptions; offense produces just one TD in final spring scrimmage
MOSCOW - Idaho's Silver and Gold Scrimmage, the culmination of spring practice Friday night at the Kibbie Dome, was anything but an offensive explosion.
Vandal QB job still up for grabs
Idaho wraps up spring drills with scrimmage tonight at 6 in Dome
Don't expect the battle for the starting quarterback job at the University of Idaho to be settled following spring practice, which concludes tonight with the Silver and Gold Scrimmage at 6 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome.
Jackson gets back up to speed
Sophomore's two-run homer, Stangel's one-hitter lead Lake City past Coeur d'Alene
COEUR d’ALENE — Hailey Jackson had been struggling to hit the off-speed pitch, so the Lake City High sophomore has been putting in extra work this season on staying back and not getting fooled.
Just what the Doc ordered
With Doc Lynn’s emphasis on youth, the North Idaho Sports Banquet has grown over the past decade
In 1999, Dr. James Lynn was a retired dentist who moved to Coeur d'Alene from Wallace.
Vikings land a 2-3-4 combo
Roletto, Pereira, Duran lead Coeur d'Alene past Lake City
COEUR d'ALENE - The cupboard wasn't completely bare after Coeur d'Alene graduated nine players from last year's team which placed fourth at the state 5A baseball tournament.
The language of Golf
Randy Henry, a part of the local golf scene for some four decades, is also coaching the Russian national golf team and trying to grow the game there
Randy Henry admits he doesn't speak a word of Russian.
Blackman, Davis vie for starting QB job
With 2-10 season in the past, Idaho begins spring football practice today
Searching for a new starting quarterback, still looking for two more assistant coaches — and trying to erase the taste of last year’s 2-10 season — the Idaho Vandals begin spring football practice today.
Trojans meet their match
Post Falls grounded by top-ranked Borah in state 5A title game
Trojans earn title shot
Vikings eliminated by Highland
Vikings fall short against No. 1 Borah
Colbert comes through
Senior guard sparks Post Falls down stretch as Trojans survive opener
Round 4 between Viks, Trojans?
They've waged three hard-fought, at times entertaining, at times controversial battles this season, with Post Falls winning twice and Coeur d'Alene once.
SMARTS ... on and off the court
In addition to being honor students, seniors Thoreson, Hillman and Anderson are also key members of Post Falls High's state-bound boys basketball team
Two of the biggest plays of the season for the Post Falls High boys basketball team required athletic ability, of course, but also smarts and the ability to remain calm and adapt quickly to a pressure situation.
Vikings patch things up, earn return trip to state
Coeur d’Alene fends off Lake City for region’s second berth
Kellogg upends 'Jacks for title
St. Maries plays Timberlake tonight for second berth to state
Trojans cling to title
Colbert, Hillman lead Post Falls past Coeur d’Alene in game moved to NIC
COEUR d’ALENE — Point guard Marcus Colbert did most of the heavy lifting for the Post Falls Trojans on Tuesday night.
Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene to play for regional crown
Trojans rally in second half to surge past Lake City
Salmio sparks No. 9 NIC women
Cardinals open up 2-game lead in SWAC with 4 to play
Thinking outside the box
Schwartz, Sandpoint shoot past Lakeland in postseason opener
RATHDRUM - Lakeland used a box-and-one defense in an attempt to slow down Jackson Olin, Sandpoint's high-scoring senior guard.
Cardinals look to regain stranglehold on Region 18
National-qualifying tournament is today in Yakima
Seeing his team's streak of 10 straight Region 18 wrestling championships come to an end last year didn't sit well with North Idaho College coach Pat Whitcomb.
Making a name for himself
Vikings standout Watson follows father's footsteps by playing at Idaho, but in a different sport
The football star and basketball standout you know about.
'Two great competitors'
Idaho football coach Akey welcomes Coeur d'Alene High standouts and Vandal recruits Chalich, Watson
Wednesday morning, Coeur d'Alene High seniors Chad Chalich and Deon Watson faxed in their letters of intent to play football at the University of Idaho, following up on their recent verbal commitments to the Vandals.
Diamond king
Rec Director Steve Anthony inducted to ASA Pacific NW Hall of Fame
Steve Anthony has been part of the local softball scene for more than four decades.
Coeur d'Alene girls clamp down on Lake City in 2nd half
Vikings clinch at least share of 5A IEL title
Higbie's hoop wins it
No. 4 Vikings beat No. 1 Trojans in OT
Softball for life
Hart, heading into the Idaho state ASA softball Hall of Fame, and Luzzo, winding down a long umpiring career, to be honored on Saturday
Softball players and softball umpires both gravitate to the sport for the same reason - they enjoy the game, the camaraderie and the friendships the sport forges - many of which last a lifetime.
Hout: The 'heart and soul'
Former Lake City High star closing out stellar career on Boise State defense
It has often been said that a boy goes away to college and returns home four years later a man.
Cardinal men clamp down on Green River
Viks' Chalich commits to Idaho
Coeur d'Alene QB led team to back-to-back 5A state titles
So close, but 2-9 is the reality
Vandals gear up for season finale
A 49-42 double overtime loss to Utah State in their last game two weeks ago.
Victorious Vikings
CHS claims second-straight state title
Vandals ready to 'feel good again'
Idaho football coach Robb Akey says he sees a lot of his own team in today's opponent, Utah State, which would normally be a good thing - except that neither team is above .500 this season.
No. 1 Cd'A races past Post Falls
Senior guard Legel, sophomore post Williams lead way for Vikings
Vikings, Eagle much alike
Defending champ Cd’A plays for title tonight
Standing in the way of Coeur d’Alene High and a second straight state 5A football championship tonight is a team with a talented quarterback, a high-powered offense and a strong, but underrated, defense.
Vandals try to send seniors out with victory
This year's seniors on the Idaho Vandals football team have had to learn how to deal with adversity, coach Robb Akey said.
'Organized chaos'
Coeur d'Alene High's 'Honey Badger' defense has the Vikings on the verge of a second straight state 5A football title
COEUR d’ALENE — The coaches realized early they had a lot of smaller, quicker, faster guys on their team, and not a lot of big guys.
Six local teams open tonight
The first big night of the high school girls basketball season is tonight, with six local teams scheduled to begin their seasons.
Vandals visit BYU, try to build off win
Having finally broke through to the win column for the first time in nearly two months, the Idaho Vandals (2-7) hope to remember what that felt like when they play at BYU (6-3) tonight at 63,470-seat LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.