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
Bartlett plays the waiting game
Because of NFL lockout, undrafted former Lakeland High star in limbo as he prepares for pro career
Any other year, and former Lakeland High standout Bubba Bartlett would be preparing to attend some NFL team's minicamp this weekend as an undrafted free agent.
Post Falls' Hill commits to Vandals
State 5A Player of the Year picks Idaho over WSU
Connor Hill played some pickup games with University of Idaho basketball players last weekend in Moscow, and that helped cement his decision to become a Vandal.
Stangel, Leddy shine for Lake City
T-Wolves 6-0 after blanking Post Falls
COEUR d'ALENE - Casey Stangel was her usual dominant self - albeit under unusual circumstances Friday afternoon.
Smaller numbers, bigger game
Zach Lehman has proven he can score, but he honed his overall skills this season at St. Maries
Under a new coach with a new system at St. Maries High this year, Zach Lehman's scoring numbers went down, but the Lumberjack win total improved - as did Lehman's overall game.
Looking to make a splash at nationals
NIC women’s basketball team hopes last year’s experience pays off as Cardinals prepare for third straight trip to NJCAA tournament
The women's basketball teams from North Idaho College and Salt Lake Community College have developed quite the rivalry over the past half-dozen years.
Vikings bounce back for third place
Baracco leads Coeur d'Alene past Borah
NAMPA - It sounded like a football locker room after Coeur d'Alene knocked off Borah of Boise 69-51 on Saturday morning at Columbia High in the third-place game of the state 5A boys basketball tournament.
Trojans best Eagle in consolation game
Colbert hits clutch free throws in rematch of last year's final
NAMPA - It was an odd feeling inside the locker room of the Post Falls High boys basketball team after the Trojans beat Eagle 50-47 to claim the consolation (fourth-place) trophy at the state 5A tournament Saturday morning at Columbia High.
Cardinals flying to nationals
TWIN FALLS - The North Idaho College women's basketball team was some 500 miles from Coeur d'Alene on Saturday night, but it almost felt like a game at Rolly Williams Court.
Voyage comes to an end
Vikings come up short in state 5A tournament semifinal loss to Centennial
NAMPA — The Coeur d’Alene Vikings thought they had all the bases covered.
Hill keeps Trojans alive
NAMPA - Their state title hopes dashed the night before, the Post Falls Trojans said they still had something to play for, and Connor Hill made sure they still do.
St. Maries falls to Weiser in 3A semis
MERIDIAN - For a team which made just 5 of 26 shots from the floor in the first half, the St. Maries Lumberjacks sure made it interesting in the second half of their state 3A boys basketball semifinal game Friday night.
Vikings rout Eagle in state opener
NAMPA - Coeur d'Alene looked polished in its zone offense in the first half - though the Vikings rarely get the chance to use it up north.
No 5A repeat for Trojans
NAMPA - As the final buzzer sounded, ending their hopes of repeating as state champs, the Post Falls Trojans hovered in front of their bench, some heads down, some hands on hips, most seemingly in a daze.
Vikings took a while to jell
Somewhere hidden in the euphoria of Coeur d'Alene High winning its first state football championship in 25 years was the fact some of the key players on the gridiron were also going to be counted on heavily on the basketball court.
Soaring ... and growing
Post Falls High senior Connor Hill has sprouted from 5-foot-6, 130 pounds as a freshman to 6-3, 180 as a senior — and his game has similarly grown
The morning of Post Falls High's biggest boys basketball game of the season to date, senior guard Connor Hill, the Trojans' top scorer, got the challenge from his coach via text message.
5A Region 1 championship Vikings take inside route to state tourney
COEUR d'ALENE - It took three days for the snow to stop so they could get around to deciding the 5A Region 1 high school boys basketball championship.
Coeur d'Alene's Rosenthal verbals to Saint Mary's
COEUR d'ALENE - Carli Rosenthal, a 6-foot-3 senior post from Coeur d'Alene High who had more than a dozen scholarship offers from Division I schools on the west coast, gave a verbal commitment Sunday to play for Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif.
Double surprise: Vikings, Lewiston advance to title game
POST FALLS - After a tight 5A Inland Empire League season in which only two games separated first place from last place, being the higher seed meant nothing Friday night in the first round of the 5A Region 1 boys basketball tournament at The Arena.
Coeur d'Alene shoots for 5A 4-peat
Timberlake has eyes on first 3A tourney victory, maybe more
The Coeur d'Alene Vikings didn't win the 5A Inland Empire League, lost in the first round of the Region 1 tournament, and had to go through the back door to qualify for the state tournament.
Center of Attention
Carli Rosenthal displayed a puzzled look at the line of questioning the other night.
What a start!
Coeur d'Alene scores first 20 points, whips Lake City for state berth
COEUR d'ALENE - It was as impressive as it was stunning.
Beaten at the buzzer
Fuller’s last-second basket lifts Lewiston past Lake City
LEWISTON - The waning moments of Tuesday night's 5A Region 1 girls basketball championship game seemed like "the longest 10 seconds of my life," Lake City coach Royce Johnston said.
Vandals address needs, bulk up on 'D'
Idaho signs 22 players, including 7 transfers
Of the 22 signees announced by Idaho football coach Robb Akey on Wednesday, 12 of them are defensive players - including five defensive linemen and four defensive backs.
Viking girls clinch No. 2 seed to regionals
Lake City boys force Coeur d'Alene into poor-shooting night
COEUR d'ALENE - At times, with Lake City's girls packing in their zone defense, it seemed like all 10 players on the floor were inside the key.
Order on the court
Sydney Butler, a 4-year Lake City varsity player, makes it happen for T-Wolves
Fearless.
Trojans play hard and smart
Post Falls boys battle past Coeur d'Alene; Cd'A girls stop Post Falls
COEUR d'ALENE - They'd like to run up and down the floor and score a lot of points, but the Post Falls Trojans showed they can win in a half-court game as well.
Coeur d'Alene girls, Lake City boys hook wins
Rosenthal, Orlandi shine for Viking girls; Wheelock sparks T-Wolf boys
COEUR d'ALENE - Staring at a possible 1-3 start to 5A Inland Empire League play, the Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball team hit just enough shots and watched a last-second one by Lake City bounce off the rim Friday night.
Post Falls boys, girls triumph
POST FALLS - Post Falls High senior Tori Davenport says she'll miss how her school and Lakeland High come together to help the less fortunate in the community as part of the Battle of the Prairie Pig spirit event.
Vandals owe a lot to seniors
Group helped 'get the corner turned here'
There are some fifth-year seniors, like quarterback Nathan Enderle and safety Shiloh Keo, who were there when Robb Akey took over the Idaho football program in 2007, that opted to stay when it would have been easy to bail.
Vandals need win tonight to keep bowl hopes alive
When trying to judge the relative strengths of teams, using their performances against Boise State is generally not very telling.
Give thanks for ... a bowl?
To do so, Vandals must beat team with winning record
The Idaho football team plans to practice this morning, then players and coaches and their families will gather for Thanksgiving dinner at the University Inn in Moscow, "because my living room is not big enough to host us all," Idaho coach Robb Akey said with a laugh.
Vandals have no margin for error
Sure, the prospects of having to beat Utah State, Fresno State and San Jose State in the next three weeks to become bowl eligible is a little bit more doable for the Idaho Vandals than, say, going through the meatgrinder of Hawaii, Nevada and Boise State, which they just did.
Vikings pound that rock
Coeur d’Alene captures first state title in 25 years
MOSCOW - Miranda Amos was the first to get a hug in on her dad, Coeur d'Alene High football coach Shawn Amos, after the game.
Tonight's for the title
Coeur d’Alene takes on Centennial at Kibbie Dome in state 5A high school football title game
The top-ranked Coeur d'Alene Vikings were understandably excited after upending the second-ranked Capital Eagles last week in the semifinals of the state 5A high school football playoffs, but Vikings coach Shawn Amos knew one thing was missing.
Vikings get a spark and a win in their opener
Orlandi, Parker help Cd'A overcome 11-point Trojan lead
POST FALLS - Trailing by 11 points early in the third quarter of their season opener, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings were looking for some sort of spark.
String of losses leads to soul-searching for Vandals
After Idaho was pummeled 52-14 at home by fourth-ranked Boise State last Friday night, Vandals coach Robb Akey had a long talk with his team following the game.
Vikings limp into season
Kootenai, Lakeside girls also open this week
Though he'd obviously not want to have to go through this again, Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball coach Dale Poffenroth is used to guiding Viking teams missing key players due to injuries.
Deflated
Boise State rolls past Vandals
MOSCOW - The first gasp of air left the Kibbie Dome just 41 seconds into the game.
Vikings have had to show grit in 4th quarter
Capital, Coeur d'Alene's foe in state 5A football semifinal, has seldom been tested
If Saturday's state 5A semifinal football game between Coeur d'Alene High and Capital of Boise evolves into a tight one in the fourth quarter at Bronco Stadium in Boise, the Vikings can turn to their experience gained in other close games this season.
Girls hoops tips off this weekend
Six of the area’s nine high school girls basketball teams open their seasons this weekend.
UI task - how to defend Moore
BSU players mum, but Vandals allowed to talk
On his team's radio network, they call him the "Prosser Touchdown Tosser," a nod to his hometown of Prosser, Wash., and his penchant for throwing a lot of TD passes without anything else bad happening.
Cold war in Moscow
Vandals host Boise State in last game as WAC rivals
You wouldn't think anything else would be needed to add to the emotion of the Idaho-Boise State rivalry in football.
Rematch runaway
Vikings race toward semifinal clash at Capital
COEUR d’ALENE — Sequels are never the same as the original, though on Friday night, the second time around was much better for Coeur d’Alene, much worse for Lake City.
Lake City, Cd'A set for rematch
Timberlake, Kootenai open playoffs Saturday
For Lake City, the adjustment is pretty simple for tonight's rematch.
Curtis steps down at Coeur d'Alene
After seven seasons as head volleyball coach at Coeur d'Alene High, Carly Curtis has resigned.
Penalties becoming personal for Vandals
At first glance, looking at Idaho's penalty numbers the past two games, one might draw the conclusion the Vandals are becoming an undisciplined, frustrated outfit.
Turbin time for Vikings
Cd'A rallies for league title, will host playoff game
COEUR d'ALENE - With the game in the balance, Coeur d'Alene leaned on the "drag" route, which worked out well for the Vikings and was, well, a drag for Lake City.
LC, Vikings play for league title
Winner hosts rematch next week in state playoffs
The playoff game is next week. The game to determine where next week’s playoff game will be played is tonight.
Vandals gear for 'pain' of trip to Hawaii
When most people fly to Hawaii, it's for pleasure.
Vandals look to rebound
Idaho coach Robb Akey says he doesn’t know what a “must-win” game is.