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
Playoff bound
Vikings clinch postseason berth; Trojans’ playoff hopes dashed
POST FALLS - The start wasn't bad. The finish was even better for the Coeur d'Alene Vikings.
Must-win for Trojans tonight
Post Falls has no margin for error tonight — beat Coeur d’Alene, or its playoff hopes are dashed.
Akey, Vandals address defensive woes
The Idaho Vandals are without one of their starting cornerbacks for the rest of the season.
Stangel commits to play softball at Missouri
Lake City sophomore pitcher/first baseman considered one of the top players in the country
When Lake City High sophomore Casey Stangel told her high school softball coach, Laura Tolzmann, that she was thinking of committing to play college softball at the University of Missouri, “she said I was losing my California side and getting into my Idaho side by choosing a Midwest school,” Stangel said.
Hawks grounded
Sandpoint rushes for 326 yards in 4A IEL victory
RATHDRUM — The start was good for Lakeland — a three-and-out on defense, followed by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Troy Carr to Cory Thorne.
Vikings not resting on laurels
Lakeland’s bid for playoffs starts tonight
His team is 5-1, ranked second in the state in 5A, and coming off convincing victories in successive weeks over the top-ranked and third-ranked teams in Idaho. It’s lone loss is to a team ranked No. 1 in 4A in Washington.
Vandals eager to get back at it
The Idaho Vandals took a few days off early last week, when they had a bye.
Lake City looks for second league win
One big win does not a league title make.
Vandals in good spirits during bye
The Idaho Vandals haven’t had to deal with a whole lot of adversity this season and last.
Vandals gear for more passing
Idaho’s defense was shredded last week for 494 yards by previously winless Colorado State, including 386 through the air.
Two for the win
Lake City rallies with late TD, 2-point conversion
COEUR d’ALENE — Van Troxel’s wife has seen it many times before.
Trojans repeat title in volleyball
Post Falls beats Lake City, goes 6-0 in 5A IEL for second straight year
POST FALLS — They have five new starters from last year, but it was the same result Thursday night:
Trojans look for better start
One year ago, Post Falls traveled to Lake City in the 5A Inland Empire League opener for both schools.
A pothole on the way to seven
Akey hopes unexpected loss will ‘irritate’ Vandals
It was supposed to be a game the Idaho Vandals would win — step No. 3 on the way to a second straight appearance in a bowl game.
'Mighty Mites' swarm
Vikings record six sacks, force six turnovers
COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene Vikings don't blitz everybody on every play - it may just look like that to the other team.
Vandals, Rams headed in opposite directions
A year ago when Idaho and Colorado State met, it was a matchup of 3-1 teams with high hopes.
Nonleague rivals clash tonight
The big schools are still in the nonleague phase of their football schedules, though a couple of old rivals, Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene, clash tonight, as do prairie foes Post Falls and Lakeland.
Vandals hit road backed by confident 'D'
It's a sight that hasn't been seen much around the Idaho football team in recent years - the Vandals actually stopping somebody on defense.
Stepping up
Another big game by Johnson helps Trojans to 3-0 start
POST FALLS - Heading into the season, junior Tyson Johnson figured to be a part of the offensive attack for Post Falls High - somewhere.
Trojans home - for now
Pardon the members of the Post Falls High football team if they instinctively head out toward a waiting bus this afternoon.
Vandals ready to run with Rebels
In the summer of 2009, Robb Akey and Bobby Hauck were part of a coaches' goodwill mission to visit the U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Local 5A schools hit the (long) road
Some odd-looking road trips dot this year’s local high school football schedules.
Vikings strike again
Cd'A rolls to another win in game shortened by lightning
COEUR d'ALENE - Once Coeur d'Alene got rolling Friday night, it seemed nothing could stop the Vikings.
Vandals begin season with romp
Idaho shuts door on North Dakota with 28 in 2nd half
MOSCOW - OK, so it wasn't quite as gutsy as New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton's decision at halftime of the Super Bowl.
Trojans get it started tonight
Post Falls is being mentioned as a possible favorite in a tightly packed 5A Inland Empire League, but that doesn’t mean the Trojans don’t have their concerns as they head into their season opener tonight at Caldwell.
Vandals begin quest to 'prove it'
When the Idaho Vandals break following the end of each practice, each meeting, during fall workouts, the chant is often the same:
T-Wolves catch on
Lake City sharp in easy win over Lakeland in opener
RATHDRUM - After an 0-4 start last year, and a sluggish start the season before, the Lake City Timberwolves were looking for a better beginning to the 2010 campaign Friday night.
Prep football kicks off tonight
Coeur d'Alene at Moscow, Lake City at Lakeland among openers
Tonight's opening of the high school football season includes a couple of area matchups resuming after a hiatus of a few years.
Something Brewin' with Vucinich
Ex-Coeur d’Alene High star drafted by Milwaukee on Tuesday, signs that night, ready for pro ball
Ex-Coeur d’Alene High star drafted by Milwaukee on Tuesday, signs that night, ready for pro ball
T-Wolves catch on
Lake City blanks Coeur d'Alene, earns region's second berth to state
COEUR d'ALENE - Freshman Amber Hawkes started the season as the No. 1 pitcher on the junior varsity but on Friday afternoon, she found herself batting cleanup for the first time in the most important game of the season for the Lake City Timberwolves.
Trojans trippin' to state
Ashburn comes up big for Post Falls; Lake City to play Cd’A for second berth
COEUR d’ALENE — The Post Falls Trojans needed Richelle Ashburn — and more importantly, her right arm — to come through on Wednesday with the 5A Region 1 championship on the line. She and her arm did just that — and just as important, her Trojan teammates came through as well, putting together two near-flawless games to earn Post Falls its first trip to state softball as a 5A school.
Vikings bat around Lake City
Prep baseball/softball
COEUR d'ALENE - Junior Chad Nyquist started the season as the No. 9 hitter for the Coeur d'Alene High baseball team, and has gradually moved his way up the order.
Lake City wins 5A IEL
Stangel throws shutout as T-Wolves prevail despite no-hitter from Trojans' Ashburn
COEUR d'ALENE - How up for grabs is next week's 5A Region 1 softball tournament shaping up to be? On Friday, with the No. 1 seed still on the line, Richelle Ashburn of Post Falls threw a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts - and her team lost.
'So far, so good'
Injuries cut short her other seasons, but Ashburn dishes out stellar senior campaign
The fact that the calendar recently turned to May, and Richelle Ashburn is still in the circle for the Post Falls High softball team, is a victory in itself for both the Trojans as well as the senior right-handed pitcher.
Another Viking steps up again
Lupinacci drives in 3 in victory over Post Falls
POST FALLS - There's a lot of new faces on this year's Coeur d'Alene High softball team, but one thing has remained constant over the years - the Vikings keep battling during games until they make something happen.
Pharis one-hits Vikings
COEUR d'ALENE - Prior to Friday's matchup with rival Coeur d'Alene High, senior left-hander Ben Pharis of Lake City hadn't pitched since throwing five innings vs. Lewiston in the Timberwolves' season opener on March 13.
Short circuit
Shock stumble in AFL debut, lose to Iron
SPOKANE - Meet the new Shock. Not quite the old Shock. After four seasons of dominating the arenafootball2 league, Spokane stumbled in its debut in the higher-level Arena Football League, losing 74-62 to the Milwaukee Iron on Friday night before an announced crowd of 10,500 at Spokane Tribe Field at Spokane Arena.
Shock resume anew
After four seasons of dominating arenafootball2, Spokane’s indoor football team opens first season in higher-level Arena Football League tonight
Three plays. That's how long it took Rob Keefe's girlfriend and mother to notice the difference in level of play after Keefe, who had played for the Spokane Shock in the arenafootball2 league for two seasons, moved up to the Arena Football League.
Vandals laying it on the line
Spring practice begins today
The Idaho Vandals have experience returning at quarterback, a bevy of talented running backs and a wide receiving corps which produced some playmakers last season.
Spartans feast on Salmon, take home 3A championship
NAMPA - When the clock ticked down its final seconds, Priest River junior guard Eric Holbrook tossed the ball high in the air, hugged a teammate - then ran over and gave Ryan Bodecker a big bear hug, and lifted his coach off the floor.
Mission accomplished
Post Falls caps expectation-filled season with state 5A title
NAMPA - With 3.1 seconds left in the game, the scoreboard prematurely flashed something that was pretty much evident several minutes earlier:
Rocky ending for T-Wolves
NAMPA — The Lake City High post player sealed off his man well, took the entry pass on the baseline side and spun to the basket for a sure layup.
Full speed ahead
Post Falls motors past Madison, will face Eagle for state 5A title tonight
NAMPA — Who knew the Post Falls Trojans were going to turn the state 5A boys basketball tournament into their own little version of the River City Rod Run — or perhaps the trophy dash at Stateline Speedway?
Post Falls charges past Vallivue, into state semis
NAMPA - Some may have wondered if Post Falls High boys basketball coach Mike McLean could get away with a rotation of 10 or 11 players when the state 5A tournament rolled around.
No upper hand for T-Wolves
Lake City falls to Borah in state 5A tourney opener
NAMPA - As much as Lake City struggled in the first half, the Timberwolves still managed to put themselves in a position to catch up to the Borah Lions in the second half Thursday night at the Idaho Center.
Emerging from the weeds
Lake City returns to state after seven year absence
In a way, Lake City boys basketball coach Jim Winger didn't mind that Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene were mentioned by most as the teams to beat in the 5A Inland Empire League.
Post Falls earns berth to state
Marcus Colbert's 3s help Trojans pull away from Vikings
POST FALLS - Marcus Colbert wasn't known as an outside shooter until the Post Falls High sophomore put in some time on Sunday nights working on his outside shot.
The Front Row Feb. 14, 2010
Vandals need to play like contenders
Idaho's men's basketball team had a turnaround season last year, posting a winning record (17-16) for the first time in 10 seasons, and playing in a postseason tournament (no, not the NCAAs, but the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament) for the first time since 1990.
Defense propels Cd'A girls back to state
Two-time defending champs oust Lake City for second berth
COEUR d'ALENE - Any suspense leading up to Friday night's 5A Region 1 girls basketball tournament second-place game - with the winner going to state and the loser done for the season - disappeared before the first quarter was over.
Opportunity missed
Lewiston rallies past Cd’A for trip to state, Viks get another try Friday
LEWISTON - Like a rubber band, the young Coeur d'Alene Vikings tightened up in the fourth quarter until they eventually snapped.