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
Here comes Post Falls
Trojans wallop Lake City, move into contention for top seed to regionals
Lake City downs Post Falls in a 'weird,' 'strange,' 'odd' game
Neither team reaches 40 points; winning basket scored following missed free throw
COEUR d'ALENE - In a game which was bizarre throughout, perhaps it was only fitting an offensive rebound off a missed free throw would decide this one.
Timberwolves have their say
Lake City boys avenge earlier loss to Coeur d’Alene; Viking girls down Lake City again
COEUR d’ALENE — Amid all the screaming, the wild momentum swings — and, yes, even the baby powder — the Lake City High boys basketball team fought its way back into the 5A Inland Empire League race.
IEL, GSL hook up again in football
Athletic directors for 5A Inland Empire League schools have been scrambling to fill their football schedules for years.
Lake City Invitational: T-Wolves stumble late in semis
South Kitsap to play Kentridge in title game; Lake City to play for third place
COEUR d'ALENE - Miscues late in regulation and in overtime ruined what was an otherwise impressive performance by the Lake City High boys basketball team Friday night.
Post Falls coach battling cancer
In early November, Post Falls High football coach Jeff Hinz said his left hip started hurting.
T-Wolves battle through
Lake City snaps 14-game losing streak in 5A IEL play, wins first league game in three seasons
POST FALLS - Prior to this season, only one current member of the Lake City High girls basketball team had played in a winning 5A Inland Empire League game.
Containing No. 4 could lead to win No. 2 for Vandals
Austin Franklin, a junior wide receiver from Dallas, leads New Mexico State in receiving (46), receiving yards (606) and touchdown catches (5) this season - despite having played in just seven games.
What a win would mean ...
Vandals look to build momentum heading into offseason; Petrino says he ‘wouldn’t expect’ injured QB Chalich to play
For a team with just one victory at this point of the season, success is measured by winning individual battles, and getting a little bit better each week.
Oh, what a run!
Lee scampers 15 yards for game winner to give Vikings third 5A title in four years
Vikings, Rams - a mutual respect
The Establishment program has made the state high school football championship game a regular part of their schedule, winning nine titles since the state playoffs began in 1979.
Petrino to Vandals: Embrace the opportunity
For the members of the Idaho Vandal football team (1-9), which as of Wednesday was a 57-point underdog in Saturday's game at No. 2 Florida State (10-0), Idaho football coach Paul Petrino has one message:
High school girls basketball: Rest of local hoops teams begin play this week
Five more local high school girls basketball teams - Lake City, Post Falls, St. Maries, Kootenai and Lakeside - tip off their seasons tonight.
Here they meet again
Coeur d'Alene plays host to Capital tonight in state 5A football semifinals
Capital High (10-1) of Boise averages 47.2 points and 466 yards per game, with a high of 77 points vs. Borah of Boise, and another 70 last week vs. Idaho Falls in the first round of the state 5A football playoffs.
Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland, Cd'A Charter open seasons this weekend
Three local high school girls basketball teams - Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland and Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy - tip off their seasons this weekend.
Idaho to host ODU on senior day
Paul Petrino was two or three jobs ago when the current group of Idaho Vandal senior football players was recruited to Moscow.
'Thrilled and heartbroken'
Viks rout Timberline in state 5A playoff opener, but lose QB Amos to injury
It was a bittersweet feeling as the Coeur d'Alene Vikings routed the Timberline Wolves from Boise 52-9 in the first round of the state 5A football playoffs Friday night at Viking Field.
4 local teams in playoff mode
Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland, Timberlake, Kootenai all open at home
The seeds — the No. 1 team from the North vs. the No. 5 team from the 10-team 5A Southern Idaho Conference — suggest a mismatch.
Practice means playing time for Vandal back Baker
If you don't practice well, Idaho football coach Paul Petrino likes to say, you don't play.
Talking Davis, and money games for Vandal football team
Vandal notes
Should Taylor Davis start at quarterback for the Idaho Vandals on Saturday at Mississippi, it would be only the fifth start for the 6-foot-3, 232-pound fifth-year senior from Anthem, Ariz.
Lake City heads into title match
A natural connection
Louis-McGee brothers making a big impact at Lake City High
Going from a school of around 100 students to one of around 1,500.
NIC point guard Stirton commits to Gonzaga
When she came here last year from Melbourne, Australia, North Idaho College point guard Georgia Stirton thought her stay in Coeur d'Alene would be a short one.
Lake City proves it with big win
Timberwolves score late to upend Washington power Chiawana
COEUR d'ALENE - Looking for a momentum-building victory heading into next week's showdown, the Lake City Timberwolves got one - thanks to an impressive fourth-quarter drive to take the lead, followed by a couple nice defensive plays to preserve it.
Big game before the big game
Their big BIG game is next week, at home vs. Coeur d'Alene.
4 local teams in playoff mode
Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland, Timberlake, Kootenai all open at home
The seeds - the No. 1 team from the North vs. the No. 5 team from the 10-team 5A Southern Idaho Conference - suggest a mismatch.
Freshmen true to their school
Through five games, a number of true freshmen have already seen some action for the Idaho Vandals football team.
Carr drives show for ranked Fresno
Idaho football coach Paul Petrino said there was a time when it appeared he might get to coach Derek Carr, Fresno State's standout senior quarterback.
T-Wolves, Trojans open league play
Aside from a brief pit stop at home a couple of weeks ago, most of Lake City’s new spread offense has been on display hundreds of miles away.
Vandals staying with two quarterbacks
Chad Chalich's numbers through his first four games as Idaho's starting quarterback - 72 of 107 for 801 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. He has fumbled four times, losing all four.
Post Falls scores late for win
McLeod, Gibson come up big as Trojans topple East Valley
SPOKANE VALLEY - Welcome back, Seth McLeod.
Vikings have own issues to worry about
The opponent on the schedule this week is a formidable one - the Highland Rams of Pocatello.
Lynch a load for Northern Illinois
Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois' returning starter at quarterback, set FBS records for a quarterback last year with 1,815 rushing yards, and 12 100-yard rushing games. He also passed for 3,138 yards and 25 touchdowns, and rushed for 19 more.
Miscues doom Vikings
Cd'A four turnovers lead to loss to Skyline
COEUR d'ALENE - As many mistakes as Coeur d'Alene made Friday night, the Vikings still had a chance to avenge a 51-point beatdown by Skyline last year.
A Vandal coaching reunion of sorts in Laramie
Two Wyoming assistants also interviewed for Idaho job
If Paul Petrino, Jason Gesser and Chris Tormey wind up on the field near each other prior to today's game, imagine the conversation they could have.
The good and the bad from the opener
Vandal Notes
They talked about it all last week, Idaho football coach Paul Petrino said earlier this week in his weekly news conference with local media.
High hopes for Vandals
Idaho opens today with new coach, new QB ...
For a team with a grand total of three victories over the past two seasons, there is a certain amount of optimism surrounding this year's Idaho Vandal football team.
Viks, T-Wolves, Trojans get started
Prep football
Turnovers OK, but flip-flops, no
Petrino ready for head coaching debut
Paul Petrino has years of experience as an assistant coach, many of those years at the highest level as an offensive coordinator at Arkansas, Illinois and Louisville.
Idaho's Viking connection
Ex-Coeur d'Alene High standouts Chalich, Watson set to play key roles for Vandals
MOSCOW - Local high school stars have gone on to make an impact on the Idaho Vandals football team, but they have been few and far between.
Viks' James to join Huskies
Lineman had offers from 13 schools
Yes, the chance to play football at the Pac-12 level was appealing to Coeur d'Alene High senior lineman Matt James.
Post Falls, Cd'A girls team up
All-star girls basketball game set for next Wednesday at Post Falls
They went at each other four times this past season, the final time to decide the Idaho state 5A girls basketball championship.
State 4A softball: Lakeland happy with 2nd
Hawks post best state finish since moving up to 4A ranks
State Softball: Lakeland impressive in 2 wins
Hawks face Bishop Kelly for berth in title game
POST FALLS - Lakeland has been a regular at state softball, but it's been a while since the Hawks are in this position - one win away from playing for a state title.
Vikings just want another shot
Lake City heavy favorite in 5A; Timberlake back for 14th straight year
For all the talk of Lake City marching through the state 5A tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday at Ramsey Park, there is this one little point to keep in mind:
Lundblad named Viking hoops coach
Son of former Cd'A coach starred for Vikings in '80s
Kurt Lundblad figures to feel right at home in his new job as boys basketball coach at Coeur d'Alene High.
One awesome ride
Lake City's Stangel a combination of work ethic and consistency
Ask senior Casey Stangel what she'll remember most about her time at Lake City High, and the answer from the Timberwolves' softball star has nothing to do with all the victories and all the strikeouts and trying to win another state title.
One awesome ride
Lake City's Stangel a combination of work ethic and consistency
Ask senior Casey Stangel what she'll remember most about her time at Lake City High, and the answer from the Timberwolves' softball star has nothing to do with all the victories and all the strikeouts and trying to win another state title.