Thursday, Mar. 20, 2008

Notebook: CBL recognizes top winter scholar-athletes

By the Herald staff

The Columbia Basin League recently announced its winter NECA/IBEW award winners, recognizing student-athletes "who demonstrate superior balance in academics, athletics and community involvement."

Mid-Columbia winners were:

Hanford: Brittany Quick (basketball) and James Rogers (basketball);

Kamiakin: Ann Merriman (cheer) and Hayden Smith (basketball);

Kennewick: Julia Draney (basketball) and Danny Engel (basketball);

Moses Lake: Ann Noyes (basketball) and Tad Harman (wrestling);

Pasco: Bianca Arellano (basketball) and Zach Banks (wrestling);

Richland: Eileen Tierney (basketball) and Tom Sanford (basketball);

Southridge: Morgan Hall (basketball) and Austin Didier (wrestling);

Sunnyside: Jenna Zamarron (cheer) and Tristan Abbott (basketball);

Walla Walla: Jennifer Keyes (basketball) and Ryan Alden (basketball).

The Umatilla County board of commissioners announced the finalists for the 13th annual Umatilla County Athletic Achievement Awards, to be handed out at 7 p.m. April 15 at Hermiston High.

Hermiston senior distance runner Alex Ringe is up for two awards -- Male Scholar and Male Athlete. In the latter category, his competition includes a pair of Bulldogs wrestlers -- Randy Larsen and Ben Jorgensen -- and Stanfield's Matt Ellis and Casey Irving.

Hermiston basketball players Michelle Coombs and Shoni Schimmel are finalists for Female Athlete, while outgoing coach Mike Royer and Bulldogs wrestling/girls tennis coach Curt Berger are finalists for Coach of the Year.

The Hermiston basketball, cross country and wrestling programs are up for Male Team of the Year, while Female Team of the Year finalists include the Bulldogs basketball and tennis teams.

The DeSales baseball program and former Moses Lake wrestling standout Dan Strode have been selected for induction into the WIAA Hall of Fame next month in Renton.

The Irish have won 15 state titles since 1986, compiling a 486-93 record during that span.

Strode was the first wrestler in state history to win three state titles, doing so from 1966-68. He had a 65-1 career record, with his only loss coming in his sophomore year to a senior from Oregon.

Notes: Bellarmine Prep junior Abdul Gaddy was named the Gatorade state boys basketball player of the year. He is the fourth player to earn a major state player of the year honor -- the coaches association selected Ferris guard Shawn Stockton as the state's Mr. Basketball, while the Seattle Times announced Tuesday its selection of Stockton's teammate, DeAngelo Casto, and the Tacoma News Tribune honored Rainier Beach senior Reggie Moore. The Times, News Tribune and Gatorade all selected Prairie senior Ashley Corral the girls player of the year.

Moses Lake junior Carly Noyes was a first-team all-state selection by the Times. Other Times honorees from the Mid-Columbia included River View coach Roger Sonderland (1A boys coach of the year), Sunnyside Christian's Joel Koopmans (1B boys MVP) and Moses Lake coach Matt Strophy (4A girls coach of the year). ...Hanford senior defensive end/tight end Doug Karmowski recently signed a letter-of-intent to play with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. The Bears, 4-7 a year ago, compete in the NAIA Division I Frontier Conference. ... Highly touted quarterback Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette, Pa., announced Wednesday that he will sign with Ohio State. The 6-foot-6, two-sport star, who just led his school to the state basketball title, was considered by many scouts as the top unsigned high school recruit in the country. He chose the Buckeyes over Oregon, Penn State and Michigan.

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