Pasco grad signs new San Fran 49ers contract + Richland grad is a top Fresno State scorer
Pasco High graduate Sebastian Gutierrez has been working hard to crack a National Football League roster in recent years.
Gutierrez is a 6-foot-6, 308-pound offensive lineman who spent much of the 2024 NFL season bouncing between teams on their practice squads.
In December, though, the 26-year-old was activated by the San Francisco 49ers. While he was listed as a did not play (DNP) against both Buffalo on Dec. 1 and versus the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12, NFL records indicate he did get into the game against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 8.
On Dec. 17, however, the 49ers waived Gutierrez. But nine days later, on Dec. 26, San Francisco again signed him to its practice squad.
On Jan. 6, the team signed Gutierrez to a Reserve/Futures contract.
College basketball
Sophomore Kylee Fox (Richland) is the No. 3 scorer this season for the Fresno State women’s basketball team this season. The Bulldogs are 12-7 through games of Jan. 18.
Fox is also the team leader in assists with 46, and is No. 2 in steals with 30.
Chiawana senior Gabrielle Garza has already committed to playing fastpitch softball after high school, signing a letter of intent to play next year at Bushnell University in Oregon.
▪ Senior Madison Smith (Connell) is the No. 2 scorer on the Air Force Academy’s women’s basketball team this season.
Smith averages 14.9 points a game for the Falcons, who are 10-6 through Jan. 19. She leads the team with 45 steals, and is No. 2 in rebounds (4.2) and assists (26).
Volleyball
Prosser senior Lay’lee Dixon and Mustangs senior Herbie Wright were both named to the Central Washington Athletic Conference’s all-league volleyball first team.
Ellensburg senior Alana Marrs was named CWAC Player of the Year, while Ephrata senior Auddy Gray earned the Defensive Player of the Year.
Ellensburg’s Jesse Stueckle was named CWAC Coach of the Year.
▪ Senior Mazie Reeser, a standout at Stanfield High School in Oregon, has agreed to play volleyball this coming fall for Linn-Benton Community College.
▪ Senior Makenna Collins (Irrigon) finished her college volleyball career at Eastern Washington University this fall with a team-best 299 digs. Collins also had 109 assists, which was third best on the Eagles — who had a 12-15 record.
Baseball
Warden seniors Greg Gutierrez and Jordan Shumway have both signed letters of intent to play baseball at Olympic Community College, starting in the 2025-26 season.
Wrestling
Here are the weight division champions at the Eastmont Ladycats Kickoff Classic girls wrestling tournament, which was held last month in East Wenatchee: Royal junior Sharon Arroyo (105 pounds), Kamiakin senior Helena Jansky (190), Royal senior Lauren Jenks (140), Southridge junior Desirae Juarez (135), and Kamiakin senior Hailey Schroder (145).
▪ Hermiston’s Isaac Echevarria and Dominic Echevarria both took individual champs at last month’s Best of the West tournament in Pasco.
Both wrestlers and are seniors. Isaac won at 138 pounds, while Dominic was 285-pound champion.
NWAC basketball
Here are the latest standings in NWAC East Region play.
The top four teams will advance to the NWAC Tournament, which will be held at Columbia Basin College in March.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NWAC EAST
Through games of Jan. 21
Walla Walla 4-0 East, 15-3 overall
Spokane 3-1, 16-3
Treasure Valley 3-1, 7-9
CBC 2-2, 11-5
Yakima Valley 1-3, 7-9
Big Bend 1-3, 7-12
Wenatchee Valley 1-3, 6-13
Blue Mountain 1-3, 6-13
Jan. 18
CBC 61, Big Bend 31
Spokane 80, Blue Mountain 72
Treasure Valley 115, Yakima Valley 91
Walla Walla 107, Wenatchee Valley 76
Jan. 22
Spokane at Wenatchee Valley, 7 p.m.
Treasure Valley at Blue Mountain, 7 p.m.
Walla Walla at CBC, 7 p.m.
Yakima Valley at Big Bend, 7 p.m.
Jan. 25
Big Bend at Blue Mountain, 4 p.m.
CBC at Wenatchee Valley, 4 p.m.
Treasure Valley at Spokane, 2 p.m.
Walla Walla at Yakima Valley, 4 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NWAC EAST
Through games of Jan. 21
Walla Walla 4-0 East, 14-4 overall
Big Bend 3-1, 14-5
Treasure Valley 3-1, 13-5
Spokane 2-2, 7-7
Yakima Valley 2-2, 7-10
CBC 1-3, 8-7
Wenatchee Valley 1-3, 8-7
Blue Mountain 0-4, 4-11
Jan. 18
Big Bend 68, CBC 64
Spokane 74, Blue Mountain 60
Treasure Valley 67, Yakima Valley 52
Walla Walla 67, Wenatchee Valley 40
Jan. 22
Spokane at Wenatchee Valley, 5 p.m.
Treasure Valley at Blue Mountain, 5 p.m.
Walla Walla at CBC, 5 p.m.
Yakima Valley at Big Bend, 5 p.m.
Jan. 25
Big Bend at Blue Mountain, 2 p.m.
CBC at Wenatchee Valley, 2 p.m.
Treasure Valley at Spokane, 12 p.m.
Walla Walla at Yakima Valley, 2 p.m.