'Best friends' land collage scholarships

CLARK FORK — Volleyball season? North Star League champs.

Basketball season? Ditto.

Tennis season? Well, should Clark Fork three-sport standouts Shaina Gustafson and Chelsea Macumber defend their 3A state doubles tennis title this weekend, it will represent the cherry on top of a phenomenal sports year for the two best friends, who each signed college scholarships recently.

Gustafson will get her tuition paid for to play college basketball next season at Wenatchee Valley College, while Macumber will play volleyball at Southwest Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Ore. If all goes well, the two hope to eventually land at the same four year college in their respective sports.

But that’s further on down the road, right now the pair are focused solely on defending their state doubles title, burgeoning with confidence after a stellar senior season in every sport.

“We don’t let ourselves lose,” said Macumber, who has been best friends with Gustafson since the first grade. “I’m proud that we won it last year, but now it’s a chance to prove ourselves and bring home another title.”

Gustafson also feels like another title would validate the one they won as juniors, an amazing accomplishment for a 1A school competing against 3A schools at state.

“I feel like we have something to prove,” she explained. “We’re going to bring our game.”

That game is based on power, aggressiveness and athleticism, which both players possess in spades. Wampus Cat head coach Mary Jo Lambert has maintained all season that it feels like the girls are on a mission, perhaps even hungrier than last year.

It’s been a season to remember for the pair, including trips to state in volleyball, basketball and now tennis. The athletic success, coupled with classroom success, caught the attention of college recruiters.

Gustafson, a cat-quick guard who was the North Star League Player of the Year in basketball, picked Wenatchee after visiting the campus.

“It felt like home, felt like me,” described Gustafson, who plans to study psychology and criminal justice. “I hope to transfer to a four year college where I can continue my career.”

Macumber chose Southwest Oregon over Lewis and Clark because she wanted to be on the ocean, and can’t wait to experience the college volleyball game after establishing herself as the consensus top outside hitter in the North Star League last fall.

Whether they win or lose at state this weekend, it’s been a memorable ride and a season to remember.

“She loves basketball and I love volleyball, it’s our passion,” said Macumber, who is proud both get to continue playing in college. “I’m glad we get to go do what we want to do.”