Daily Bee awards bring end to 2012 fall sports season

With the conclusion of the state swim meet on Saturday, the 2012 fall sports season officially came to a close for Sandpoint and Clark Fork. The action-packed season featured plenty of highs, lows, bumps, bruises, blood, sweat and tears, both joyful and sad.

Without further ado — and hyperbole — here are some season ending awards.

Team of the Year

The Sandpoint boys soccer team. This is a no-brainer, as the team claimed Sandpoint’s first state title in the past three years in any sport.

The good news, or bad news if you’re a 4A soccer team in Idaho, is that the Bulldogs may return even stronger next season in defense of the crown.

Jeremiah Gagnon, Matthew Burgstahler, Aaron Crossingham and Joab Logan each return after playing huge roles in the title run, and goalie Jake Rookey returns after posting seven shutouts this season.

Coach of the Year

Adam Tajan. Another no-brainer. After winning four state titles as the Sandpoint girls head coach, anyone who knows Tajan knows how much a first boys title meant.

Like his predecessor, Randy Thoreson, Tajan had his team playing its best soccer at the perfect time. After missing out on state the previous two seasons, the Bulldogs served notice that they’re still the pre-eminent 4A program in Idaho, and will have a big red X on their backs next season.

Slight of the Year

There is a good reason I always include this disclaimer in the first paragraph when publishing the all-league teams: “. . . as voted on by the league’s coaches.”

When looking at the 4A All-IEL volleyball team, it came as a bit of a shock that Sandpoint head coach Karen Alsager wasn’t voted Coach of the Year, especially after her team went undefeated in league play, thoroughly dominating the Bears and Hawks.

The only plausible explanation is the other two coaches are tired of getting hammered by the Bulldogs, so they opted to vote for each other. Since coaches can’t vote for themselves, Alsager’s vote for the Moscow coach determined the winner.

Despite taking her team to state seven times, Alsager has only won league coach of the year twice, and once was when the 5A coaches voted.

The morale of the story: If you can’t beat ‘em, vote against ‘em.

Player of the Year

Joab Logan. Sports are full of highs and lows, and Logan offered a perfect illustration in the district tournament opener against Moscow.

In an attempt to head a ball, Logan hit his head on the goal post, laying on the ground for a minute in a scary moment. Many watching no doubt wondered if his season was over.

Those doubts were quickly allayed when he jumped up and promptly scored three goals after the injury. His stellar play down the stretch was key in leading the Bulldogs to the championship.

Performance of the Year

Clark Fork receiver/running back Joey Hazinsky. Sure, eight man football is often aptly described as a track meet in cleats. Nonetheless, seven touchdowns are seven touchdowns.

In a win over Mullan, the senior rushed for 275 yards and scored seven touchdowns, accounting for more than 40 points by himself.

The lickety-split award

Sam Levora. The junior had a monster season to lead the Bulldog cross country team, culminating with a second place finish at the 4A state meet.

Dedicated, talented and downright fast, the future looks bright for Levora.

Humorous moment of the year

Sandpoint’s Ron Hanson has been announcing games at Barlow Stadium for 36 years. His popular “How about those Bulldogs” line is always followed by a loud chorus of cheers from the stands.

During a game this season that featured a ridiculous amount of penalties, Hanson made a comment shared by the fans, something along the lines of “yet another flag. . .”

While many in the stands no doubt appreciated the humor, the white hat official did not, actually commandeering a coaching headset to admonish Hanson in the press box.

Yet another reason why nothing beats the Friday Night Lights.

Sports editor blunder of the year

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights are often a race to hit deadline, as late volleyball, soccer and football results trickle in and stories often get cranked out in minutes, with no time for a proof read.

So it was that Meghan Pagano, a senior leader on the Sandpoint girls soccer team, was called Megan Rockwell, a senior leader on the volleyball team, not once but twice.

I apologized to both Pagano and her mom, who were both great sports about it, and joked that maybe I should credit Pagano with kills and digs in the next volleyball gamer to even things out.

Sadly, it wasn’t the first time I’ve butchered names, and it probably won’t be the last. I did mange to get the first names right for Sandpoint lineman Nik Feyen, quarterback Nick Prindiville and Clark Fork’s Nyk Jones, neither of which should be confused with Clark Fork discus thrower Nic Franck.

Onward to winter sports we go.

Eric Plummer is the sports editor of the Daily Bee. For comments, story ideas or suggestions, he can be reached at eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.