Sandpoint's Grace Hicks, Riley Walkington sign NLIs
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint seniors Grace Hicks and Riley Walkington sign their National Letters of Intent to play for Point Loma Nazarene University and Eastern Washington University, respectively.
Choosing a college can be one of the biggest decisions for a high school senior. As if that decision didn’t carry enough weight, choosing to pursue collegiate athletics brings a myriad of challenges. Only one percent of all high school athletes compete at the next level, and as of Monday afternoon, two more Bulldogs can claim membership in this elite group.
Sandpoint seniors Grace Hicks and Riley Walkington signed their National Letters of Intent to play volleyball at Point Loma Nazarene University and soccer at Eastern Washington University, respectively.
Both seniors were standouts in their respective sports this season.
The versatile Hicks was the 4A Inland Empire League MVP, thanks to her 36 aces, 192 digs, 223 kills and a team-high 24.2 hit percentage. And senior midfielder/forward Walkington, the three-time IEL MVP, notched 25 goals and 10 assists in Sandpoint’s 4A runner-up campaign.
Walkington and Hicks have had collegiate athletics on their mind for quite some time.
“I always knew that Division I soccer was something that I really wanted to strive for, and it just so happened that I got the opportunity,” Walkington said.
“I definitely wanted to [play volleyball in college] from the start,” Hicks said. “Once I decided I wanted to play volleyball, I was dead set on trying to figure that out.”
Hicks cited Point Loma’s family environment and the campus’s beach-front location as two things that stood out during the recruiting process. She first learned about the San Diego, CA-based private school through the school’s volleyball camp, which she attended over the past two summers, and expects to contribute immediately.
“I can bring my competitive drive, being a force and being an energetic leader,” Hicks said. “I can bring my teammates together.”
The 6’1 senior joins an 18-11 PLNU team that finished fifth in the 12-team PacWest conference. The Sea Lions only had two seniors on the roster this season, but Hicks will be pushed in practice by All-PacWest first teamer Cara Keturakis and defending PacWest Freshman of the Year Rachael Schlect.
As for Walkington, the Sandpoint star will join an eight-person recruiting class that will bolster the 8-8-1 Eagles, who finished sixth in the 10-team league.
“Next year I’ll bring technical skills and really loving my teammates,” Walkington said.
Walkington said taking her official visit last month helped her fall in love with the school and the program, the latter of which has kept an eye on Walkington throughout her Sandpoint career.
“During the recruiting process, the main thing that stood out to me was the program in general,” Walkington said. “As far as academics go, those were really important to me, and I wanted to be close to home. I love everything about [EWU] and I can’t wait to go there.”