SHS Alumni Report: Grace Kirscher cracks EWU's starting rotation, Bailey and Pierce run at NAIAs

For college students, Thanksgiving break is more than just a brief family reunion, free food and a quick breather before the caffeine-filled, sleepless surge towards finals week. Oftentimes, Thanksgiving break is a time to reunite with high school friends, some of whom are also navigating college life as well.

With this in mind, it’s only fitting to catch up with a handful of Sandpoint alumni who are either kicking off their collegiate athletic seasons, or just finished competing on the postseason’s biggest stage.

Here’s how a handful of Sandpoint alumni are faring in college.

Few freshmen can say they’ve competed at nationals, regardless of division. And even fewer can say they were integral parts of their teams on their sports’ biggest stage.

But a pair of Sandpoint cross-country alums can say they have. Garrett Pierce (College of the Ozarks) and Ciera Bailey (College of Idaho) competed at the NAIA National Championship race on Nov. 16.

Pierce set a new personal best by completing the 8-kilometer course in 26:52. For those unfamiliar with the distance, that’s running almost five, 5:24 minute miles, assuming even splits.

He finished second for the Bobcats, who didn’t place in the team standings because they didn’t send a five-person squad.

Ciera Bailey, on the other hand, ran a 19:16 5K (three miles at 6:12 pace) to round out College of Idaho’s squad, which finished No. 11 of 36 teams.

Bailey was one of three College of Idaho freshmen to race at NAIA nationals; with two seniors graduating this season, it looks like Bailey has a good shot at being a mainstay on the varsity team.

Speaking of freshmen who are establishing their roles in college, onetime Sandpoint guard Grace Kirscher notched her first career start for Eastern Washington on Nov. 21 against Utah.

Kirscher earned the starting spot by showing Eagle coaches what Sandpoint faithful knew all along: She can get buckets. Kirscher poured in a career-high 21 points (on 3-6 from three) against BYU on Nov. 17.

The Eagles need a spark on offense­ — EWU ranks near the bottom half nationally in points, made field goals and attempts, per HerHoopStats,com­ — and coaches figured Kirscher could provide that in the starting rotation.

Kirscher was effective on both ends of the floor against the Utes, as she scored 8 points and added a pair of steals and a block in the Eagles’ 95-51 loss.

Although Eastern Washington is 1-3 on the season, the Eagles have challenged themselves by playing Gonzaga, BYU and high-major Utah so far — and before you ask, Gonzaga’s women’s program has a stranglehold on the West Coast Conference too.

Kirscher and high school teammate Trinity Golder, who hasn’t seen game action yet, hit the road against Cal Poly on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Meanwhile in Missoula, Kirscher’s high school teammate Madi Schoening is about to find her rhythm for the Lady Griz.

Montana’s schedule hasn’t been as hectic as Eastern Washington’s thus far, but the Griz and Schoening will see quite a bit of action in a three-game home-stand that starts tonight against South Dakota.

Schoening has only played in one of Montana’s games so far ­— she was sidelined for precautionary measures against Tuesday’s Providence (MT) game ­— but scored 9 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in an opening-night loss to Gonzaga.

Boasting one senior, the Griz will lean heavily on Schoening and three juniors this season as they try improving on last year’s 14-17 record.