College Update: Former Sandpoint stars impact teams’ at next level

Once again it’s time to look at how local athletes are faring at the collegiate level with the winter sports season over and the spring season canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Payton Bokowy, Washington State University swimming

In her sophomore season at WSU, Bokowy was on the Cougars 400 freestyle relay team that broke the school record in the event at the Pac-12 Championships this year. The team clocked a 3:19.70 to best the previous record by over a second. Bokowy also swam personal bests in the 50, 100 and 200 free individual events at the conference championships, helping WSU score 111.5 points at the event and take eighth as a team.

Then Bokowy and nine other Cougars competed at the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America National Invitational in Cleveland, Ohio on March 11-14. The 2018 Sandpoint grad swam the second leg of the 200 free relay team that took fourth. As a team, WSU took ninth out of the 49 schools.

Madi Schoening, University of Montana women’s basketball

Schoening started in 14 of the Grizzlies 30 games this season, averaging 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. The team went 17-13 this year and saw its season come to a close with a 68-65 loss to Northern Arizona in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The 2016 SHS grad scored a season high 17 points in a 90-45 win over Sacramento State on Feb. 29.

Casey Olesen, Treasure Valley Community College

Olesen, a 2019 SHS grad, had a highly successful freshman campaign and wrapped up the season this past Saturday with a fourth place finish in the 133 pound weight class at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships in Allen, Texas.

Brooke Stevens, North Idaho College women’s basketball

The former Clark Fork High star played in 27 of the Cardinals 28 games this season as a freshman. NIC went 18-10 this year and saw its season come to an end when the Northwest Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were canceled in response to COVID-19.

Grace Kirscher and Trinity Golder, Eastern Washington University women’s basketball

The 2018 Sandpoint grads were a part of an Eagles squad that went 4-26 this season. Kirscher led the team this year with 10.7 points per game on 36.4 percent shooting from the field. She also averaged 3.6 rebounds per contest and started in 28 of the team’s 30 games.

Golder, a redshirt freshman, played in 12 games for EWU and took the court for 29 minutes this season.

Tristan Authier, Lincoln Christian University baseball

Authier, a 2019 Sandpoint grad, appeared in at least one game this season for the Red Lions, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits. Lincoln Christian played seven games this year before having its season canceled.

Preston Pettit, Southern Virginia University

The 2018 grad appeared in three games this season for the Knights, pitching a total of 5 1/3 innings while collecting seven strikeouts. The team had their season canceled last week.

TJ Davis, Spokane Falls Community College

The sophomore hurdler was able to compete in the indoor portion of the collegiate track season prior to the outdoor season being canceled. At the Idaho Open on Jan. 23, Davis took seventh in the 60 meter hurdles. The 2018 grad captured fourth in the event at the Boise State Team Challenge on Feb. 15.

Trey Flint, McPherson College

Flint, a 2018 SHS grad, did not appear in any of the Bulldogs 25 games this year prior to their season being canceled.

Bri Barlow, who graduated last year, never got the chance to take the field for Highland College softball in Des Moines, Washington, because their season was canceled.

If you know of any former Sandpoint, Clark Fork or Priest River athletes that competed this winter or spring and aren’t included in this article please email dgreene@bonnercountydailybee.com.