North Idaho Hall of Fame awards finalists announced
COEUR D’ALENE — Athletes, teams and coaches from 29 high schools and three colleges in North Idaho have been selected as finalists for the 62nd annual North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame awards, NIHOF officials announced Wednesday.
A total of 27 area athletes — 15 from Sandpoint, nine from Bonners Ferry and three from Priest River; three coaches — two from Sandpoint and one from Bonners Ferry; and four teams — three from Sandpoint and one from Bonners Ferry have been named finalists, some for multiple awards.
The award winners will be announced at the annual banquet, which is set for Saturday, April 12, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and will take place along with the induction ceremonies for the North Idaho Hall of Fame. The five inductees are former Lake City and Coeur d’Alene High basketball coach Jim Winger, track throwing coach Bart Templeman, former University of Idaho volleyball coach Debbie Buchanan, former Coeur d’Alene High and University of Montana football athlete and community booster Rick Rasmussen, and Mike lupati, former UI and NFL defensive lineman.
Tickets for the banquet, which also features the North Idaho High School Awards, are $40 each and can be purchased online either by going to www.nihof.org starting today and clicking on the “Purchase Tickets” brown box. Reserved tables for eight also can be purchased for $400. The new University of Idaho football coach Thomas Ford will be the featured speaker.
A social hour where nominees can pick up their certificates and pose for photos begins at 5:30 p.m., with the banquet room doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
The event usually sells out so it will be livestreamed by IdahoSports.com on its website as well as the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame website, www.nihof.com.
The North Idaho Hall of Fame awards honor District I-II high school athletes, coaches and teams for their outstanding play, along with the athletes, coaches and teams from the University of Idaho, North Idaho College, and Lewis-Clark State College. A special award is also presented to a former area high school graduate who is performing well outside of North Idaho. The awards cover the 2024 academic spring season and the 2024-25 academic fall and winter seasons.
Also, during the evening the 5th annual Hagadone High Character Award winners will be announced. A female and male athlete from each school is honored. The award is named after Duane Hagadone, who founded the North Idaho Hall of Fame. In defining the award, it recognizes a student-athlete who excelled in the classroom and as a teammate; has outstanding work ethic and integrity, displays sportsmanship and true character in all walks of life, and is just an all-around good individual. Civic and community involvement is a plus.
Nominations for each category are reviewed by the NIHOF committee, which selects the finalists and eventually the winner.
Each finalist receives a certificate, and the winners also receive a plaque. The athlete, coach, and team of the year awards for both high school and college receive trophies. These awards are handed out during the banquet.
All finalists for the awards and Hagadone High Character Award winners receive one free ticket to the banquet, but they must register on the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame website, www.nihof.com, to receive the free ticket.
Here are the finalists for each award:
2024 SPRING SPORTS
GIRLS GOLF
3A-1A
Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Chiara Lehman, Genesis Prep.
BOYS GOLF
3A-1A
Beau Jones, Lakeside; Seth Swallows, St. Maries; Palmer Coleman, Priest River.
GIRLS TENNIS
Alexandria Montgomery, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Pepper Rickert, Sandpoint; Neva Reseska, Sandpoint; Madison Nesbit, Lake City.
BOYS TENNIS
Tate Burkholder, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Owen Sharp, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Jacob Dawson, Sandpoint; Conor Judson, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS SOFTBALL
5A-4A
Jenna Davenport, Coeur d’Alene; Kaci Kiblen, Moscow; Megan Highfill, Moscow; Cadence Skibitsky, Sandpoint; Jenna Barney, Lewiston.
3A-1A
Jesi Kitchen, Timberlake; Logan Walsh, Timberlake; Mattie Thacker, Grangeville; Kendra Meyer, Genesee; Jessica Ketola, Clearwater Valley.
BOYS BASEBALL
5A-4A
Cooper Smith, Lake City; Levi Anderson, Moscow; Tyson Izzo, Moscow; Cooper Reese, Lake City; Austin DeBoer, Post Falls; Aidan Blanco, Coeur d’Alene.
3A-1A
Caden Robinett, Timberlake; Trey Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Aiden Olive, Orofino; Jameson Morris, Potlatch; Sam Lindsley, Grangeville; Dashel Barlow, Orofino.
GIRLS TRACK
5A-4A
Mattea Nuhn, Moscow; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Ivy Smith, Sandpoint; Mara Kessinger, Lewiston; Devin McDaniel, Sandpoint.
3A-1A
Lindi Kessinger, Orofino; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Kathryn Burnette, Potlatch; Sage Elven, Prairie; Sara Casebolt, Logos.
BOYS TRACK
5A-4A
Klein Fragoso, Sandpoint; Cobe Cameron, Post Falls; Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Jakan Lawrence, Coeur d’Alene.
3A-1A
Nathan Russell, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Caius Tebbe, Timberlake; Trenton Lorentz, Prairie; Alexzander Lambson, St. Maries; Noah Watson, Highland.
FALL SPORTS
GIRLS GOLF
6A-5A
Jossetta Williams, Coeur d’Alene; Ella Wilson, Coeur d’Alene; Taylor Mire, Sandpoint; Mady Riley, Coeur d’Alene.
BOYS GOLF
6A-5A
Chase Lovell, Moscow; Tyler Zachary, Lakeland; Ben Focke, Coeur d’Alene; Hunter Paquin, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Hazel Kunkel, Lake City; Kaylynn Misner, Post Falls; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Olivia May, Coeur d’Alene; Vanessa McLachlan, Timberlake.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Zach Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Wyatt Carr, Coeur d’Alene; Mitchell Rietze, Coeur d’Alene; Gabe Heule, Coeur d’Alene; Rowan Henry, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS SOCCER
Kennedy Hartzell, sr., Lake City; Lydia Lehosit, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Lucy Simpson, Timberlake; Lilianna Brinkmeier, Sandpoint; Asia Roberts, Lewiston; Avery Lathen, Lewiston.
BOYS SOCCER
Kason Pintler, Coeur d’Alene; Huxley Hall, Sandpoint; Ben Hannigan-Luther, Lake City; Wyatt Thornycroft, Moscow; Nikita Rawson, Bonners Ferry; Treffen McCord, Coeur d’Alene Charter.
GIRLS SWIMMING
Maylynn Sobek, Lake City; Taylor Quinn, Lake City; Ava de Leeuw, Sandpoint; Mia Driggs, Sandpoint.
BOYS SWIMMING
Noah Crossler, Moscow; Eli Shaw, Lake City; Andrew Davis, Coeur d’Alene.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
6A-5A
Paisley Goings, Coeur d’Alene; Mia Carr, Post Falls; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Olivia Zazuetta, Lakeland; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston.
4A-1A
Helene Rae, Bonners Ferry; Adalei Lefebvre, Grangeville; Tylah Lambert, Lakeside; Madi Cooper, Genesis Prep; Emma Krogh, Kamiah; Tessa Stoner, Troy. Ashlyn Strunk, Troy; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Chloe Dorman, Kootenai; Madeline Junkin, Coeur du Christ; Chloe Grieser, Genesee.
FOOTBALL
6A-5A
Kai Wheeler, Coeur d'Alene; Isaac McKeown, Post Falls; Tyrus Blake, Post Falls; Ben Murray, Coeur d’Alene; Cole Arlint, Lewiston; Kage Weil, Lakeland; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Terry Davis, Lakeland; Drew Lehman, Sandpoint.
4A-1A
Keaton Frei, Moscow; Cooper Poxleitner, Grangeville; David Kludt, Kamiah; Seamus Wilson, Logos; Sawyer Hewett, Kendrick; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Brock Boyer, Kendrick; Cooper Miller, Wallace; Tyson Charley, Lakeside.
WINTER SPORTS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
6A-5A
Brookeslee Colvin, Coeur d'Alene; Sadie Zimmerman, Lake City; Brecken Mire, Sandpoint; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston; Kelsey Carroll, Coeur d’Alene; Landree Simon, Lakeland.
4A-1A
Malia Miller, Timberlake; Sydney Hinthorn, Bonners Ferry; Madalyn Green, Grangeville; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Emma Krogh, Kamiah; Kyleigh Wolfe, Lakeside; Brooklyn Charles, Kootenai; Chloe Grieser, Genesee.
BOYS BASKETBALL
6A-5A
Conner Carver, Post Falls; Jordan Carlson, Lake City; Reese Strawn, Lake City; Cason Miller, Lake City; Royce Fisher, Lewiston; Grant Abendroth, Moscow; Parker Bogar, Lewiston.
4A-1A
Thomas Bateman, Bonners Ferry; JJ Yearout, St. Maries; Nate Stifel, Priest River; Dave Kludt, Kamiah; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Everett Lovell, Potlatch; Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry; Tyson Charley, Lakeside; Dylan Tosh, Genesis Prep; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ; Hyson Scott, Clearwater Valley.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Joely Slyter, Lewiston; Alexxis Johnson, Lake City; Shelby Garten, Timberlake; Hayley McNeal, Potlatch.
BOYS WRESTLING
6A-5A
Matthew Hamilton, Post Falls; Colton Tucker, Coeur d’Alene; Brock Armstrong, Coeur d’Alene; Seth Martin, Post Falls; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Zach Teal, Lakeland; Carson Leonard, Lakeland; Jorden Tyler, Sandpoint.
4A-3A
Colton Storey, Kellogg; Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River; Aiden Yearout, St. Maries.
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Sandpoint tennis; Sandpoint swimming.
4A-1A
Genesee softball; Logos track.
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Moscow baseball; Coeur d’Alene cross country; Sandpoint swimming.
4A-1A
Orofino baseball; Potlatch baseball; Kendrick football; Bonners Ferry basketball; Kendrick basketball.
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Kent Anderson, Sandpoint tennis; Greg Jackson, Sandpoint swimming.
4A-1A
Brian Malcolm, Genesee softball; Gwen Spencer, Logos track.
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Rod Griffin, Moscow baseball; Emry Carr, Coeur d’Alene cross country; Greg Jackson, Sandpoint swimming.
4A-1A
Scotty Tondevold, Orofino baseball; Trent Baysinger, Potlatch baseball; Kendrick football, Zane Hobart; Nathan Williams, Bonners Ferry basketball; Steve Kirkland, Kendrick basketball.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Mattea Nuhn, Moscow; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston; Kelsey Carroll, Coeur d’Alene.
4A-1A
Hali Anderson, Kendrick; Annabell Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Sara Casebolt, Logos; Sage Elven, Prairie; Chloe Grieser, Genesee; Kendra Meyer, Genesee.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
6A-5A
Kai Wheeler, Coeur d’Alene; Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Caleb Jimmerson, Post Falls; Butch Kiblen, Moscow; Garrett Leonard, Lake City; Connor Isakson, Moscow; Drew Lehman, Sandpoint; Tyson Izzo, Moscow.
4A-1A
Palmer Coleman, Priest River; David Goicoa, Grangeville; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; David Kludt, Kamiah; Seamus Wilson, Logos; Brody Rice, Bonners Ferry; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ.
COLLEGE MEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Josh McCartain, NIC golf; Joe Sykes, UI golf; Keyshawn James-Newby, UI football; Tommy McCormick, UI football; Alton Hamilton, LCSC basketball; Vaughn Weems, NIC basketball.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Russell Grove, NIC golf; Jason Eck, UI football; Mike Collins, LCSC track and cross country.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
NIC golf; NIC soccer; UI football.
COLLEGE WOMEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kennedy Hobson, NIC softball; Hanna Tait, UI track; Alyssa Peters, UI soccer; Ginger Kiefer, UI swimming; Olivia Nelson, UI basketball.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Russell Grove, NIC golf; Shay Chapman, NIC softball; Jeremy Clevenger, UI soccer; Caelyn Orlandi, LCSC basketball.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
NIC softball; NIC golf; UI soccer; LCSC basketball.
COLLEGE ATHLETE AWAY FROM AREA
Ridge Lovett, Nebraska wrestling.