5 BFHS seniors to play collegiate sports
BHFS seniors of Class 2022 to play collegiate sports. (left to right) Connor Alexander, Morgan Burt, Sierra Petesch, Camille Ussher and Eli Richards.
(Photo by: CYNTHIA BONSANT)
(center) Connor Alexander and his family. Alexander will will run track and field for Lewis and Clark State College.
(sitting) Morgan Burt signs for to join the pole vaulting team at Spokane Falls Community College with her family.
(center) Eli Richards and his family. Richards will wrestle for the University of Alberta.
(center) Sierra Petesch with her family. Petesch will be playing volleyball at Dawson College.
(center) Camille Ussher with her parents Alethia and Steve Ussher. She will run cross country and track at Spokane Falls Community College.
BONNERS FERRY — Five seniors from Bonners Ferry High School will go on to play collegiate sports next school year.
Connor Alexander will run for Lewis and Clark State College on the cross country and track teams.
Alexander finished 10th in the 2021 3A boys cross country state tournament. In the 2022 track season, he finished at the 3A state competition in the 1600m he finished in 11th place with a time of 4:52.0 and in the 3200m he took ninth place with a time of 10:31.08.
He plans to study kinesiology at LCSC.
Morgan Burt will continue her pole vaulting career at Spokane Falls Community College on the track and field team. Burt is the 2022 Idaho’s 3A track and field girls pole-vaulting champion at 10 feet.
Burt said she is excited for the whole experience and that she was not ready to give up vaulting just yet. She plans to pursue post-secondary education and physical education with the goal of becoming a middle school physical education teacher.
Sierra Petesch will be playing volleyball at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Mont., a Division 2 school. She is a two-time Intermountain League all-league player.
“I’m really excited she will experience volleyball in college,” said head volleyball coach Cynthia Cummings. “I think she will enjoy the next level of play, as I did. She’ll do well.”
Petesch is excited to play for Dawson, because of the similar small town feel in Glendive, and because of the supportive coaching staff at Dawson.
In academics, Petesch plans to pursue a physical therapy degree.
Eli Richards will be wrestling for the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, next fall.
Richards is a two-time Idaho state high school wrestling state champion, three-time state finalist, four-time state medalist and 2021 USA High School Wrestling Triple Crown champion.
At the 2022 High School Senior Nationals, Richards was a top 12 finisher, with the top placer being named All American.
He was recently named the 2022 North Idaho Wrestler of the Year and was inducted into the North Idaho Hall of Fame. His high school wrestling record is 145-39 overall. Richard had a 42-4 record during senior year.
In academics, Richards plans to study criminal justice.
Richards said that he is excited to wrestle for Alberta and has his sights set on winning a national championship.
Camille Ussher will continue her cross country and track career at Spokane Falls Community College. She will be pursuing an associate's degree.
BFHS Athletic Director Nathan Williams said he couldn’t remember the time when five seniors from one BFHS class moved on to play collegiate sports.
Williams, along with parents and other BFHS students, congratulated and thanked the seniors for being an example to future classes at the high school.
Williams told students that from his own experience playing college baseball, that the first year is the hardest.
“Stick with it, keep fighting for your dreams and all will be well,” he said.
Photo gallery is available at the Bonners Ferry Herald website.
