Badger duo inducted into NIHOF
Asha Abubakari is named Girls Athlete of the Year and Girls Track Athlete of Year at the 60th Annual NIHOF. (left) Sulayman Abubakari holds some of his sisters certificates, Asha Abubakari holds her Athlete of the year award.
(Courtesy Photo)
(left) Avery Bayer, Mia Blackmore and Braylyn Bayer pose with their award nominee certificates at the 60th Annual NIHOF Awards. Braylyn was named Girl Golf Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row.
BFHS athletes pose with their nominates certificates to the North Idaho Hall of Fame at the 60th Annual Awards on April 8. (very back) Asher Williams, (left second row) Ridge Williams, Charles Henslee, Blake Rice, Trey Bateman, Asha Abubakari (front) Cleo Henslee, Mia Blackmore, Avery Bayer, Morgan Burt and Braylyn Bayer.
COEUR d’ALENE — Bonners Ferry High School athletes Asha Abubakari and Braylyn Bayer were inducted to North Idaho Hall of Fame at the 60th annual North Idaho Sports Banquet on April 8.
The North Idaho Hall of Fame awards honor District I-II high school athletes, coaches and teams, along with the athletes, coaches and teams from the University of Idaho, North Idaho College and Lewis-Clark State College. The awards cover the 2022 academic spring season and the 2022-23 academic fall and winter seasons.
Abubakari was named the 2023 Female Athlete of the Year and the 2023 Girls Track Athlete of the Year. She competes in volleyball, basketball, track and field and is the defending state champion in 3A shotput and discus. She was also nominated for the girls basketball player of the year award for 2023.
She was also recently named 3A all-state second team for girls basketball.
Abubakari told the Herald that the honor was “still a surprise.” She said she’s amazed by all the support she has received from her mother and community members who have traveled to many of her games.
“To all the coaches along the way, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” she said.
For the second year in a row, Braylyn Bayer returned to the NIHOF awards and claimed the 2022-2023 High School Girls Golf Athlete of the Year award. Bayer took second in state for 3A girls golf in 2002. She competes in volleyball, cross country, basketball and golf.
"I am thankful to the North Idaho Hall of Fame and board for selecting me,” Bayer said. “I am grateful for being selected two years in a row."
Athletes, teams and coaches from 33 high schools and three colleges in North Idaho were selected as finalists for the 60th annual North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame awards. 15 Bonners Ferry Badgers were in the running.
Nominations for Bonners Ferry athletes included:
Girls Golf: Avery Bayer and Braylyn Bayer.
Baseball, 3A-1A: Trey Bateman and Teigan Banning.
Girls Track and Field 3A-1A: Asha Abubakari and Morgan Burt, both 2022 track and field state champions.
Boys Soccer: Nick Eastman, twice nominated in 2023 and 2022.
Football 3A-1A: Cleo Henslee, Blake Rice and Charles Henslee.
Girls Basketball 3A-1A: Asha Abubakari.
Boys basketball 3A-1A: Asher Williams, Ridge Williams and Braeden Blackmore.
Girls Wrestling: Nevaeh Thomas, 2023, 107 pound Idaho girls wrestling state champion.
Male Athlete of the Year 3A-1A: Trey Bateman. He plays football, basketball and baseball.
Female Athlete of the Year 3A-1A: Asha Abubakari and Mia Blackmore.
