BFHS athletes, teams and coaches finalist for 61st NIHOF

COEUR d’ALENE — Eleven Bonners Ferry athletes, two teams and two coaches have been selected as  finalists for the 61st annual North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame awards. 

Athletes, teams and coaches from 33 high schools and three colleges in North Idaho have been selected as finalists. The awards cover the 2023 academic spring season and the 2023-24 academic fall and winter seasons.

From BFHS sister Avery and Braylyn Bayer are in the running for 3A-1A girls golf player of the year. Braylyn has won the award twice. 

Senior Trey Bateman is nominated as baseball player and male athlete of the year for 3A-1A.This is the second time he has been nominated for both awards.

Eli Newell is nominated for boys soccer player of the year. 

Four-time track and field state champion Asha Abubakari is nominated for 3A-1A track and field athlete of the year and 3A-1A female athlete of the year for the second year in a row. Abubakari won both honors last year. 

Helene Rae is nominated for 3A-1A girls volleyball player of the year.

For basketball, freshman Taren Bateman has been nominated for 3A-1A girl player of the year and Thomas Bateman and Asher Williams are nominated for 3A-1A boys basketball player of the year. 

Aubrey Wells and Ava Willis have been nominated for girl wrestler of the year. Both took second place at the All-Idaho girls wrestling state championship in February. 

The Badger girls golf and boys basketball teams have been nominated as team of the year. Former Badger golf coach Ralph Lotspeich has been nominated as 3A-1A girls coach of the year. He won the recognition in 2023. 

Nathan Williams, boys basketball coach, has been nominated as the 3A-1A boys coach of the year. 

The award winners will be announced at the annual banquet, which is set for April 6 at The Coeur d’Alene Resort and will take place along with the induction ceremonies for the North Idaho Hall of Fame. The featured speaker for the event is former University of Idaho offensive lineman Mark Schlereth, now an NFL analyst for Fox Sports. Dennis Patchin, sports director for KHQ/SWX, will serve as the emcee.

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 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. A special award is also presented to a former area high school graduate who is performing well outside of North Idaho. 

Also, during the evening the fourth 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 receive one free ticket to the banquet. To receive the ticket, the finalist needs to register online by going to www.nihof.com, clicking on the FREE Tickets brown box, and filling out the information by 5 p.m. on March 29.

For parents. relatives, friends and others wishing  to attend the banquet, tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance, at nihof.com by 5 p.m. on March 29. Tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis, The event, which has seating for about 875. Tickets often sell out so early purchase of tickets is recommended.

HIGH SCHOOL

SPRING SPORTS 2023

GIRLS GOLF

3A-1A — Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Malia Miller, Timberlake; Kendra Korasick, Kellogg; Julia Grimaldo, Orofino.

BOYS GOLF

3A-1A — Stephen Paul, Kellogg; Seth Swallows, St. Maries; Beau Jones, Lakeside; Luke Butler, Priest River; CJ Elliott, Genesis Prep.

GIRLS TENNIS

Alexandria Montgomery, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Neva Reseka, Sandpoint; Caitlin Combs, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Maddy Nesbit, Lake City.

BOYS TENNIS

Tate Burkholder, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Owen Sharp, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Cole Andres, Lakeland; Brady Hanna, Lakeland; Dylan Gomez, Lewiston.

GIRLS SOFTBALL

5A-4A — Kristine Schmidt, Coeur d'Alene; Jenna Barney, Lewiston; KaeLee Kolden, Lake City; Megan Highfill, Moscow.

3A-1A — Logan Walsh, Timberlake; Allilah Dykes, Timberlake; Taci Watkins, St. Maries; Jessica Ketola, Clearwater Valley; Kendra Meyer, Genesee; Brinley Lowe, Genesee.

BOYS BASEBALL

5A-4A — Bryce Stockton, Coeur d’Alene; Chris Ricard, Lewiston; Cooper Smith, Lake City; Eric Bumbaugh, Lake City; Joe DuCoeur, Lake City; Levi Anderson, Moscow.

3A-1A — Trey Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Bodey Howell, Orofino; Sam Lindsley, Grangeville; Dominic Holden, Troy; Jaxon Vowels, Potlatch.

GIRLS TRACK

5A-4A — Annastasia Peters, Post Falls; Capri Sims, Post Falls; Ivy Smith, Sandpoint; Devin McDaniel, Sandpoint; Zoie Kessinger, Lewiston.

3A-1A — Kadence Beck, Highland; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Asha Abubakari, Bonners Ferry; McKenna Kozeluh, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Lindi Kessinger, Orofino; Sage Elvin, Prairie.

BOYS TRACK

5A-4A — Trevor Miller, Post Falls; James White, Lewiston; Trevor Cogley, Lake City; Rusty Lee, Sandpoint; Dylan Rehder, Moscow.

3A-1A — Caius Tebbe, Timberlake; Saimone Tuikolovatu.Timberline; Matyus McLain, Priest River; Wyatt MacArthur, Timberlake; Brady Cox, Kamiah; Joel Sneddon, Orofino.

FALL SPORTS 2023

GIRLS GOLF

5A-4A — Taylor Mire, Sandpoint; Stella Deitz, Coeur d’Alene; Sophia Vignale, Coeur d’Alene; Mollie Seibly, Lewiston; Mady Riley, Coeur d’Alene.

BOYS GOLF

5A-4A

Trey Lambert, Lake City; Grant Potter, Coeur d’Alene; Max Hosfeld, Lake City; Trey Nipp, Coeur d’Alene; Chase Lovell, Moscow.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Kaylynn Misner, Post Falls; Talia Bonville, Post Falls; Hazel Kunkel, Lake City; Olivia May, Coeur d’Alene; Vanessa McLachlan, Timberlake.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Max Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Jacob King, Coeur d’Alene; Mitchell Rietze, Coeur d’Alene; Lachlan May, Coeur d’Alene; Zackery Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene; Jacob Barnhart, Timberlake.

GIRLS SOCCER

Avery Lathen, Lewiston; Macie Lilyquist, Lake City; Taylor Miller, Lake City; Cecilia Dignan, Sandpoint; Aliya Strock, Sandpoint; Alexa Sheppard, Coeur d’Alene Charter.

BOYS SOCCER

Jacob Molina, Lake City; Connor Jump, Lake City; Jett Longanecker, Sandpoint; Gavin Schoener, Lake City; Kai Longanecker, Sandpoint; Eli Newell, Bonners Ferry.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

5A-4A — Gracie Legg, Coeur d'Alene; Addy McKarcher, Lewiston; Kylie Munday, Post Falls; Ziya Munyer, Lakeland; Addy Jo Hocking, Lakeland.

3A-1A — Helene Rae, Bonners Ferry; Maddie Cheney, Kellogg; Britany Phillips, Wallace; Tia Hendrick, Wallace; Elouise Shelton, Clark Fork; Autumn Charvez, Mullan; Jolee Ecklund, Troy; Dericka Morgan, Troy; Kenadie Kirk, Deary; Hailey Taylor, Kendrick.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Makena Mamola, Lakeland; Malynn Sobek, Lake City; Riley Taylor, Lake City; Quinn Taylor, Lake City.

BOYS SWIMMING

Elija Brown, Lake City; Eli Shaw, Lake City; Isaac Thorpe, Coeur d’Alene; Michael Mamola, Lakeland.

FOOTBALL

5A-4A — Asher Bowie, Post Falls; Max Frank, Sandpoint; Kody Brewster, Sandpoint; Bryson Muckenthaler, Coeur d’Alene; Camden DeGraw, Coeur d’Alene; Shea Robertson, Coeur d'Alene; Tevin Burns, Post Falls; Owen Forsman, Lakeland.

3A-1A — Cooper Lenz, Timberlake; Trey Gibson, St. Maries; Jack Driskill, Logos; Gage Crow, Lewis County; Ty Koepp, Kendrick; John Pruitt, Mullan/St. Regis; Porter Whipple, Kamiah.

WINTER SPORTS 2024

GIRLS BASKETBALL

5A-4A — Avery Waddington, Lake City; Teagan Colvin, Coeur d’Alene; Sophia Zufelt, Lake City; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Karlie Banks, Sandpoint.

3A-1A — Taren Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Madalyn Green, Grangeville; Britany Phillips, Wallace; Lilly Reuter, Clark Fork; Samara Powaukee, Lapwai; Kenadie Kirk, Deary; Haily Taylor, Kendrick.

BOYS BASKETBALL

5A-4A — Logan Orchard, Coeur d’Alene; Reese Strawn, Lake City; Jordan Bramlet, Lewiston; Kai Wheeler, Coeur d’Alene; Parker Childs, Sandpoint; Ian Hillman, Moscow.

3A-1A — Thomas Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry; Wyatt Holmes, St. Maries; Tyson Charley, Lakeside; Chase Sanroman, Clark Fork; Kase Wynott, Lapwai; David Kludt, Kamiah; Jaxon Vowels, Potlatch; Nathan Tweit, Kendrick.

GIRLS WRESTLING

Joely Slyter, Lewiston; Cara Brown, Coeur d Alene; Hayley McNeal, Potlatch; Aubrey Wells, Bonners Ferry; Eva Wilis, Bonners Ferry.

BOYS WRESTLING

5A-4A — Rider Seguine, Post Falls; Hoyt Hvass, Lewiston; Tyson Barnhart, Post Falls; Seth Martin, Post Falls; Carson Leonard, Lakeland.

3A-2A — Kaden Schaff, Nezperce; Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River; Bass Myers, Clearwater Valley.

GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR

5A-4A — Lake City swimming; Coeur d’Alene basketball; Sandpoint soccer; Sandpoint swimming

3A-1A — Genesee softball; Bonners Ferry golf; Troy volleyball; Kendrick basketball.

BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR

5A-4A — Coeur d’Alene football; Sandpoint soccer; Coeur d’Alene cross country; Lake City swimming; Lakeland swimming.

3A-1A — Kendrick football; Troy baseball; Bonners Ferry basketball; Lapwai basketball.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

5A-4A

Shelly Sobek, Lake City swimming; Greg Jackson, Sandpoint swimming; Nicole Symons, Coeur d’Alene basketball; Conor Baranski, Sandpoint soccer.

3A-1A — Brian Malcom, Genesee softball; Deborah Blazzard, Troy volleyball; Ralph Lotspeich, Bonners Ferry golf; Ron Ireland, Kendrick basketball.

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

5A-4A — Shawn Amos, Coeur d’Alene football; Cathy Compton, Coeur d’Alene cross country; Michelle Sobek, Lake City swimming; Rob Urbaniak, Lakeland swimming; Tanner French, Sandpoint soccer.

3A-1A — Tyler Strunk, Troy baseball; Zach Eastman, Lapwai basketball; Zane Hobart, Kendrick football; Nathan Williams, Bonners Ferry basketball.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

5A-4A — Allison Olson, Lewiston; Punk Knott, Moscow; Landree Simon, Lakeland; Lila Kiefer, Lakeland; Maddie Mitchell, Coeur d’Alene.

3A-1A — Asha Abubakari, Bonners Ferry; Brittany Phillips, Wallace; Kenadie Kirk, Deary; Hailey Taylor, Kendrick; Mattie Thacker, Grangeville; Annabelle Carr, Coeur d’Alene Charter; Araya Wood, Deary.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

5A-4A — Kai Wheeler, Coeur d’Alene; Jesse Turner, Sandpoint; Lachlan May, Coeur d’Alene; Luke Leavitt, Sandpoint; Tyson Izzo, Moscow; Alex Shields, Post Falls; Drew Lehman, Sandpoint; Connor Isakson, Moscow

3A-1A — Cooper Lenz, Timberlake; Nathan Tweit, Kendrick; Jaxon Vowels, Potlatch; Ty Koepp, Kendrick; Trey Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Bass Myers, Clearwater Valley; David Kludt, Kamiah; Jack Driskill, Logos; Jacob Yetter, Timberlake; Gavin Christopherson, Timberline.

COLLEGE

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Kaycee Chavez, NIC soccer; Abby Brooks, NIC softball; Mia Sylvester, UI track; Jennah Carpenter, LCSC track; Callie Stevens, LCSC basketball.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Josh McCartain, NIC golf; Hayden Hatten, UI football; Francisco Bascon, UI tennis; Carter Gordon, LCSC indoor track.

FEMALE TEAM OF THE YEAR — North Idaho soccer; North Idaho volleyball; North Idaho softball; Idaho soccer; LCSC basketball.

MALE TEAM OF THE YEAR — North Idaho wrestling; North Idaho golf; Idaho football; Idaho tennis; LCSC baseball; LCSC basketball.

FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR — Brittany Tilleman, NIC volleyball; Shay Fuson, NIC softball; Kellsi Parson, NIC soccer; Jeremy Clevenger, Idaho soccer; Caelyn Orlandi, LCSC basketball.

MALE COACH OF THE YEAR — Derrick Booth, NIC wrestling; Russell Grove, NIC golf; Jason Eck, UI football; Daniel Hangstefer, UI tennis; Jake Taylor, LCSC baseball; Austin Johnson, LCSC basketball.

CONTINUED OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL — Ridge Lovett, Nebraska wrestling.