Sports Year in Review: Locals shine in athletic contests

January

After defeating Springdale and Colfax on the hardwood the Broncos would hold the second place position in their league and look to hand the St. George’s Dragons their first loss to a B team in two seasons. The Broncos lost to the Dragons 60-47.

The LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus started a three game winning streak, taking down Liberty-Christian, Tekoa-Oakesdale and St. John-Endicott.

The new all-weather track surface at Lind-Ritzville High School will make it possible for the 9th Annual Undeberg Invitational to be held for the first time on true home soil. The meet is expected to attract more than 500 athletes when it settles here on Saturday, April 26.

February

The LRS Broncos rolled out a solid 62-47 victory over the Davenport Gorillas in the opening round of the Northeast 2B District Tournament. This set up a semifinal match against rivals Liberty Lancers. After defeating the Lancers, the Broncos lost to the St. George’s Dragons and took the No. 2 seed into the sub-regional’s tournament.

Five Bronco wrestlers travelled to the sub-regional tournament in pursuit of a trip to the state-wrestling tournament. Though four of the wrestlers would automatically advance to the regional’s tournament, Karl Hawks would need to win one or two matches in order to advance.

March

The LRS Broncos secured a fourth place trophy in the state tournament with a pair of wins after a loss to Morton-White Pass, the eventual state champions. The Broncos defeated Northwest Christian 55-44 and then took down Mossyrock, 69-60.

In the second golf match of the season Tessa Jantz and Mike Sheilds recorded career bests. On their home course Jantz finished with a score of 50 and shields shot a 39. The LRS boy’s team finished second behind the Colfax Bulldogs. The Bulldog boys posted a team score of 213 versus the Broncos’ score of 227.

April

The Lady Broncos fastpitch team swept the Readan Indian at home. They took both games of the double header 7-6 and 6-4. Emma Aldrich scored two in-the-park homeruns against the Indians.

The LRS Bronco track team hosted its first home track meet on the new all-weather track at Jimmie Snider Field on April 15. The meet served as a chance to showcase the new surface for the Undeberg Invitational on April 26.

May

At the Ninth Annual Undeberg Invite 690 athletes packed onto Jimmie Snider Field and, for the first time in many years, the invite returned to the home facility. The LRS girls secured fourth place with 57 points while the LRS boy tied with the SJELWK boys for 17th place with 20 points. Darcy Stamper of SJELWK secured top placement in the long jump with a personal record of 21-07.25 and in the high jump, tying his personal best of 6-06.

Amongst the crowd of 40,000 contestants, 80 individuals representing seven local communities braved the crowds and successfully completed the annual Bloomsday race in Spokane on May 4.

June

Three athletes from the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Tennis Team earned positions in the state tournament. Tracy Melville competed in the girl’s singles bracket while Kyle Canaday and Alex Wheeler competed in the boy’s doubles at the two-day tournament in Yakima.

The LRS track team also made its appearance at the state competition in Cheney. Ryan Whitmore took first place in the 110-meter hurdles and third place in the 300-meter hurdles. Holly Nygren, Maya Wahl, Caitlin Schoessler and Felicia Ziemer of the girls 4x400 relay team finished neck-and-neck with the Colfax team and took second place by 0:00.25 margin behind the state championship team.

Continues next week in The Journal.