WRAPPING UP SEASON OF STELLAR MOMENTS IN HANDLE SPORTS

When I was in high school - and, yes, I can remember that far back, thank you - I recall being told frequently by family and friends to enjoy my youth.

They said as I grew older I'd notice that the years would pass by more quickly. I can't explain why, but it's true.

The 1995-96 high school athletic season came to an end last weekend. The year transpired seemingly at the pace of a 100-meter dash, not an eight-lap 3,200 race.

So it's time to say goodbye. In so doing I want to remind us of some of the top moments of the year - increments of time that will be forever frozen in the scrapbooks of athletes, coaches and parents.

I counted it a privilege to have witnessed many of those top moments.

Here, in no particular order or preference, is a handful of snapshots of the year:

Alli Nieman.

There have been two multi-sport female athletes who have been second to none in North Idaho in my 12 years of chronicling prep sports - Nieman and Coeur d'Alene High grad Corissa Yasen.

It will be a while before another Nieman comes along. The graceful, yet dominating 6-foot-1 Sandpoint basketball and volleyball player concluded her senior year with a second straight state title in volleyball and led the Bulldogs to second at state in basketball.

As a tribute, Nieman's uniform numbers in both sports should be retired. Rival Inland Empire League volleyball and basketball coaches won't be sad to see Nieman graduate next month.

The good news, though, is she'll remain close to home - at the University of Idaho - so we'll be able to follow what should be nothing short of a stellar collegiate career.

Chris Cole.

Because the memory is so fresh in my mind, I hope I never forget Cole's gold-medal winning race in the 1,600 at the state track meet last weekend.

The Coeur d'Alene senior pulled away from usually dominating runner Billy Herman of Centennial and the rest of the field to win going away. Two days later, Cole was still awestruck by his accomplishment.

So am I. His victory provided one of my most enjoyable writing experiences of the year.

Lake City High boys basketball team.

I thought it should have claimed a piece of hardware at state, but that doesn't diminish in the least its accomplishments. The Timberwolves, led by the entertaining play of transfer Jon Chatfield and Scott Hoover, went undefeated in league and regional play.

LC coach Jim Winger will take many more teams to state, but the '95-96 T-Wolves will long be remembered.

No look back would be complete without putting in perspective the accomplishments of the Sandpoint wrestling team in general and the Lawrence brothers in specific.

Sandpoint captured its third straight State A-1 title in, once again, dominating fashion. A fourth consecutive title is conceivable.

Brett Lawrence completed his career with a fourth straight state crown. He became just the second wrestler in A-1 history to record such a feat.

His younger brother, Jared, a sophomore, remained undefeated in high school with a second state title. It isn't a bold prediction to say Jared not only will join his brother in two years as a four-time state winner, but will likely do so in undefeated fashion.

Jared Lawrence proved he's one of the top wrestlers in the nation last month when he won freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the Cadet World Trials.

I'll wrap it up by mentioning either names of individuals or teams: Moscow girls basketball; Post Falls football; Heidi Umthun of Post Falls; Lakeland baseball; Lakeside boys basketball; Tony Smith of Moscow; Jim Farris of Lewiston.

Lewiston football, coached by one of the top coaches in the state (Nick Menegas); Jesse Hoorelbeke of Coeur d'Alene; Dana Streeter of Wallace; Coeur d'Alene boys golf team; St. Maries volleyball (second in state with the youngest team ever under Mitch Santos).

Austin Lee of Post Falls; Lakeland's Kevin Bridge, who recovered remarkably from neck surgery; Jenny Owen of Lake City; the three games between the Sandpoint and Lake City girls basketball teams; Josh Mort of Post Falls; Kellogg boys basketball; Jeremy Thielbahr of Sandpoint.

In closing, I offer this disclaimer: Neither victories nor championships are the only marks of success. Many others could have been mentioned here.

You know who they are; let them know in a tangible way that you noticed.

Copyright 1996 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.