Top Sports Moments in 2011

January 2011

Micah Brown wrestled at 130 pounds during the Freeman Invitational on Dec. 30 and won the championship title after pinning all three of his competitors. Miguel Hayes finished second and Keanu Niezwaag took third place, both in the 140-pound category.

On Jan. 8, Broncos wrestling traveled to the Almira/Coule-Hartline tournament where Micah Brown again took the tournament title. Keanu Niezwaag and Cory Goble both had to drop out of their matches after suffering knee injuries at the competition.

At the Coyote Classic on Jan. 22, Micah Brown again walked away with a tournament championship title. Johnny Hernandez took third in the tournament in his weight class.

Lind senior Traven Smith has been chosen to compete in the 2011 2A/1A/1B All Star Football game in Yakima on June 25, 2011. Smith is one of 10 2B athletes that were chosen from the east side of the state.

Broncos’ athletes Jake Eichner, Micah Brown, Izzy Valdovinos and Brandon Gimmaka were chosen as alternates for the game.

February 2011

The Broncos basketball team will advance to the district competition after winning two of three final regular season games. The Broncos beat Davenport 52-48 and Kettle Falls 73-47 during the weekend games and lost to Liberty 54-48.

The Broncos will head to the Northeast District 2B Basketball Tournament on Feb. 12 against St. George’s at Lake Mead.

Micah Brown and Keanu Niezwaag will compete in the Mat Classic Feb. 18-19 and their teammates Kyle Ritz and Cory Goble qualified as alternates for the state tournament.

Brown took fifth at the regional tournament to qualify for state, Niezwaag secured fourth, Ritz had a sixth place finish to secure his role as an alternate as did Goble.

March 2011

The WIAA has recognized both Broncos basketball teams for their scholastic achievements this season with both varsity teams earning the Outstanding Team Award. The boys’ GPA was 3.64 and the girls’ was 3.81.

Both teams ranked second in state for the 2B classification. Two senior basketball players, Heather Whitmore and Jake Eichner were also named to the 2B Bi-County League All-League list and earned a place on the second team.

April 2011

The combined girls’ track team of St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse-Washtucna took first place in the District 9 2B meet at Dayton. The team finished with a score of 242 while the boys scored a 164.

The first place finishers and events were Sami Bailey in the 1600 meters, Heather Siegel in the 3200 meters, the 4x100 relay team of Jaime Hardy, Jessica Hardy, Teresa Casey and Annie Bailey, Jessica Hardy in long jump and Meghan Gfeller in the triple jump.

May 2011

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague golf team will be sending six players to the district golf competition after their performance at Deer Park on May 11. The top 28 athletes participate in the district competition.

The golf team members continuing to districts are Ryne Neilan, Colby Starring, Dylan Stoneking, Christopher Steinmetz, Kristine Lamping and Amanda Yockey. Logan Morley and Brandon Becker will both be alternates at the district competition.

Colby Starring and Amanda Yockey will continue on to the second round at state after their performance at districts.

There are five tennis players that have qualified to play in the regional tournament at East Valley. These athletes are Norina Vogelsinger, Chelsey Heidenreich and Kelly Melville will play doubles, as will Taylor Templin and Dakota Main.

After the district track meet, LaCrosse will send two athletes, Darcy Stamper and Jessica Hardy to the state tournament held in Walla Walla on May 19.

Stamper captured first place in the high jump for the boys’ team while Hardy took second place in both the 100 and 200-meter sprints and long jump.

The Broncos are sending six athletes to state after three athletes earned district titles and three placed in the top of their events. James Coon and Heather Whitmore took first in javelin while Lauren Gust claimed first in 300-meter hurdles.

Gust and Micah Brown will compete in pole vault, Ryan Whitmore will run the 110 high hurdles and Matt Fryberger will participate in the 400-meter sprint.

June 2011

James Coon brought home a state championship victory for the Broncos after throwing 194’8” in the javelin competition. His championship-winning throw is also a new school record.

Heather Whitmore came home with a third place finish in the girls’ javelin with a throw of 116’2” at the state track meet.

Traven Smith was selected for District 7 2B 1st All-Opponent Baseball Team while Dylan Hartz was selected to the all-opponent second team.

Bob Jacobs, Randy Beutler, Dee Harris, Warren Kragt, Roger Wallace and Carl Church earned a place in the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Hall of Fame during a banquet on June 4. They were members of the 1980 championship golf team that won the NWAAC Tournament for only the second time in CCS history.

July 2011

The Ritzville golf league wrapped up the 2011 season with 11 teams competing for first place. The first place team this year with a 1,187 net stroke total is Team 3 of Bruce Benzel, Ronna Galbreath, Gayle Gering, Randy Moore and Travis Simonson.

August 2011

The Ritzville golf ladies hosted their annual tournament, bringing 40 ladies from all over the region to compete in the event. Competitors participated in the two-person teams playing the best ball on the first nine holes and Chapman for the second nine holes.

There were only two skins during the event going to Debbie Pennick and Sherry Vorderbruggen, and Pat Suko and Barb Trout, who also won the overall net score at the tournament. Mary Own of Cle Elum and Sandy Walker of Ellensburg won the gross score portion of the event.

September 2011

The Lady Tigercats have welcomed a new head coach, Sarah Mayer, to lead the volleyball team this season. Mayer is also a teacher in the Washtucna School District and decided to take the head coach position after gaining support from her family and assistance from her daycare provider to help with her two young kids.

Mayer has an extensive history with volleyball; she was a four-year athlete in high school and played in three state volleyball tournaments. Mayer was the C squad coach six years ago and has some experience with coaching. Her assistant coach, Bailey Weekes, is a 2005 LaCrosse High School graduate who knows and works with the team well.

The Broncos football team scored an impressive win of 27-21 after a double overtime battle with Warden. The Broncos trailed Warden 21-7 at half time and came back in the second half to force the game into double overtime and hold Warden scoreless.

Chris Steinmetz carried the football 35 times for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Dylan Hartz finished the game with 134 yards passing, and completing 14 of 24 attempts. Ryan Whitmore led the receivers with 68 yards on three catches.

For the second consecutive year, the Lady Broncos have captured the championship title during the Rosalia Spikefest Tournament after defeating Rosalia, St. George’s and Colton. The Lady Broncos junior varsity also won the championship title at the tournament this year.

October 2011

The Broncos football team defeated Liberty with a win of 34-0 as they prepare for the Homecoming game match up against Kettle Falls. The Broncos played solid defense throughout the game, and the junior varsity players even had the opportunity for some playing time.

Connor O’Neill was the leading rusher with 102 yards on six carries while Drew Wilke rushed for 29 yards on two carries. Starting back Chris Steinmetz sat out his second game in a row due to a leg injury.

The Lady Broncos have won their last three games against Odessa-Harrington, Almira-Coulee/Hartline and Liberty securing them with a chance to participate in the district competition.

The Broncos beat long time rival Reardan in a close matched game with a final score of 7-6, securing the Broncos second place ranking in the league. The Broncos will receive home field advantage for the first playoff game this season.

Chris Steinmetz led the Broncos with 82 rushing yards on 21 carries and Dylan Hartz rushed for 41 yards on 14 plays and threw for 108 yards. Jake Dewald was the leading receiver with 52 yards on six catches and Ryan Whitmore caught one pass for 39 yards.

November 2011

The Broncos defeated Dayton with a 12-0 victory, which allows the team to still play in the state championship team. The Broncos are one of 16 teams that will be competing in the state playoffs with the hopes of winning a state title.

Dylan Hartz and Chris Steinmetz each scored one touchdown during the game, and both extra point attempts were stopped by the Dayton defense. The Broncos produced 227 offensive yards while Dayton only achieved 152 on the night.

The NE B League has announced their football All-Opponent Team giving First Team honors to Brent Stromberger for offensive line, Chris Steinmetz for running back, Jake Dewald for receiver, Brent Stromberger for defensive line, Jesse Miller and Palmer Phillips for linebackers, Dylan Hartz for defensive back and Brent Stromberger for punter.

Second Team honors were awarded to Palmer Phillips and Jacob Anderson for offensive line, Connor O’Neill for running back, Ryan Whitmore for receiver, Dylan Hartz for quarterback, Jarradd Morley for defensive line and Jake Dewald for defensive back.

The NE B League has announced their volleyball All-Opponent Team. The two seniors selected are Andrea Bennett for outside hitter and Davis Killian for middle hitter.

The Broncos defeated Manson 34-7 in the first round of the WIAA 2B State Football Championships. The Broncos will play at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco against an undefeated Waitsburg-Prescott team.

December 2011

LaCrosse/Washtucna football coach Jeff Nelson was presented with an award for being Coach of the Week.

Each week during football season, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington State Football Coaches Association selected two football coaches to win their award. Nelson won the NFL High School Coach of the Week during the third week.

Nelson received a framed award, equipment bag, two footballs, pump, 11 practice jerseys, football clipboard, set of six cones, lanyard, whistle and 12 water bottles with straws for his football team.

Also, Nelson received $225 gift certificate to Sports Authority. The Seattle Seahawks and NFL Football Fund made a $500 donation to the LaCrosse/Washtucna football program.