2012: The Year in Sports

January

The New Year brought instant success for both of the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague basketball teams, as the teams racked up multiple back-to-back wins after returning to the court after the holiday break. The LRS Broncos won three straight, including two league outings, while the Lady Broncos netted four consistent wins.

LRS wrestlers had the home mat advantage during the only wrestling match held in Ritzville during the season. Winning all three of his matches during the league competition was Keanu Niezwaag, who weighed in at 138, and won two of the three matches by pin.

February

Keanu Niezwaag and Grayson Morris ran the tournament gauntlet in wrestling and enjoyed enough success to take them to the Tacoma Dome for the WIAA Mat Classic. Both finished fourth at the Eastern Washington B Regional Wrestling Tournament, and received fourth place medals at the state level as well.

March

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague basketball teams were both recognized at the State B Basketball Tournament for achieving top academic honors. The girls had a collective GPA from the first semester of 3.898. The boys had a collective GPA from the first semester of 3.717.

The Broncos were cautious in the season opener, but a 4-0 start was a nice way to begin the spring baseball season. The beginning success also included a double win over the Colfax Bulldogs in the league opener.

April

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague tennis team traveled to LaCrosse to go head-to-head with the LaCrosse-Washtucna Tigercats. The LRS team walked away with the victory, with the boys’ team winning 5-0 over the Tigercats and the girls’ team winning 4-1.

The St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse-Washtucna track and field team traveled to Pullman on April 11 to compete in the District 9 1B/2B meet. The girls’ team finished in first place at the meet with 165 points, and the boys’ team finished in second with 81 points.

May

With three wins in the last four games of the regular season, the LRS Broncos finished 17-2 overall in regular play and earned themselves the league championship.

Seven LRS and three LW track and field athletes traveled to state to compete in a variety of events. The highest honors were awarded to two athletes, one from each team, for earning fifth place in their events. Darcy Stamper placed fifth in high jump, while Kate Schell earned her highest finish in the 100-meter sprint. In tennis, LRS athletes Tracy Melville, Kelly Melville and Chelsey Heidenreich, and LW athlete Justin Wargo, all competed at the state level.

June

The 25th anniversary of the Lind Combine Demolition Derby proved to be successful when 23 combines entered the arena on June 9. Tyler Startin earned the first place award and received $1,200 for his top finish.

July

The Spokane Hoopfest street basketball tournament attracted around 25 local teams to participate in the largest three-on-three basketball competition in the world. The one local team pronounced the winner of their division was in the male high school students division. The team, Show Me Your Tweets, was comprised of team members Dylan Hartz, Bridger Hartz, Connor O’Neill and Colby Starring.

The LRS Broncos boys’ basketball team wrapped up the summer basketball schedule in mid-July. The varsity team played 31 games, winning 27, and the junior varsity competed in 22 games.

August

Twenty-two teams competed in the women’s only, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” golf tournament at the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course on Aug. 13. The 44 participants spent the day on the course, followed by a luncheon and awards ceremony.

September

The LaCrosse-Washtucna Lady Tigercats began league play against Rosalia on Thursday, Sept. 13, and walked away with a win. The high-energy game began with two match wins for the Lady Tigercats, 25-20 and 25-21.

The Lady Broncos crushed Royal City in three games to walk away with the homecoming win with scores of 25-9, 25-16 and 25-13. In football, the Broncos went into overtime against TCP during the homecoming game to eventually win with a score of 21-20.

October

Homecoming week for the LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus football team ended with a 62-20 victory over the Colton Wildcats. The Tigercats remained undefeated in the Southwest 1B league, defeating both league teams by over 40 points.

The Lady Tigercats faced Touchet during homecoming week and earned the win in four matches: 18-25, 25-14, 25-22 and 25-14.

The Broncos are the undisputed champions of the league and remained undefeated going into their final regular season game against Liberty. The 33-14 win over Colfax also cements the first round of playoffs for the Broncos.

November

Expected to be the underdogs, the LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus Tigercats proved they were worthy when they defeated the Almira-Coulee/Hartline Warriors, 52-36, during the first round of state playoffs in Coulee City. The win moved the Tigercats into the quarterfinal competition against Liberty Christian.

With a semifinal win over Waitsburg-Prescott, the LRS Broncos travel to the Tacoma Dome on Nov. 29 to battle in the state championship game. The team will play in the WIAA 2B Gridiron Classic State Championship game against Morton-White Pass.

December

A big effort by the LRS Broncos during the state championship game helped the team earn the state title with a 21-19 win over Morton-White Pass.

The underdogs proved west side prognosticators wrong Nov. 29 in the Tacoma Dome with club plays, a positive attitude and a never-say-die work ethic.

The LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus Tigercats basketball team remains undefeated this season after earning two wins before Christmas. The Tigercats remain 7-0 after defeating Rosalia, 58-45, and Tri-Cities Prep, 58-42.