Looking Back: 2017 Local Sports Year in Review

January

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos basketball team went 5-5 in games for the month, which included a four-game winning streak against Northeast 2B League opponents, Northwest Christian, Wilbur-Creston, Kettle Falls and Mary Walker. The Lady Broncos snapped a three-game losing streak and ended the month with a 59-44 win against Reardan.

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos basketball team began the year with a nonleague victory against Dayton. They finished the month at 3-7, with the other two wins being against Kettle Falls and Reardan.

Several athletes from the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos wrestling team spent January competing in tournaments in Spangle, Northwest Christian, Springdale and Kittitas. Dylan Lane picked up a win at the league match in Liberty while Tucker Guiles went 2-0 at the same event and finished second at the Springdale tournament. Alex Whitman also picked up a victory at the Coyote Classic Tournament.

February

The Broncos basketball team went 3-3 in their last six games to finish their regular season. After a victory over Tekoa-Rosalia in the regular season finale, the Broncos opened the District Tournament with a loss to Mary Walker. Following back-to-back wins against Wilbur-Creston and Davenport, the Broncos’ year ended after a loss against Colfax.

The Lady Broncos basketball team ended their season with back-to-back wins against Asotin and Tekoa-Rosalia. They defeated Northwest Christian to end the first round of the District Tournament, then fell to Davenport in the next. After wins against Mary Walker and Asotin, the Lady Broncos lost their final game against Colfax.

Tucker Guiles finished third place in the 285-pound weight division in the 2B classification at the Mat Classic XXIX Tournament. He secured his spot on the medal podium after pinning Brewster’s Alex Garcia in the second period of the third-place match. Tristan Regan attended the Mat Classic an alternate in his weight class.

March

The LRS Broncos baseball team began their season with a 2-0 sweep against Northwest Christian (NWC) in a doubleheader. The Broncos executed their short game and used their speed to score on base in route to clinching the wins. LRS lost their next two games, a Northeast 2B League doubleheader, against Asotin.

The LRS Lady Broncos fastpitch softball team had a rocky start to their year after losing a doubleheader to NWC. LRS picked up their momentum with a sweep over Asotin in a Northeast 2B South League doubleheader. The Lady Broncos showcased strong hitting at the plate in both games, particularly the first contest where they led 20-5 after five innings. The game was cut short due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The LRS golf teams kicked off their season. The Broncos’ Michael Shields earned a medal in the team’s first competition while Tessa Jantz captured a medal in the second league tournament.

April

The Broncos baseball team gained picked up several wins during the month of April, including victories against Davenport, Reardan and Springdale.

The Lady Broncos wrapped up their regular season with a sweep against Tekoa-Rosalia in a doubleheader.

The LRS tennis teams wrapped up a successful season. The girls finished undefeated at 4-0 in league matches while the boys were 3-1 in league play.

LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus’ Alynn Harder set a personal record in the javelin at the Undeberg Invite. Harder’s throw of 109 feet 8 inches earned in second place in the event. At the Undeberg Invite, Jazzmyn Gordon also set a personal record in the discus with a throw of 99’06.

May

LRS’ Rose Melville returned competed in the 2B singles bracket at the state tennis championships. Melville won her first match against Cascade’s Taylor Kelley, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 before losing her next contest against Charles Wright Academy’s Alexis Schorno, 6-3, 6-3. She was eliminated from the tournament after her loss to Three Rivers Christian School’s Bailee Wallace, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The LWK Tigercats had five athletes compete in the state track and field competition. Jazzmyn Gordon finished second place in the discuss with a personal record throw of 105-00. She also finished seventh in the high jump with a season best mark of 4’10.

Alynn Harder took fourth in the javelin with a personal record throw of 112-01. Autumn Meyers recorded a fifth place finish in the javelin with a throw of 106-09, and a ninth-place finish in the long jump with a 4’10, setting personal records along the way.

LRS was also represented well at the state competition. Kallie Harder placed fifth in the discus competition with a throw of 108-00.

Felicia Zeimer netted a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter race while Rachel Schell recorded a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter sprint. Sierra Kiel was sixth in the high jump with a mark of 4’10.

Broncos golfer Tessa Jantz finished 10th at the 2B golf championships while Michael Shields finished 14th overall.

June

Palmer Phillips, driving his combine The Honey Badger, and Cody Bennett, who utilized a former title-winning combine, Hillbilly Deluxe, collided in the finals of the 30th annual Lind Combine Demolition Derby. When the dust settled in the Lind Lions Club Arena, Phillips and Bennett shared the prestigious derby title after the judges called it a tie.

Sprague High School senior Tommi Sue Swannack once again earned a spot on the Washington State National High School Rodeo team. Swannack is scheduled to compete in the goat tying and light rifle events.

The remainder of the 2017 Sports Year in Review, will be published in the Jan. 18 edition of The Journal.