Recognition

It has been a good fall for the local high school teams. The football team was league champions along with Liberty and Chewelah. Unfortunately the league doesn't settle ties for the playoffs by playing a tiebreaker against the other teams or use the RPI rating like the state does to seed teams. No they just settled it by drawing cards high card number one etc. Disappointing for the Broncos for sure but it doesn't take away from their highly successful last two seasons.

The girls' volleyball team went back to state last weekend in Yakima and would finish 6th. Last year the Broncos' lost two of their top players prior to a loser out match. The kids battled valiantly but couldn't overcome the loss of experience and talent. The team has some good talent returning next season. And with the experience they earned at the State Tournament, who knows what the future brings.

Last week the All-League team was announced and the Broncos were well represented. The league MVP is senior Taylor Galbreath. 1st team junior Megan Melcher; 2nd team freshmen Saige and Zoe Galbreath and coach of the year is Cari Galbreath. The team has a lot to be proud of and these girls and their coaches represent the Bronco communities very well.

Over the weekend the All-League football team was announced and again the Broncos were well represented. The 1st team offense: OL Senior Hayden Stone, WR Senior Hayden Melcher and Flex Position (RB, Rec, TE) Senior Hunter Dinkins. 1st team defense: DL Senior Hayden Stone, DL Senior Hunter Dinkins, LB Soph. Brody Boness and DB Senior Hayden Melcher. Junior Brock Kinch was named 1st team kick returner.

2nd team offense: OL Senior Blake Esser, QB Senior Chase Galbreath, RB Soph. Brody Boness and Junior Brock Kinch. 2nd team defense: LB Junior Brock Kinch and DB Senior Cooper Miller. Special teams kick returner is Senior Hayden Melcher.

This is the second year in a row that Stone has earned the 1st team spots on both offense and defense as a lineman which isn't easy in this league. These are hard-working individuals that have spent a lot of time in the weight room and practice field to be the best. Several of these kids had to fill spots as freshmen when older players were injured. They took their lumps but gained good experience as well. They were undersized as freshmen but worked really hard and had to learn fast. I appreciate their success these last four years of high school

As you look at the team you may notice some names that are the same. Hayden and Megan Melcher are siblings as are Chase and Saige Galbreath. Taylor and Zoe Galbreath are sisters and their mom Cari is their coach. Chase and Saige are their cousins. Cooper Miller's mom Marci is the assistant volleyball coach. When you say team sports are family, often times they are just that

It was a very successful year for fall sports at the high school. There is a good nucleus for next year's team as several athletes that contributed to this season's success and no doubt several of those players will make next year's all-league squad.

There are several other seniors that provided an impact to this year's win total. Success is earned with hard work and good leadership and there are several young athletes that will step into those roles to keep the Broncos rolling.

Now it is onto winter sports and several of these players will contribute to the basketball teams and it should be a fun winter. And for several of these athletes this is their 4th season on the varsity. Thanks and good luck.