The banging of the spring floors grows progressively louder with each heavy landing of a roundoff back handspring layout. Pointed toes. Locked ankles. Straight legs. Graceful hands. Amidst the chatter and laughter of 28 Ridgeline High School gymnasts is the sparkle of seemingly effortless talent that is Bella De La Rosa.
Savannah Taylor's memory of her first time wrestling at Mat Classic has less to do with her time competing, but more to do with what she saw from the stands during the championship rounds.
Teryn Gardner has been a fixture in the Greater Spokane League – and really, across the state girls basketball landscape – for so long, it’s both amazing to realize but also hard to fathom that she has finally reached her senior year.
Brynn McGaughy stands out everywhere she goes. But in the cold and dimly lit auxiliary gym at Colfax Elementary School, the 6-foot-3 junior really stood out among the other varsity, junior varsity and youth players gathered for practice last week.
The high school basketball season is already underway and the always competitive Greater Spokane League is stocked with postseason-caliber teams and players once again. This year, District 8 (GSL and Mid-Columbia Conference) will send two 4A teams to state, three from 3A and two 2A teams.
In the Mead wrestling room, each practice ends with longtime coach Phil McLean having his athletes to find two teammates and tell them something good they did that day.
Robert Sacre has been many things in his basketball career: college star, national team player, NBA teammate of Kobe Bryant and front office executive.
