Stories by Whitney Ogden for the Spokesman-Review

Sports

Spokane Swifts band together for the distance

UPDATED: Sat., May 5, 2018

Running has always been in Heather LeFriec’s blood.

Sports > WSU football

Nnamdi Oguayo responds to challenge from Washington State’s defensive coaches

Sat., April 21, 2018

Washington State coaches tried a new strategy for pushing Nnamdi Oguayo to new heights – they demoted him.

Sports > High school sports

Richelle Ashburn works to bring softball glory back to Post Falls

UPDATED: Wed., April 18, 2018

State titles are hard to come by. It takes building a program from the bottom, a lot of tireless practices and plenty of heart.

Sports > Area sports

Gonzaga fights through wind to defeat Washington State in nonconference baseball

Tue., April 17, 2018

There was no escaping the wind on Tuesday night. It was going to have its hand in the game whether the Gonzaga Bulldogs liked it or not.

Sports > High school sports

Prep softball notebook: Central Valley takes early lead in Greater Spokane League

UPDATED: Thu., April 12, 2018

Central Valley is leading the way in the Greater Spokane League with a 8-0 record to start the season and six wins in league. The Bears have excelled behind top-notch pitching from senior Kelsey Gumm.

Sports > International sports

Horrific bus crash seems beyond imagination for many involved in junior hockey leagues

UPDATED: Sat., April 7, 2018

Some of the best moments shared between teammates aren’t in the arena or on the bench or in the locker room.

Sports > Area sports

Gonzaga returns home to defeat Portland to open West Coast Conference baseball series

UPDATED: Fri., April 6, 2018

Before Gonzaga’s 6-4 win over Portland on Friday, the Zags had played three games at home, when they hosted Pepperdine last month in a West Coast Conference opening series.

Sports > National sports

Hoopfest develops partnership with The Basketball Tournament

UPDATED: Thu., April 5, 2018

The Basketball Tournament, a $2 million winner-take-all summer tournament aired on ESPN, announced a partnership with Spokane Hoopfest on Thursday that will bring part of the tournament to Spokane.

Sports > NCAA basketball

Former Eastern Washington coach Ray Giacoletti sees hints of Gonzaga in Loyola-Chicago’s story

UPDATED: Fri., March 30, 2018

There is something strangely familiar about Loyola-Chicago’s run to the Final Four.

Sports > High school sports

Softball preview: Brooke Lambert brings hockey mentality to softball field

UPDATED: Wed., March 28, 2018

For as far back as Brooke Lambert can remember, life has always been about hockey.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Jonathan Williams reflects on Gonzaga season as an ‘awesome journey’

UPDATED: Fri., March 23, 2018

It wasn’t quite the ending Johnathan Williams had hoped for in his final season at Gonzaga. But shortly after Gonzaga’s 75-60 loss to Florida State, Williams reflected on the 32-5 season.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Killian Tillie injury forces Gonzaga coach Mark Few to shuffle lineup in Sweet 16 matchup

UPDATED: Thu., March 22, 2018

Just before tipoff between Gonzaga and Florida State on Thursday, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few made a quick change that caught all of Gonzaga’s fan base off guard.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga alums show their spirit in Los Angeles

UPDATED: Thu., March 22, 2018

Connor Palacio has enough Gonzaga spirit to spread around the entire city of Los Angeles. On Thursday, Palacio was spreading the spirit in downtown Los Angeles hours before the Bulldogs took the court for their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 showing. He had painted his entire face red and blue and was dressed in Gonzaga gear from head to toe.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Zag Up catch phrase catches on with merchandise-crazy Gonzaga fans

UPDATED: Wed., March 21, 2018

Zag Up is more than just a couple of words printed on a warm-up shirt – it’s become Gonzaga’s catch phrase between the players and the fans.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Traffic issues have greeted Gonzaga since arrival in Los Angeles

Wed., March 21, 2018

Los Angeles traffic has had its toll on the Gonzaga Bulldogs since they arrived on Tuesday for the NCAA Tournament West Regional.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga guard Jesse Wade juggles hoops, classes – and marriage

Wed., March 21, 2018

Jesse Wade, a freshman backup guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs this season, is just now learning how much work it takes to be successful on the court, in the classroom and at home, all at the same time. But Wade has added one more ball to juggle – marriage.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga players enjoy family-style feast while marching to another Sweet 16

UPDATED: Tue., March 20, 2018

The Gonzaga Bulldogs had plenty of supporters in their corner in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament last week in Boise.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Tickets for Sweet 16 reasonable, so far

Sun., March 18, 2018

Gonzaga fans might be pleasantly surprised when they go to the secondary market for tickets to Gonzaga’s next game in the NCAA Tournament.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga’s struggles from the free-throw line stuck around after opening win

UPDATED: Sat., March 17, 2018

For the second time in three days, the Gonzaga Bulldogs nearly took a loss at the line.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga’s NCAA Tournament win over Ohio State sent coach Mark Few heels over head

UPDATED: Sat., March 17, 2018

Even at 55 years old, Gonzaga coach Mark Few can still pull off a handstand.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga’s rematch with Ohio State developed into foul fest

UPDATED: Sat., March 17, 2018

The Gonzaga Bulldogs knew they were in for a fight against Ohio State.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Viewing parties give alumni a chance to throw support behind Zags

UPDATED: Sat., March 17, 2018

BOISE – The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ postseason usually provides a good reason for alumni to throw a party. Year after year, Gonzaga alumni chapters come together to host socials and pull together alumni following the Zags in their run through the NCAA Tournament. The gatherings in the postseason are often made up of alumni from all over the country. Last season, when the Zags made their inaugural run to the Final Four, local chapters drew in Gonzaga alumni from several states as far as the East Coast.