Young shooters make national squads
Elisha LaFond and Amanda Furrer’s success continued at the 2006 U.S. National Shooting Championships held at Fort Benning, Georgia., June 11-18.
LaFond, 17, finished second in her class and was awarded the Silver A class in the air rifle, while Furrer, 15, won the Bronze A Class for air rifle and 3-position. Unlike a regular event, they were competing against the best in any age group in the United States. Both are members of the Sharp Shooting club in Spokane.
Furrer and LaFond also competed in the Small Bore Prone-Position and Junior Grand Champion. Their success in Orlando comes after they dominated the Washington State Junior Rifle Championships, May 12-14 in Wenatchee where LaFond was the air rifle champion and Furrer was named the overall Washington small bore champion.
Up next for LaFond will be a trip to Croatia, where she is on the U.S. Junior Team representing the United States at the World Championships later this month. LaFond made the team by shooting several outstanding air rifle scores at major national matches this year.
Furrer will also be heading overseas, to Great Britain, where she will be part of the U.S. Junior Team representing our country at the Great Britain International Championships to be held the second week in August.
“Spokane’s Bryce Purdy finished first in two different events at the Montana State Sporting Clays Championship at Big Sky Sporting Clays in Polson, Mont., June 29-July 2. The Landt Farms Youth Team member won first place in both the preliminary event (100 targets) for sub juniors (up to age 16), and the 20-guage event. He also placed second in his class in the 5-stand event and was 6th in his class in the main event (200 targets).
Basketball
Sparks place third
The Sparks, a 12-and-under age girls team representing Spokane and the state of Washington, finished third at the AAU Division II National Championships in Kings Island, Ohio, losing to the eventual champion Rockland Rockets by four points.
The Sparks, coached by Steve Klees, defeated the Virginia Black Widows 53-49 to advance to play the Rockets.
The Sparks team roster: Devyn Galland, Nikia Arquette, Lindsay Lloyd, Megan Nelson, Tia Presley, Hayley Hendricksen, Abby Smith, Kari Ratchford, Mikeala Rivard and Christine Kirkwood.
Soccer
Mykines receives invite
Spokane Shadow U-17 girls team member Marissa Mykines has been invited to the U.S. U-16 National Team camp being held in New Jersey July 10-16.
Mykines, who plays for the Shadow team that won the U-16 Washington State Championships in March, was scouted by the U.S. National coaching staff at several of the College Showcase events that her team participated in during the last few months. Her Shadow team recently advanced to the semifinals at the Far West Regional Championships held in Boise, June 19-25, losing to the reigning champion San Diego Surf 4-2.
Mykines, who will be a junior at Mead High School this fall, is one of 24 girls invited to the camp.
Track and field
Several qualify for nationals
The Greater Spokane Track Club represented Spokane well at the Northwest Regional Junior Olympics Saturday and Sunday at Willamette University. Seven club members and two relay teams finished third or better, qualifying them for nationals in Baltimore, July 26-31.
Greater Spokane Track Club members qualifying for nationals: Joe Lanker (first, Youth Boys 100 hurdles, 14.82), Melissa Mauro (first, Intermediate Girls high jump, 5-1), Lucas Pope (first, Young Men pole vault, 15-11), Erica Chaney (second, Young Women shot put, 41–10.75; second, Young Women discus, 142), Adam Waldon (second, 110 high hurdles, 15.1), Brad Whitley (second, 400 meters, 51.1) and Jake Fry (third, Youth Boys 200 hurdles, 27.9), Scott Bunkelman (third, Young Men long jump, 20-09.25). Also qualifying: Conrad Malinak, Josh Munson, David Munson and Adrian Morris (first, Intermediate Boys 4x100 relay, 43.9); and Brian Munns, Tim Hight, McKay Clarkston and Shane Thomas (second, Young Men’s relay).
Cheney Track club members qualifying for nationals: Shyann Morton (third, Bantam Girls high jump, 3-071/4), Kinsey Pease (second, Bantam Girls javelin throw, 64-06), Courtney Hutchinson (first, Midget Girls shot put, 34-101/2) (second, Midget Girls discus throw, 73-1) (second, Midget Girls javelin throw, 78-1), Joe Zimmerman (second, Intermediate Boys javelin throw, 166-1).
Spokane Mercury club members qualifying for nationals: Collin Overbay (second, Midget Boys shot put, 30-101/4), Latecia Howell (third, Youth Girls long jump, 15-101/2), Ashley Stabl (third, Young Women 400-meter dash, 1:01.70).
Volleyball
VIP team finishes 11th
The VIP Juniors, a U17 volleyball club from the Spokane area, finished 11th out of 96 teams at the Reno Volleyball Festival National Tournament, June 24-30.
This tournament is a five-day event which is held annually at the Sparks/Reno Convention Center for kids in age brackets up to 18 years of age.
Team members are: Pam Eatock, Chanel Ratkovich, Alyssa Wold, Alli Giusti, Kristin Telin, Gretha Vogel, Kristin Barott, Stacey Smith and Kaprina Goodwin.
Baseball
Legion highlights
In American Legion highlights this past week:
Billy Moon had nine strikeouts, giving up only three hits and three runs, and went 2 for 4 at the plate as University beat West Valley 13-3 in Legion play Wednesday. Tyler Olson provided much of the offense for University with five RBIs, including a three-run home run.
“Cameron Joslyn threw a one-hitter, striking out 10, to guide the Spokane Northstars to a 9-0 win over Lakeside Recovery at the Walla Walla Bears Tournament, Thursday. Joslyn allowed a hit to the leadoff batter of the game and didn’t surrender another one the rest of the game.