Whitworth’s Hagerott, Tully share Spurlock Award

Sun., May 25, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

Nelson makes us proud

We, as parents, try to teach our children the concept of sportsmanship. (Shadle Park's) Andrea Nelson could have easily taken her (State 4A 3,200-meter) medal and accepted the outcome of the race, but she chose to take the higher road and show everyone what true sportsmanship is. Her parents, fellow runners, students and community should be very proud of her. Way to go, Andrea. You are a winner in every sense of the word.

Diane Davey

Spokane

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Jael Hagerott of women’s soccer and Jay Tully from football, both Mead graduates, shared the Dennis Spurlock Award when Whitworth University honored its senior athletes.

The award, in memory of the former Pirates All-America quarterback (1958-61), goes to an athlete, or athletes, who exhibit superior athletic ability, devotion to teammates, courage and natural leadership ability.

Hagerott, who had 30 goals and a school-record 30 assists in her career, led the Pirates to an 18-3 record and into the semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament as a senior.

Tully, who led the Pirates’ stingy defense, capped a much-honored senior season by being named a second-team All-American by D3football.com and was selected for the 2007 Aztec Bowl all-star game.

Samantha Kephart of women’s swimming, a two-time All-American for top-four finishes at the NCAA Division III nationals, is the senior female athlete of the year.

Track and field standout Ben Spaun, who is participating in the D-III nationals, and Ryan Symes, who led the men’s basketball team into the D-III national tournament, shared the senior male award.

College scene

Recent Washington State graduate Tara West is playing volleyball with the Australian National Team in the 2008 Abu Dhabi International women’s tournament.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” said West, from Perth, Australia, a two-year starter at middle blocker for the Cougars.

•Yale senior women’s rower Jamie Redman, a Lewis and Clark graduate, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I at-large first team.

Redman, a history of science/history of medicine major, sits in the No. 5 seat for the Yale varsity 8, which is ranked third in the nation and will compete in the NCAA nationals this week in California.

•Two Whitworth seniors were named to ESPN The Magazine At-Large Academic All-District VIII College Division teams.

Selected were women’s swimmer Samantha Kephart, who has a 3.51 grade-point average in elementary and special education, and men’s tennis player Scott Donnell, who has a 4.0 GPA in theology and business management.

•Community College of Spokane sophomore men’s golfer Jason Azzarito from Kettle Falls was named to the NWAACC All-Academic Sports Team for the 2008 spring quarter.

Azzarito is one of just three athletes selected in the NWAACC. Criteria include a minimum of 36 credits and a 3.25 cumulative GPA or better.

•Seniors Samantha Marikis of Republic and Amelia Whitcomb of Ferris are in the Western Washington women’s crew varsity 8 that is headed to the NCAA Division II National Championships this week in Gold River, Calif., looking for an unprecedented fourth straight title.

The Western crew, which has not lost to a D-II school since 2005, is ranked No. 1 in the national poll.

Soccer

Christie Richards from Junction City, Ore., a defender who helped lead Clackamas Community College to the NWAACC championship, has signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Idaho, Vandals coach Pete Showler announced.

Track and field

Three high school seniors from Washington have signed national letters of intent with Washington State, Cougars coach Rick Sloan announced.

Men’s team recruits are Ezra John Griffey (brother of Cougars sophomore Princess Joy Griffey), a sprinter from Decatur High in Federal Way with a state-leading 10.67 seconds for 100 meters; Jerroid “J” Hopkins, a hurdler and sprinter from Everett who won the State 3A 300 hurdles in 2007; and Ross VanZanten, a 6-foot, 8 1/4-inch high jumper from Mark Morris in Longview.

Volleyball

Sadie Lazzarini, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter for Colfax, is the second recruit from the State 1A champion Bulldogs to sign a letter of intent with Lewis-Clark State, Warriors coach Jennifer Greeny announced.

Lazzarini and setter Abby Bruya, who also will join the Warriors, were part of six state championship teams – three each in volleyball and basketball.

As a senior, Lazzarini capped a much-honored career with first-team All-State and All-Northeast A League honors in volleyball and was second-team All-State in basketball and team captain and league MVP in softball.

Wrestling

Severin Walsh, a native of Coulee City who has been the top graduate assistant at St. Cloud State the last two years, is Pacific’s new coach.

Walsh, a 2004 graduate of William Penn, replaces Scott Miller, who retired in March after six years leading the Boxers.

The ninth coach in the history of the Pacific program, Walsh was a 1995 Washington high school state champion. He wrestled two seasons at Yakima Valley Community College before transferring to William Penn.