Rypien receives Baugh award

On the 18th anniversary of being named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXVI, Spokane’s Mark Rypien was back in the nation’s capital last week to receive another special honor.

The Quarterback Club of Washington, D.C., presented the former Shadle Park High School and Washington State standout with its Sammy Baugh Award for his achievements on and off the field.

“It was kind of a nice surprise,” said Rypien, who led the Washington Redskins to a 37-20 Super Bowl victory over Buffalo on Jan. 27, 1992, and was the MVP.

The Baugh award, in memory of the Redskins’ Hall of Fame quarterback, goes to an alum of the team who makes a special contribution in his community.

In 2004, after losing his 3-year-old son, Andrew, to cancer, Rypien established the Rypien Foundation to provide help to families in the community who are fighting childhood cancer.

“We’re very fortunate and blessed in Spokane to have a very caring community that opens its arms,” Rypien said.

“We’re not a big community,” he added, but the people step up big time “knowing all the money stays in the community.”

Of the trip to attend the QB club’s Redskins player of the year awards dinner, Rypien, who was with Washington for eight years, said: “I got an opportunity to see a lot of friends. … That was a big part of my life for so many years.”

Basketball

Adam Morrison, the former Mead High School and Gonzaga University standout, has been named to the advisory board of the Joe Toucan Diabetes Project, which helps diabetic children, teens and young adults.

Morrison, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14.

The project’s programs include a doll and accessories, which help diabetic children learn about living with the disease by caring for the doll.

Morrison said the doll “provides a terrific way to support newly diagnosed children by helping them in a non-threatening way.

“It is important for children to understand diabetes and the equipment they need to stay healthy.

“I am happy to join the advisory board … and hope to make a very positive impact in children’s lives.”

Bowling

Dalton Shears was on a mission.

Although he bowled well during the match-play portion of qualifying in the Sunset Bowl Junior Bowlers Tour stop last Sunday, he met some stiff competition and went into the five-man roll-offs in fifth.

Before the day was done, he was first. Mission accomplished.

Shears defeated top-seeded Thomas Locke 267-212 for the title after beating Curtis Lindeman (who finished fifth), Bry Tillett (fourth) and Mitch Lukes (third). Shears compiled a 946 in his four roll-off games.

On a day of high scores, Korey Zeller had a 287 game and Tillett a 971 four-game series to lead the boys and Karissa Shiflet a 223 game for the girls.

College scene

Four Community Colleges of Spokane sophomores received Academic Leadership Awards from the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges for their accomplishments in the classroom, the community and in the athletic arena.

Humberto Jimenez (3.71 grade-point average) and Rigoberto Jimenez (3.61), members of the men’s cross country team, were honored along with volleyball player Kasey Jurich of University High (3.80) and women’s soccer player Corrine Young (3.60).

•Damal Neil of Spokane (North Central and Community Colleges of Spokane), a junior forward on the William Jessup men’s basketball team, was the California Pacific Conference player of the week.

In two wins the week of Jan. 18-25, Neil averaged 16.5 points and eight rebounds for the 9-12 Warriors.

Golf

Rachel Westby, a senior at Post Falls, has signed a letter of intent to play for the North Idaho College women next year.

Westby shot an 88-89 in the 2008 state tournament and 90-89 at the 2009 tournament, in which the Trojans placed second.

She is a four-year varsity starter and maintains a 3.0 GPA.