Youth notebook: Rehkow commits to BYU
Central Valley senior-to-be kicker Ryan Rehkow has had a dream to play at Brigham Young University for a number of years.
After Rehkow took an unofficial visit last spring and the school offered a full-ride scholarship, he refrained from giving an oral commitment on the spot – although it was difficult. His dad, CV girls basketball coach Freddie Rehkow, wanted his son to take the summer to visit camps and consider other opportunities.
Ryan Rehkow made his decision last week, giving BYU an oral commitment. He’s the third CV kicker in the last 27 years, including his brother, Austin, who will be a senior this fall at Idaho, to go on to kick at the NCAA Division I level. The other was 1989 graduate Mike Hollis, whose path took him to Idaho and on to a long career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“From the get go my dream has been to go to BYU,” Rehkow said. “I loved the campus and the coaching staff is phenomenal.”
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Rehkow plans to serve a two-year mission before enrolling at BYU. The school was fine with his decision.
Rehkow was recruited primarily to be a punter. His brother has been in both roles at Idaho.
Austin Rehkow holds the CV record for longest field goal at 67 yards. Ryan has the second-best kick (57).
“The opportunity to serve a mission and still have a scholarship coming back and being able to play there … I just knew that was the school for me,” Rehkow said.
He finished the summer ranked second in the nation by Chris Sailer, one of the top kicking experts in the nation.
Rehkow, an all-Greater Spokane League pick the last two years, carries a 3.97 grade-point average. He was named to The Associated Press 4A All-State first team last year.
He will be a starter for a second straight year on the basketball team this winter.
Austin Rehkow will likely have an opportunity to kick in the NFL. That is Ryan’s long range goal as well.
Baseball
The Spokane Expos, who won the Pacific Northwest Babe Ruth 13U regional recently, opens play at the Babe Ruth World Series on Friday at Ottumwa, Iowa.
The Expos defeated the Spokane Clash 8-7 in nine innings in the regional final in Spokane. Ethan Moriniti had a walk-off winning hit.
Wearing Pacific Northwest uniform tops, the Expos open against the Southeast Region from Sarasota, Florida. The top three teams from five-team pools advance to bracket play.
The Expos won league with an 8-0 record.
Team members including Moriniti are: Laken Young, Andrew Heesh, Cameron Gross, Ethan Hawes, Sterling Lipscomb, Ben Hadley, Ricco Longo, Ryan Clay, Andrew Monson, Elijah Hainline, David Dawson and Turk Riggan. Coaches are Steve Young, Brian Moriniti and Ricco Longo.
Softball
Four area teams completed play at national tournaments.
The Spokane Crash-Blake tied for 49th out of 92 teams at the 16U A in College Station, Texas. They went 1-1 in pool play and 0-2 in bracket play.
Team members are: Meredith Clark (Mead), Ashley Hammond (Mead), Mikaylie King (Mead), Carolyn Wendel (Mead), Tyler Carver (Cranbrook, B.C.), Jesse Dupuis (Mt. Spokane), Emma Profili (Trail, B.C.), Sadira Smoldt (North Central), Macie Reynolds (Central Valley), Hannah Petek (Medical Lake) and Gabby Mason (North Central). Coaches are Gary Blake, Angel Hammond and Mark Profili.
The Spokane Stealth-Bischoff went 0-2 in pool and 0-2 in bracket at the 10U B Western National in Medford, Oregon.
In their best game, the Stealth trailed No. 1-seeded Mission Viejo (California) 13-8 before pulling within three runs.
Team members are, all of Spokane: Peyton Bischoff, Sierra Fischer, Abi Iverson, Madison Johnson, Ainsley David, Jameson Peterson, Ainsley Buchanon, Mackenzie Sternod and Dani Jetton. Coaches are Carla Bischoff, Pat Fischer, Dan Iverson and Kristen Johnson.
The North Idaho Xtreme 16U team finished ninth at the Premier Girls national championship in Huntington Beach, California. They went 3-2 in bracket play among 45 teams.
No other information was available.
The North Idaho Xtreme 14U team went 1-2 in bracket play out of 38 teams at the Premier Girls national championship in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Team members are: Kaycie Barber (Post Falls), Madison Fernimen (Coeur d’Alene), Emma Gray (Lake City), Kelsey Horn (Post Falls), Abby Jankay (Lake City), Lexi Johnson (Freeman), Halle Kane (Coeur d’Alene), Lacey Lemburg (Lake City), Trinity Moore (West Valley), Natalie Sell (Coeur d’Alene) and Emma Viles (Freeman).
Football camp
The Coeur d’Alene High coaching staff is offering a free camp for a fourth straight year to Coeur d’Alene Junior Tackle players (fifth through eighth graders).
The camp is Aug. 23-24 at CdA High, from 10 to noon each day. Players need to provide cleats, practice jersey, mouth guard, full pads and helmet.
For more information, call 208-818-4543.