Youth notebook: CdA’s Grady Leonard named Gatorade track and field athlete of year for Idaho

Coeur d’Alene thrower Grady Leonard had a record-breaking spring.

That garnered him national attention. Leonard has been named the Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for Idaho.

Leonard captured state championships in the discus and shot put. He won the shot with a throw of 61 feet, 5½ inches and the discus with 182-5. His personal bests in the shot (67-0) and discus (188-5) are school records.

“It is hard to believe but Grady Leonard’s athletic accomplishments are surpassed only by his amazingly humble personality,” CdA coach Justin Aguilar said. “He helps underclassmen and sincerely cheers on all competitors. His big smile and huge heart have made him one of the most likable athletes I have ever coached.”

Leonard, who graduated with a 3.52 grade-point average, has yet to decide where he’s going to throw in college.

Last weekend, Leonard took sixth at the USATF Junior Nationals in Sacramento, California, with a throw of 63-7¾ .

The competition at Sacramento was with a shot which weighed 1.2 pounds more than the high school ball.

Leonard learned about the Gatorade honor while driving to Sacramento.

“I got a text from my coach,” Leonard said. “It hadn’t really settled until we got to Sacramento. It’s a nice honor. I wasn’t expecting anything like that.”

Leonard hopes to make a decision about college in the next two weeks. He said he’s narrowed his options to three schools – Penn State, Nebraska and Indiana.

He’s visited each school.

“All have great programs and facilities,” Leonard said. “It’s going to be a great decision no matter where I go. It comes down to the financial package. There’s still going to be some out-of-pocket money no matter where I go.”

Leonard said he’s been training heavily for the last 10 months.

“I’m going to take a couple weeks off to just be a kid,” Leonard said. “I need a break. As much as I love the sport, it’s like anything else, you’ve got to take things in moderation.”

Basketball

The Central Valley girls finished up a highly successful month at the Oregon City tournament over the weekend.

CV was missing three-year starters and twins Lacie and Lexie Hull and two other varsity players.

The varsity and junior varsity won the Gonzaga Prep tournament, the Gonzaga University Summer Shootout and the GU team camp, finishing 54-2.

Coach Freddie Rehkow discovered that after his highly talented senior class graduates after next year, there’s plenty of talent coming up.

“We’re going to be OK,” Rehkow said.

Mt. Spokane, led by Aspyn Adams, finished second at Oregon City, losing to Southridge of Portland in the title game.

It’s the best June that Rehkow said his teams have had.

“It was a good stress free (month) for me,” Rehkow said. “The kids worked extremely hard. It’s a summer where I thought we really improved as a program, not just one or two players. The growth of the future kids was good. We had complete buy in from one to 30. It gives me a good feeling going into February.”

Seven of his varsity players, including all returning starters, will continue to play on their club teams in July.

“Our depth is much stronger with the versatility of all of our pieces,” Rehkow said.

Soccer

The Washington State Soccer Coaches Association All-State boys spring teams were announced.

In 4A, Central Valley midfielder R.J. Stretch and defender Noah Whitman were named to the first team.

Jake Levine (forward) was named to the second team.

In 2A, Devonte Gorman, a midfielder from East Valley, was named first team.

Zach Browsky (midfielder) and Joseph Gresch (defender) of EV were named second team.

Theodore Baiye (forward) of Clarkston, Kelby Holland (midfielder) of Cheney and Jared Holstad (defender) of Pullman were named honorable mention.

In 1A, forward Alberto Cisneros of Colville was named first team.

Mark Kharchenko (defender) of Colville was named honorable mention.

NOTE: If you have an item for the weekly youth notebook, please email The Spokesman-Review sports department at sports@spokesman.com.

Staff writer Jim Meehan contributed to this report.