Northwest Notes, June 15, 2012

Three-time state champ Berger to wrestle at NIC

COEUR d'ALENE - Curtis Berger, a three-time state champion at Hermiston (Ore.) High, has signed a letter of intent to wrestle at North Idaho College next season, Cardinals coach Pat Whitcomb announced.

Berger, who redshirted at North Dakota State last year, will have two years of eligibility at NIC, and is expected to compete at 197 pounds, Whitcomb said.

Berger placed second at 189 pounds at the Tri-State Invitational in 2010 in Coeur d'Alene.

Pac-12 Conference announces early television selections

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Four Washington State football games, two road and two home, have been selected as part of the Pac-12 Conference's early television selections, the conference announced Thursday.

Washington State, which has previously announced television broadcasts for its games at BYU and UNLV, will also host Washington in the Apple Cup Friday, Nov. 23 in a game televised by either FOX or FX at 12:30 p.m. The final network decision will be determined either 12 or six days in advance of the contest.

The Cougars will open their season Thursday, Aug. 30 at BYU in a game televised by ESPN with a 7:15 p.m. PDT start.

The following week WSU hosts Eastern Washington (Sept. 8) in the 2012 home opener. That game will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks beginning at noon. The nonconference schedule concludes Friday, Sept. 14 when WSU travels to UNLV for a 6 p.m. contest televised by ESPN.

All remaining television game selections and start times, beginning with week four (Saturday, Sept. 22) and running through the final week of the regular season (Saturday, Nov. 24), will be made 12 or six days in advance.

At this time, the Pac-12 Networks will be available locally through Time Warner Cable. No agreement has yet been reached with DirecTV or DISH Network to carry the channel.

The Pac-12 Networks, created last summer, will air 850 sporting events a year - 350 nationally and 500 regionally.

The conference also signed a 12-year television contract worth about $3 billion with Fox and ESPN, which will air many of the most high-profile games.

The first football games on the Pac-12 Networks will be Northern Colorado-Utah and Northern Arizona-Arizona State, both on Aug. 30.

Information: www.pac-12.org

All 10 teams invited to WAC hoop tourneys

DENVER - It was determined that the men's and women's basketball tournament will return to Las Vegas and the Orleans Arena for the 2012-13 season, the Western Athletic Conference Board of Directors announced this week.

The board approved inviting all 10 men's and women's teams to the tournament, which will be held March 12-16, 2013.

The 2012 WAC volleyball tournament, which will be held Nov. 19-21 at Texas-San Antonio, will be expanded to eight teams.

In other actions, the Board approved the addition of three affiliate members. Cal State Bakersfield and Northern Colorado will join the WAC in swimming and diving, while Boise State will join the league in gymnastics.

The new affiliate members will join the WAC in their respective sports for the 2012-13 season.

The board extended WAC commissioner Jeff Hurd's contract through the 2012-13 academic year.

New Mexico State President Barbara Couture was named the chair of the Board of Directors for the 2012-13 academic year. Other Executive Board members will be Idaho President Duane Nellis and University of Denver Chancellor Robert Coombe.

Idaho Club honors fathers and teachers

All kids 18 and under can play golf for free with their fathers at the Idaho Club through June 24.

Dads pay the standard rate, and the kids play free. The offer is good daily from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tee times are required by calling the Idaho Club golf shop at (208) 265-2345.

Also, the Idaho Club is offering a special rate for area teachers and school employees through June 30.

Greens fees are $50 for 18 holes daily from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone with valid 2012 school credentials.

Tee times are required.

Information: (208) 265-2345

Bears waive former Idaho quarterback Enderle

After concluding their three-day minicamp, the Chicago Bears waived quarterback Nathan Enderle, a 2011 fifth-round draft pick from Idaho who did not appear in a regular-season game as a rookie.

Enderle's departure leaves four quarterbacks on the Bears roster: Starter Jay Cutler, backup Jason Campbell, third-stringer Josh McCown and undrafted rookie Matt Blanchard.

Locals play at Oregon Open golf tournament

BEND, Ore. - Brian Thornton of the Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Wash., shot a 7-under-par 65 Thursday for a 12-under 204 and a two-shot victory at the $70,000 Oregon Open Invitational at Broken Top Club.

Thornton took home $7,000.

Corey Prugh of Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane was second at 206.

Brent Walsh of the Coeur d'Alene Golf Club shot 72-75-74-221 and tied for 37th. Russell Grove of Avondale Golf Club shot 76-72-74-222 and tied for 43rd.