Northwest Notes Dec. 6, 2024

Locals included as LC State Athletics announces 2025 hall of fame class

LEWISTON — Three teams that played for national titles and five individuals who had different roles in helping Lewis-Clark State College athletics achieve excellence have been selected to be inducted into the Lewis-Clark State Athletic Hall of Fame in April 2025, LC State athletic department officials announced.

The 1990 and 2000 national championship baseball teams and the 2017 national runner-up women's basketball team will join former Warrior baseball coach Jeremiah Robbins, former baseball players Doug Blume and Matt Foran, former volleyball player Anile Clemente, and longtime college supporter and Warrior Athletic Association board member Mike Ripley as the eighth class to be inducted into the LC State Athletic Hall of Fame.

The 2025 ceremony is set for April 26 at the Clearwater River Casino & Lodge event center. Tickets are on sale at lcwarriors.com/tickets and a full schedule of the weekend will be released at a later date.

Robbins led the LC State baseball team to three Avista NAIA World Series titles and five championship games in his six years at the helm during 2013-18. He posted a 270-71 (.792 winning percentage). After finishing as the national runner-up in his first two seasons, the Warriors rolled off three consecutive national titles during 2015-17. In his final year, the Warriors finished third.

The 1990 baseball team, which included Kelly Moffat of Coeur d'Alene High, posted a 52-14 record and captured the school's sixth national title overall and its fourth straight. The team hit .351 on the season, which ranks fifth all-time and had 777 hits, which is ninth all time. 

The 2000 Warrior baseball team welcomed the Series back to Lewiston by capturing the program's 11th title and second in a row. 

The most successful women's basketball team in program history reached the championship game of the 2017 NAIA national tournament before it lost to Oklahoma City 73-66. That left LC State with a 35-2 record, the most wins in any season. 

Current coach Caelyn Orlandi, from Coeur d’Alene High, was the Player of the Year. Orlandi and Brittany Tackett (Coeur d’Alene High) were selected First-Team All-Frontier Conference and Orlandi was a First-Team All American, while Tackett was named to the Second Team. Brooke Litalien (Post Falls High) was a conference honorable mention selection. Sam Runkle (Post Falls High) was a reserve on the team.

More information: lcwarriors.com

WSU QB Mateer named Manning Award finalist

NEW ORLEANS — Washington State quarterback John Mateer was one of 10 quarterbacks named a finalist for the 2024 Manning Award, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday.

The Little Elm, Texas, native enters the week leading the country with 44 touchdowns responsible for and the only player in the country with 20+passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns. 

The redshirt sophomore is tied for fourth nationally with 29 passing touchdowns, fifth with 330.4 yards of total offense, fourth in the country with 38 runs of 10+ yards and his 55 missed tackles forced are the most by any quarterback in the country this season. 

Mateer’s 15 rushing touchdowns are a school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and are second-most by any player in program single-season history. Mateer’s 826 rushing yards are a school-record by a quarterback while his 29 touchdowns passes are ninth-most in WSU single-season history.

Gonzaga men's soccer coach resigns

SPOKANE — Aaron Lewis announced that he is stepping down as head coach of the Gonzaga men’s soccer program after four seasons. 

GU athletic director Chris Standiford named assistant coach Chris McGaughey interim head coach for next year and Christo Michaelson will remain on staff as an assistant coach. 

After serving as an assistant coach in 2019, Lewis moved into the head coaching role at Gonzaga on April 21, 2021. During his time at the helm, Lewis compiled a 20-40-11 record.

McGaughey joined the Gonzaga coaching staff prior to the 2023 season after serving as an assistant coach at CSU Bakersfield and a collegiate and professional playing career.

Gonzaga volleyball coach resigns

SPOKANE — Gonzaga volleyball coach Katie Wilson announced her resignation Thursday.

In three seasons at GU, Wilson was 10-74, including 1-27 this year. The Bulldogs were 2-50 in West Coast Conference matches, including 0-18 this year. The Zags last won a conference match in 2022.

A national search to fill the head coach position will begin immediately.