NORTH IDAHO HALL OF FAME AWARDS BANQUET: Bayer, Williams headline Player of the Year honors

COEUR d’ALENE — Bonners Ferry's Braylyn Bayer and Asher Williams were among the winners at the 62nd North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Banquet held Saturday, April 12 at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

A 2024 graduate and now playing golf at Weber State, Bayer was named the 3A-1A Girls Golf Athlete of the Year. Bayer, the winner for the third straight year, won the Idaho state 3A individual title for the second straight year. At state, she shot rounds of 78 and 85 for a 163 total to tie for individual honors. She then claimed the title by winning in a playoff. Bayer helped the Badgers place second.

A current senior and Montana Tech commit, Williams was named the 4A-1A Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. Williams broke the school’s 35-year-old scoring record with a 50-point outburst. The 6-6 senior ended his career as the No. 8 scorer all-time in Idaho high school history with more than 2,000 points. He finished the season averaging 28.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. He also was named the state’s Class 4A Player of the Year.

Bonners Ferry boys basketball shared boys team of the year honors in 4A-1A; Bonners Ferry boys basketball coach Nathan Williams shared boys coach of the year honors in 4A-1A.

Athletes, teams and coaches from 29 high schools and three colleges in North Idaho were honored at the banquet. The event, which also featured five new members inducted into the North Idaho Hall of Fame, drew approximately 850 people. 

The North Idaho Hall of Fame awards honor District I-II high school athletes, coaches and teams for their outstanding play, along with the athletes, coaches and teams from the University of Idaho, North Idaho College, and Lewis-Clark State College.  

Also, during the evening, the fifth annual Hagadone High Character Award winners were announced. A female and male athlete from each school is honored. The award is named after Duane Hagadone, who founded the North Idaho Hall of Fame. In defining the award, it recognizes a student-athlete who excelled in the classroom and as a teammate; has outstanding work ethic and integrity, displays sportsmanship and true character in all walks of life, and is just an all-around good individual. Civic and community involvement is a plus. Makeen Loretto and Brooke Petesch of Bonners Ferry High earned this distinction.

Nominations for each category are reviewed by the NIAHOF committee, which selects the finalists and eventually the winner. Each finalist receives a certificate, and the winners also receive a plaque. The athlete, coach, and team of the year awards receive trophies.

Bonners Ferry Winners/Finalists Only

2024 SPRING SPORTS

GIRLS GOLF 

3A-1A 

Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry (Bayer, the winner for the third straight year, won the Idaho state 3A individual title for the second straight year. At state, she shot rounds of 78 and 85 for a 163 total to tie for individual honors. She then claimed the title by winning in a playoff. Bayer helped the Badgers place second. She is now playing golf at Weber State)

Other finalists: Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry; Chiara Lehman, Genesis Prep 

BASEBALL  

3A-1A 

Aiden Olive, Orofino (Olive was MVP of the Central Idaho League and a first-team all-state selection by the Idaho Statesman while helping the Maniacs to the 2A state crown. The pitcher/centerfielder hit .409 and stole 26 bases. He also led the team in runs scored at 50 and hitting percentage. On the mound, he went 4-0 with a 1.33 earned run average and one save)  

Other finalists: Caden Robinett, Timberlake; Trey Bateman, Bonners Ferry; Jameson Morris, Potlatch; Sam Lindsley, Grangeville; Dashel Barlow, Orofino 

BOYS SOCCER 

Kason Pintler, Coeur d’Alene (Pintler was the MPV of the 6A Inland Empire League. He scored 23 goals, which ranked sixth in the state overall and second in the 6A classification. He also added seven assists. He was credited with 50 points, which ranked 10th in the state. He was a 2nd team all-6A selection by the Idaho Statesman)

Other finalists: Huxley Hall, Sandpoint; Ben Hannigan-Luther, Lake City; Wyatt Thornycroft, Moscow; Nikita Rawson, Bonners Ferry; Treffen McCord, Coeur d’Alene Charter

VOLLEYBALL 

4A-1A 

Emma Krogh, Kamiah; and Chloe Grieser, Genesee (Krogh was the MVP of the 2A Whitepine League. The 5-10 junior setter and middle blocker averaged 4.5 kills and 3.1 digs per set and led her team with 63 service aces and 380 kills. Grieser, a junior outside hitter, helped the Bulldogs go 10-0 in the 1A Whitepine League and finish 23-5 overall. She also was the league’s MVP)

Other finalists: Helene Rae, Bonners Ferry; Adalei Lefebvre, Grangeville; Tylah Lambert, Lakeside; Madi Cooper, Genesis Prep; Tessa Stoner, Troy; Ashlyn Strunk, Troy; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Chloe Dorman, Kootenai; Madeline Junkin, Coeur du Christ 

WINTER SPORTS 

GIRLS BASKETBALL 

4A-1A 

Malia Miller, Timberlake (Miller, a 5-5 junior guard, averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds for Timberlake, which finished third in the 4A state tournament. At state, she scored 37 points, had 18 rebounds, including a season-high 12 in the opener, and 13 steals. She was the Intermountain League’s Player of the Year and a first-team all-state 4A selection)  

Other finalists: Sydney Hinthorn, Bonners Ferry; Madalyn Green, Grangeville; Lexi Schumacher, Prairie; Emma Krogh, Kamiah; Kyleigh Wolfe, Lakeside; Brooklyn Charles, Kootenai; Chloe Grieser, Genesee 

BOYS BASKETBALL 

4A-1A 

Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry (Williams broke the school’s 35-year-old scoring record with a 50-point outburst. The 6-6 senior ended his career as the No. 8 scorer all-time in Idaho high school history with more than 2,000 points. He finished the season averaging 28.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. The Montana Tech commit also was named the state’s Class 4A Player of the Year)

Other finalists: Thomas Bateman, Bonners Ferry; JJ Yearout, St. Maries; Nate Stifel, Priest River; Dave Kludt, Kamiah; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Everett Lovell, Potlatch; Tyson Charley, Lakeside; Dylan Tosh, Genesis Prep; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ; Hyson Scott, Clearwater Valley 

BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR 

4A-1A 

Kendrick football and Bonners Ferry basketball (Despite losing its first game in nearly three seasons, Kendrick football bounced back to win its final five games by an average of 38.4 points, including beating the team it lost to. Kendrick finished 11-1 and was ranked No. 8 nationally by MaxPreps.com among all 6-, 8-, and 9-man football teams. It was the school’s fourth straight state football title but the first at the higher 2A level. Bonners Ferry basketball went 24-1 with its only loss to 6A Lake City by five points. The Badgers started the season 19-0 with wins over Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Sandpoint, Lakeland and Moscow twice — all larger classification schools. Bonners Ferry won 15 games by at least 24 points and 14 by at least 30 points. The Badgers also won all three state games by double digits and averaged a 16.7-point margin of victory. The team only had three games decided by 10 points or less, including the loss) 

Other finalists: Orofino baseball; Potlatch baseball; Kendrick basketball 

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR 

4A-1A 

Zane Hobart, Kendrick football and Nathan Williams, Bonners Ferry basketball (Hobart led Kendrick to its fourth straight state title in football, but its first at the higher 2A level. Williams led Bonners Ferry to the 4A state title in dominant fashion)   

Other finalists: Scotty Tondevold, Orofino baseball; Trent Baysinger, Potlatch baseball; Steve Kirkland, Kendrick basketball  

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 

4A-1A 

David Kludt, Kamiah (In football, he was a first-team all-state selection at defensive back and a second-team all-state selection at quarterback. It is the third straight season he has earned first-team all-state honors. He earned the Whitepine League’s Player of the Year in football and was a first-team selection at both quarterback and defensive back. In basketball, he led Kamiah to the state finals and was named the Idaho State Class 2A Player of the Year. He averaged 17.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game. He also was voted Player of the Year in the Whitepine League. David has signed to play basketball next season at the College of Idaho, which just won the NAIA national title last month) 

Palmer Coleman, Priest River; David Goicoa, Grangeville; Ralli Roetcisoender, Kendrick; Seamus Wilson, Logos; Brody Rice, Bonners Ferry; Ben Connelly, Coeur du Christ 

    Asher Williams