Eagle women's golf wins academic awards
MIKE MAYNARD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
The Eagles women’s golf team takes a group photo at a tournament last season. The Eagles were named academic champions and Big Sky Conferences team of the month after holding a team gpa of 3.95.
COURTESY PHOTO/BRIDGET MAYFIELD/EWU ATHLETICS
CHENEY – Eastern Washington Eagles women’s golf team has been collecting academic hardware as of late, according to statements by EWU athletics and the Big Sky Conference. This week, the Eagles were named academic champions in women’s golf for the 2024-25 season and the Big Sky’s team of the month.
“Since implementing these awards three years ago, it’s been fun to see the great teamwork we have on our campuses, not only on the playing surface, but in the classroom as well,” Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “Congratulations to our Team Academic Champions for the 2024-25 season and keep lifting each other up in all your endeavors.”
The Big Sky conference announced their 2024-25 Team Academic Champions and EWU earned the title in women's golf. The academic champions are awarded to the program with the highest GPA in all Big Sky-sponsored sports, EWU’s statement said. The GPA used is the cumulative figure for the entire academic year.
According to EWU’s statement, the Eagles continue to define what academic excellence is at the school. Eastern's seven student-athletes carried a 3.96 GPA for the 2024-25 academic year, second-best in Division I women's golf.
Spencer Cerenzia, Gabriella Ilardi, Natalie Kent, Berkeley Ledesma, Brooke Mahler, Esha Reddy and Kami Twining continued the strong academic tradition under head coach Brenda Howe this past year. In June, the entire roster was named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar team, EWU athletics said. It was their 12th consecutive season that an Eagles golfer was named under their head coach, Brenda Howe.
All seven of the Eagles earned spots on the WGCA All-America Scholar team earlier this summer. The accomplishment marks the 12th consecutive season that Howe's program has placed student-athletes on the Scholar All-American list. The roster also earned Big Sky spring All-Academic honors.
2024-25 Big Sky Team Academic Champions:
Men's Cross Country: Idaho (3.82)
Women's Cross Country: Northern Colorado & Weber State (3.83)
Volleyball: Idaho State (3.75)
Soccer: Northern Colorado (3.76)
Football: Weber State (3.39)
Men's Track & Field: Idaho (3.60)
Women's Track & Field: Weber State (3.72)
Men's Basketball: Weber State (3.71)
Women's Basketball: Montana State (3.73)
Men's Tennis: Montana (3.84)
Women's Tennis: Portland State (3.77)
Women's Golf: Eastern Washington (3.96)
Softball: Weber State (3.67)
ARTICLES BY MIKE MAYNARD
From Maverick to Warrior
Paige Richardson rises to first year challenges
MOSES LAKE — When former Moses Lake Maverick Paige Richardson first arrived at Walla Walla Community College, she did not anticipate getting to play as much softball as she did in her freshman season, she said. “I didn't know what to expect just because it's a whole different world once you step into college softball compared to high school softball,” Richardson said. “I was used to playing, pitching a lot for the Mavericks. My coach pretty much depended on two of us pitchers, and it just worked out that way, and we worked really well as a pair, and we were able to back each other up in certain scenarios, so I wasn't expecting it, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did.”
MLCA athletics enters new era under Todd Gregory
MOSES LAKE — Todd Gregory was named the new Athletic Director at Moses Lake Christian Academy earlier this summer. As he heads into his first year in the role, things are already expected to look different this school year. For instance, the Lions will not have a football team this season. “We did not renew our contract with Covenant (Christian School), so we lost some athletes this year,” Gregory said. “I think in the long run we'll end up getting some of those families that want to do athletics but stay in the Christian school atmosphere. I'm hoping that happens and we're able to get football going again.”
Moses Lake Roundup returns to Grant County Fair
MOSES LAKE — The 83rd Moses Lake Roundup is just over a week away from kicking off at the Grant County Fairgrounds Aug. 20-22. However, community members don’t have to wait until the 20th for the fun to start, as the demo derby will take place Aug. 18-19.