Northwest Notes May 16, 2025
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
Idaho men's golf returns to Big Sky Conference, joined by EWU
University of Idaho men's golf will return to play in the Big Sky Conference after one season in the Big West when the Big Sky announced the renewed sponsorship of the sport on Thursday.
The Vandals join long-term members Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Weber State along with new affiliate member Francis Marion (South Carolina) and Eastern Washington, which reinstated its program will begin play this fall to form the six-team league.
"Firstly, I want to thank the Big West, all the teams and coaches, for welcoming us into the conference for this season," Idaho head coach David Nuhn said. "Competing for a conference championship and NCAA berth is what we work all year long to be able to do. We look forward to moving back into the Big Sky for 2025-26. I think our program is very competitive amongst the other schools in the Big Sky, and we will be intentional in our quest for a 2026 Big Sky Championship."
EWU rejoins the conference after previously being a member from 1992 until 2002. Former North Idaho College men's and women's coach Russell Grove was hired earlier this year to coach the Eagle men. The program was discontinued following the 2001-02 season.
Francis Marion’s program competed in the Southland Conference this past season.
Idaho earned Big Sky titles in 2015 and 2016. Rising senior Joe Sykes won medalists honors at the 2024 Big Sky Championship.
The Vandals are currently the second highest ranked team of those who will play in the Big Sky in 2025-26 and Idaho returns four of five starters. The only team ranked higher than the Vandals is Sacramento State, who the Vandals beat in the Big West Championship.
The 2026 Big Sky Conference men's golf championship will be played April 27-29 at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Ariz., the site of the 2024 Big Sky event. The Big Sky women's golf championship also will return to The Wigwam for the third consecutive year in 2026 on April 20-22.
LC State baseball to miss NAIA World Series in Lewiston for second straight year
LEWISTON — The Lewis-Clark State baseball season came to an end Wednesday with a walk-off 7-6 loss to Wayland Baptist (Texas) in the NAIA Opening Round at Harris Field.
It will mark the second straight year LC State, which finished 36-16, failed to qualify for the 10-team NAIA World Series, hosted by LC State at Harris Field.
This year's NAIA World Series is scheduled for May 23-31.