THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Memories of the 2024-25 high school sports season ... plus a few other things
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
MARK NELKE/Press Timberlake High softball coach Casi Lupinacci works from the third-base coaching box in a doubleheader vs. St. Maries in April, as her family watches behind her. From left is Brody, 5; Brynn, 2 and husband Vinny. Not pictured is Baylor, 2, Brynn's twin, likely behind mom. Lupinacci is resigning after 10 seasons as Tigers coach.
• A “now” screen to Coeur d’Alene wide receiver Kai Wheeler.
• Coeur d’Alene’s boys dominating another cross country meet.
• A state soccer tournament with beautiful Lake Pend Oreille as a backdrop — the view (almost) enough to make you forget how chilly the morning was.
• Reese Strawn for 3.
• Ziya Munyer and Landree Simon putting the hurt to volleyballs.
• Lake City with a chance to upset defending state football champion Highland of Pocatello, scheming a receiver wide-open on a trick play ...
• Brookeslee Colvin quietly taking over a game.
• Coeur d’Alene playing host to two eventual state champions in football.
• The joy on the faces of the Genesis Prep volleyball team, as the Jaguars qualified for state for the first time in school history.
• A stiff-arm from Kai Wheeler on an unsuspecting cornerback after catching a “now” screen.
• Long spirit signs hanging from the rafters at the Fight for the Fish games at Coeur d’Alene High, blocking the view of each basket for anyone watching the NFHS webcast.
• The roller coaster that was the Lovable Zags.
• The North Idaho Distance Project dominating another cross country meet.
• Lewiston baseball players playing catch with a football before a game.
• Carly Curtis’ smile, while her Coeur d’Alene Vikings were marching to another regional volleyball title.
• Lakeland making a spirited bid to reach the state 5A title game in football.
• Lake City senior Avrey Cherry stepping up to the plate to the sounds of — what else? — the Wild Cherry hit “Play That Funky Music.”
• Lake City’s stubborn defense — the key to the Timberwolves’ improved football season.
• Coeur d’Alene sophomore pitcher Jenna Davenport singing the national anthem at midfield before a Viking home football game – as Lauren Rook circles the field on her horse Tucker, holding the American flag.
• Another pick-and-roll rim run for a Lake City big.
• Ben Connelly of Coeur du Christ going off for 45 points.
• Tyler Engelson of Timberlake going for 50.
• Asher Williams of Bonners Ferry also tossing in 50, breaking Jeff Nearing’s 35-year-old single-game scoring record.
• Post Falls a powerhouse in wrestling — again.
• Kolton Mitchell in the final 3.7 seconds against Northern Colorado.
• The exuberance of the cheering section at a Coeur du Christ game.
• Jason Eck making Idaho football relevant again in three short seasons — then leaving.
• A touchdown from Kai Wheeler on a “now” screen, after the aforementioned stiff-arm, another broken tackle or two, and zipping past a few other defenders en route to the end zone.
• Post Falls volleyball coach Matt Barkley breaking out the pink pants for the annual Volleyball 4 the Cure match for cancer awareness.
• The good folks at St. Maries High, offering me their golf cart to help me more easily take pictures at a high school golf tournament at Twin Lakes Village.
• The newness of the high school baseball Super Regionals ... er, the Idaho state baseball play-in series.
• A kickoff return to the side of the field where I was taking pictures, the return man and the defender meeting and sliding out of bounds right toward me, and then ...
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.