Pictured above are some of the 32 Cheney Blackhawks' athletes from spring sports that were named to various All-Great Northern League teams. Seen below are Jacob McGourin and Noah Schorzman who were unable to make it to the group photo.
Softball's Gary Blake and boys tennis' Jesse Erickson named coaches of the year
The following Cheney High School student-athletes have been named to All-Great-Northern-League teams for spring sports. If available, the Cheney Free Press has included comments from their respective coaches along with the teams for which they were selected.
Baseball
The Blackhawks baseball squad came up short in their bid for a return trip to state. With a 4-7 record as of April 17, 2-3 in the GNL, Cheney ripped off five straight wins to come within a run or two of a second-place finish. Settling for third, the Blackhawks' season came to an end in the opening round of the playoffs against Clarkston.
Luke Martin First Team Catcher
Koby Holt First Team First base
Julia Chabot Second Team Pitcher
Dylan Arthur Second Team Pitcher
Boys golf
Comments from head coach Jeff Pike
Tyler Koohns
Nate Koohns
Thomas Baycroft
"We only had Tyler Koohns graduating this year. We should be ready for a great season next year with our returners. I have been told we have couple of good prospects coming up from 8th grade to join. Thomas Baycroft and Nate Koohns will be state level returners next year."
Girls golf
Katarina Ljubisic First Team
Ljubisic advanced to the state tournament and placed 21st overall with a score of 181. She will return next year for her senior year.
Soccer
Comments from head coach Rene Caro
Dalton Mauzay First Team Goalkeeper
"It came as no surprise to me when the coaches decided to vote him as a first-team goalkeeper. What Dalton did for us all season long was, without a doubt, next level - he kept our hopes alive when everyone counted us out."
Noah Schorzman Second Team Defender
"Noah had the courage to stand up, time after time, to lift the team up and keep us moving towards our goal. He's a truly remarkable player in that I can play him anywhere on the field and not have to worry about him."
Samuel Fix Second Team Midfielder
"I would run out of superlatives in describing the type of player that Sam is. He is, in my opinion, easily, the best center midfielder in this conference. He has a certain calmness about him that is not teachable."
Softball
Comments from head coach Gary Blake, who was named the GNL's Coach of the Year.
Megan Krantz Most Valuable Player
Krantz notched the highest career batting average in Blake's 15 seasons - .565. She also had the most career home runs (33) and runs batted in (158).
"Those will stand for awhile I think. She had a heck of a high school career."
Madison Kallsen First Team Pitcher
While injuries and health problems marred her first three seasons, Kallsen avoided those her senior year, taking an ERA that stood at 5.93 at the end of 2017 to a 2.79 in 2018.
"She made such a tremendous improvement over four years. I told her, I really admire your persistence."
Shelby Melton First Team Catcher
"She works hard and is very serious about her game. She was, in my opinion, the best catcher in the league."
Logan Krantz First Team Infield
"She's improving all the time. Always been a good hitter, this year her fielding really came along."
Kyla Olson Second Team Outfield
"I wouldn't have expected her to be all-league. As a freshman, she wasn't a starter for us. She just really came on strong. She came on and did well for us."
Boys tennis
Comments from head coach Jesse Erickson, who was named the GNL's Coach of the Year.
Hunter Pohl First Team
Aaron Fillmore First Team
Dixon Gerber First Team
"I am really proud of our Cheney Boys Tennis Team. They put in a lot of work to improve and I was very happy that their hard work was rewarded with the three guys making the All-GNL Team, finishing third in league as a team and having Dixon Gerber and Aaron Fillmore win the district tournament and advance to state."
Track and field
Boys
Comments from head coach Derek Slaughter
Charles Johnson First Team 100, 200
"CJ was the rock on the team. Really pushed everyone to be better. Most decorated athlete in school history."
Carson Brown First Team 400
"If ever a life was changed by track it was Carson's. His track family loves him and he earned his way to a scholarship in college."
Jacob McGourin First Team Discus
"Ready for redemption next year in the discus, but will return as a state champion in the 4 by 100. Will be a main leader on the team as a senior."
Cole Omlin First Team High jump
long jump,
triple jump
"Will be missed by the team next year (attending Ferris High School). Has some unfinished business at state and will be ready to close that door next year."
Peyton Putney Second Team 100, 200
"Really worked to do his part on the team. Didn't score in any individual events at state last year. Scored in two this year."
Bas Holland Second Team 3,200
"Third all-time in the 3,200 as a sophomore. He will be someone to watch for years to come."
Ryan Riekmann Second Team Javelin
"Most reliable freshman on the team. Really worked at his craft of javelin. Will look to expand to other events next year."
Most Valuable Player league went to Johnson (sprinter), Omlin (horizontal jumps), senior Isaiah Dunn (hurdles) and McGourin (throws).
Track and field
Girls
Comments from head coach Tom Stralser
Alsatta Bakana First Team 200, 400
"Sky is the limit for her. She was a hamstring away from helping us win a state title. Going to University of Washington. She's going to go far."
Sophia Van Wormer First Team Pole vault
"She has no stinking clue how good she's going to be."
Alexis Miller Second Team 100
"One of those girls that you wish you had about 15 of them."
Jaela Thornberg Second Team 400
"Hasn't figured out how good she's going to be someday. She didn't let the big stage (at state) bother her."
Jolene Whiteley Second Team 800
"Wanted to return to state and get on the podium. She put in the work. She can run."
Zoe Lamb Second Team Pole vault
"One of the few kids I would let coach other kids. The highlight of my coaching (this year) was watching her PR at state."
Most Valuable Player league awards went to Bakana (sprinter) and Van Wormer (vertical jumps).
Staff intern Grace Pohl and managing editor John McCallum contributed to this story.
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