Sports Briefs

BASKETBALL

Merritt passes away at 43

TACOMA — A heart attack at age 43 has claimed the life last week of former Eastern Washington University basketball standout Brandon Merritt.

Merritt, a hard-nosed player, was an integral part of the Eagles’ 2004 team that was the program’s first trip to the NCAA tournament. His work in the Big Sky Conference tournament led to him being named the tournament MVP.

Before coming to Eastern, Merritt graduated from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma and Tacoma Community College.

Funeral services will be June 14 at Bellarmine Prep.

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Monson adds three assistants

CHENEY — Eastern Washington men’s basketball head coach Dan Monson announced the hiring of three assistant coaches to his 2024-25 staff My 22. Ryan Lundgren joins Monson as an Associate Head Coach and Larry Anderson will be an Assistant Coach. Ben Beauchamp will stay in Cheney, retaining his position as Assistant Coach.

Lundgren comes to EWU after spending the last season as the head coach for Carroll College. In the 2023-24 season, the Saints went 12-3 in the Frontier Conference and 19-12 overall.

“It was important for me to find a head assistant that has experience in all facets of a basketball program, including head coaching experience,” Monson said.

Anderson follows Monson from Long Beach to Eastern after working as an assistant coach for the 2023-24 season. “Larry played for me for four years and was one of the best all-around players ever to play at Long Beach State,” Mo son said.

Beauchamp will stay in Cheney after serving three years on former Eastern Coach David Riley’s staff. “It is a priority to continue that, and retaining Ben from the prior staff was a priority for me,” Monson said.

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GOLF

Cheney boys 10th at state

LACY — The Cheney boys golf team finished 10th at recently completed state 3A with a 321 with Mead High School the winners.

Individually freshman Ryan Howe was 13th with a two round total of 152, including an initial 74. Howe was the highest finishing freshman.

The tournament, played at Hawks Prairie in Lacy, Wash. dealt with cold and rain on day one where the Blackhawks were unable to advance as a team.

The team also consisted of Justin Krasselt, Brayden Anderson, Blake Kernen and Kyren Fleming. 

“That includes four freshman and one sophomore which was easily the youngest team in the whole competition,” head coach Justin Fayant wrote in an email.

While the core was young, they could not have made it this far without senior captain Trey Little. “Trey was the glue that held the team together and was a huge factor in the success of the team as a whole.”

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TENNIS

Cardinal tennis wraps season

MEDICAL LAKE — Medical Lake tennis advanced their No. 1 singles player, Brody Rector, at 1A district competition held May 10-11 at Mead High School but fell short of moving to state.

The boys also advanced their No. 1 and 2 doubles. Aizea Dancel and Jack Smith took third place while Jess Harrison and Gavin Soderberg were fifth. The top-3 finishers in singles and doubles advanced to state.

Medical Lake’s girls were unable to advance anyone to regionals.

TRACK

Simmons sets new record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After the final day of competition in the NCAA Outdoor Championship first round, the 2023-24 season came to a close for Eastern Washington Track and Field today. 

Caitlin Simmons added another record to her stand-out season, breaking the EWU long jump record with a 6.52m jump on Thursday (May 23). Simmons surpassed teammate Kimberly Smith’s record, set earlier this season of 6.22m. 

On the leaderboard, Simmons placed 15th, with Smith recording a 5.65m jump to place 45th. 

In the triple jump, Simmons nearly topped her own record again with a 12.77m mark. She placed 31st on the final day of the first round. 

In javelin, Ryan Rieckmann finished his season with a 63.92m throw, placing 28th in Fayetteville. Logan Ashbeck recorded a 60.60m throw to place 37th.

Savannah Schultz closed out her Eastern career with a 4.10m mark in pole vault, putting her 29th in the event.