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Colville, Washington |
Monday, September 8, 2008 |
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Eight CHS seniors seek Benchwarmers scholarships |
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
WSU women’s basketball coach
June Dougherty will keynote
BY CHRIS COWBROUGH
S-E Editor
The 47th Benchwarmer’s Me¬morial Scholarship Banquet that annually honors outstanding Colville High School stu¬dent/athletes will be held Wednesday, May 21 at the Ag./Trade Center on the North¬east Washington Fairgrounds. The banquet will start at 7 p.m.
Seeking the two Benchwarm¬ers scholarships (one girl/one boy) are Jordan Emmil, Skyler Dumas, Morgan Fowler, Tyler Cloke, Neil Michaelson, Kelsey Gauche, Carly Gauche and Abi¬gail Lentz.
Delivering the keynote ad¬dress will be Washington State University women’s basketball coach, June Daugherty.
In her first year on the Palouse after coaching for 11 seasons at the University of Washington, Daugherty worked to turn around a Cougars’ pro¬gram that has experienced scant little success in recent seasons. Daugherty’s team did experience some successes on the hard¬woods. She had one player named All-Pac-10 Conference Honorable Mention and had one player named to the All-Pac-10 Freshman team. Her WSU team also picked up its first win over Arizona in Tucson in more than a decade.
Daugherty also did more than her share to raise the interest in WSU women’s basketball, help¬ing to increase home attendance by more than 300 percent.
A success wherever she has coached
Raising interest, attendance numbers and winning percent¬ages has been a salient theme wherever Daugherty has coached.
Off the court, Dougherty is heavily involved with non-profit organizations like the Hope Heart Institute in Seattle, the American Red Cross of King and Kitsap Counties and the Sudden Car¬diac Arrest Association, of which she filmed a commercial that airs nationally on Fox Sports.
Her record prior to coming to WSU, which hasn’t had a win¬ning season since 1995-96 was 314-213. She brings consider¬able experience working with WNBA caliber talent to a team that has placed only one player on the All-Pac-10 Conference team since 2000.
But one of the reasons Daugherty was hired at Wash¬ington State, other than the fact that it’s always nice to get a Husky out of purple and gold and into something that doesn’t clash, was because of her proven history of turning around flag¬ging women’s basketball pro¬grams and bringing them to na¬tional prominence.
And it’s true that WSU women’s basketball has carried a big flag.
The Benchwarmer’s keynote speaker started her career at Boise State, where she coached for seven years and compiled a record of 123-74. Under her watch, the Broncos not only made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, but achieved their first-ever na¬tional ranking and won their first regular season conference title.
After turning around BSU, Daugherty did the same thing at the University of Washington. After finishing ninth in 2000, Daugherty led the Huskies to their first conference title since 1990, still the greatest turn¬around in conference history.
A Stanford assistant coach prior to her tenure at Boise State, Daugherty led Washington to nine post-season appearances in 11 seasons. Her Husky teams made six NCAA Tournament ap¬pearances and three WNIT ap¬pearances. Her 2001 team made it all the way to the NCAA Elite 8.
Team chemistry
Team chemistry formed on the basketball court is a direct result of creating a family atmosphere with Daugherty’s staff and play¬ers. She works hard to create a home away from home for a bas¬ketball family that consists of coaches, players and support staff.
That environment culminated in 16 players combining for 49 selections to the Pac-10 All-Aca¬demic Team at Washington, and 30 student-athletes on the Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team at Boise State.
Daugherty and her teams be¬lieve strongly in the concept of community service. The coach leads by example, speaking at a broad spectrum of meetings and banquets, including the Bench¬warmer’s banquet that honors CHS student/athletes.
As a player, Daugherty led the Ohio State Buckeyes to the Big 10 title in 1977 and 1978. She is ranked No. 21 on the school’s ca¬reer scoring list and ranks fourth in career rebounding, and 15th in career field goals made. She also shares the school record for blocked shots in a game (12). At the conclusion of her senior year at Ohio State, she garnered first team All-America honors and was a Wade Trophy finalist the first year the award was presented.
She is also a member of the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Columbus, Ohio native and husband Mike are the par¬ents of twins Doc and Breanne.
CANDIDATES
The annual Benchwarmer’s Banquet will recognize scores of varsity letter-winners at CHS, along with Benchwarmer Athlete of the Week recipients who have appeared during the school year in the sports pages of the Statesman-Examiner.
The evening will culminate with the announcement of Benchwarmer Scholarship awards to one male and one fe¬male CHS student/athlete.
Vying for this year’s scholar¬ship:
Tyler Cloke, the son of CHS teacher and wrestling coach Randy Cloke and Paula Cloke, has a cumulative grade point av¬erage of 3.949. That ranks him sixth in his senior class of 152 students.
Cloke, who has been accepted to the University of Washington, has been a varsity member of Dean Fischer’s CHS cross coun¬try team (three years). He was a varsity member for two years. Cloke has also participated in track, soccer and golf.
Among his community service work was a week spent in Hurri¬cane Katrina relief and construc¬tion work.
He is an achievement award winner for Academic Excellence in Pre-Calculus, U.S. History, Spanish and Biology.
Cloke says he is interested in a variety of subjects, ranging from Jazz to Calculus. He hopes to obtain an undergraduate degree in computer engineering.
Cloke says he has appreciated the opportunity to mix athletics and academics.
“Athletics has an important role in education, as well as everyday life,” he says. “There are many lessons to teach in athletics. Running has taught me that the most important quality needed for success is passion. I found that the more I cared about how well I ran, as well as how much I enjoyed running in general, the more I succeeded at it….it can be said that athletics teaches one that his efforts, if given enough time and energy, are worth it.”
Abigail Lentz, the daughter of Robert and Carolyn Lentz, has a grade point average of 3.92 (class rank, eighth).
She has been accepted to Washington State University. Lentz plans to major in architecture and earn a Master’s Degree as a certified architect.
Lentz is the top singles player in coach Phil Johnson’s unbeaten Great Northern League champion Indians’ tennis team. She finished eighth at State last spring and was a second team All-GNL pick. She has also been the keeper on the CHS soccer team.
Lentz has been very active, like the other candidates, in athletics and other school-related activities. She is Key Club Co-President and Senior class ASB Representative. She has won numerous academic awards.
Lentz also feels that athletics play a strong role as an educational tool.
“Athletics are more than just competing and winning and losing,” she says. “They are about building relationships, learning life experiences and finding your personality.
“Athletics build relationships by using trust. This trust is what holds things together and allows success. Athletics are truly something to be used to succeed in life. They are a powerful opportunity to learn some things that can’t be taught in the classroom. They show that it takes hard work to succeed, but they show that having fun is always incorporated.”
Carly Gauche is the daughter of Lori Baldwin and Gary Gauche. She and her twin sister Kelsey have been an integral part of the CHS sports fabric for the past four years. It’s hard to see one twin without seeing the other.
Carly, like her twin sister, has been very active in CHS sports during her high school career.
Gauche, who has a 3.902 GPA (rank 10th) has been on coach Dave Rarrick’s varsity soccer team for four years and on CHS basketball teams for three years. She has been both a first and second team pick as a striker.
Carly has also been a key component on coach Bill Carpenter’s CHS track team for three years. She and her sister will compete with their teammates this week at the District track meet. She and sister Kelsey are half of the State 2A ranks’ top 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Carly was also involved in band, pep band and marching band her first two years of high school. She has also served as high school Yearbook Editor for two years.
Gauche, who has been accepted at Western Washington University, says she plans to study physical therapy, sports medicine, massage therapy o nutrition.
“I am very interested in the art of healing and how the body functions,” she says.
Gauche, who has earned 10 varsity letters to date, has accumulated numerous achievement awards.
Carly believes that sports have helped her in many ways. “I believe that athletics allow students to be involved in the community and the community to be involved in the schools,” she says. “In this way, athletics are the link between the youth and the rest of the world. Not only do sports connect people, but they create possibilities for almost any interest.”
Neil Michaelson, the son of Jeffrey and Michelle Michaelson, has been a four-year member of the CHS soccer and cross country teams. He plays the Suzuki violin and like fellow members of the Benchwarmers’ head table, is a member of the National Honor Society. He has been a member of Knowledge Bowl and Math Team.
With a grade point average of 3.957 (ranked fifth), Michaelson has been accepted at Western Washington University.
Michaelson plans to pursue a degree in Engineering or Marine Biology. He currently takes courses through Central Washington University in the Cornerstone Program offered at CHS.
Michaelson, a Tae-Kwon Do Black Belt, says that participating in sports has allowed him to grow mentally and physically.
“Athletes have qualities that prove hard work can be found rewarding,” he says. “Athletes embrace challenges and strive to always do better. I think that every day life is like a challenge. You can choose to take it upon yourself to meet this challenge or not.
“Life is like playing a sport, with rules and coaching involved. We have rules that guide us to make good choices and coaches to teach and follow those rules. Family, peers, employers, teachers and respected community members are good role models to follow.
“Everyday life is a gift that should not be taken for granted.”
Jordan Emmil, the daughter of Ken and Laura Emmil, has been an exemplary student/athlete during her four years at CHS.
Emmil, who has a 3.816 GPA (rank 13th) has been a four-year varsity player in volleyball, basketball and softball. She has also served as ASB Representative for two years and with Project Pals for two years.
Emmil has been accepted to Western Washington University, where she plans to play softball for the Vikings.
Emmil, who has garnered several All-League academic and sports All-Conference awards during her career, has earned 12 varsity letters.
She plans to go into pre-Dental studies at Western, then transfer to dental school.
The Benchwarmer’s scholarship candidate says that being part of innumerable teams already in her young life has taught her the value of working with others.
“In order to be successful, I have to be able to rely on my teammates, and in turn, they have to be able to trust and rely on me,” Emmil says. “That applies to almost every job that requires working with other people.
“Being a leader on a team is almost like being a boss…you have to serve your teammates while at the same time keep them in line.
“Athletes are held to a higher standard than other students.”
Emmil says that being part of athletics has helped shape the person she is today.
“It has shaped me into the hard-working person I am today. But I understand very clearly that I have not achieved these successes on my own. My parents and coaches have spent countless hours helping me in more ways than I can possibly begin to mention. My teammates have held me up when I was down, motivated me to be better for them and created many wonderful memories beside me.”
Kelsey Gauche, the daughter of Gary Gauche and Lori Baldwin, like her twin sister Carly, has been integrally involved in athletics her four years at CHS.
Gauche, with a GPA of 3.857, will enroll at Western Washington University next fall, where she plans to study photo-journalism.
She has been a four-year varsity player on the CHS soccer team (All-League on two occasions). She has been a state track meet participant for three years and, like her sister, has been a member of the CHS basketball team.
Kelsey is a member of the ASB Budget Committee and has finished over 100 hours of volunteer work in her community.
Gauche says she has enjoyed her time at CHS and living in Colville immensely. Obviously, athletics have been a big part of that.
“Athletics are more than just fun and games…they are a way for one to make friends, build leadership and confidence skills, learn to work as a member of a team…and it’s an easy way to get involved in the community.
“Without athletics, I would not have some of my good friends and not have been confident enough to be a leader. I see athletics as a tool that can help one build a variety of skills.”
Morgan Fowler (GPA 3.5—rank 37th) is the son of Steve and Elizabeth Fowler. The two-sport athlete (football and wrestling) has been integrally involved in his school on and off the fields and mats.
One thing that many people might not know about this outstanding football player and wrestler is that he has been ballroom dancing since sixth grade.
“I will continue that for the rest of my life,” Fowler promised. “Dancing has really shown me proper etiquette and I have learned as a gentleman how to treat a lady.”
Fowler says his latest interest is First Aid, Red Cross and “the rescue business.” He has taken four Red Cross courses and is an active swimmer.
Fowler has been accepted to The Citadel military college in South Carolina. He reports to the class of 2012 on August 16.
This CHS student with some diverse interests, both academically and athletically, is also a young man who knows the power of perseverance. Fowler took the SAT five times this year before he reached the score he wanted and needed.
“I am a motivated and dedicated individual who does not easily accept failure unless I can learn a great deal from it,” he says. “I have learned the value of words like honor, courage, brotherhood, competition, hard work, winning, losing, focus and faith through sports.
“What has shaped me to become who I am today is almost completely come to be from the athletic world I have been involved I since a young age.”
Fowler says he is someone who likes to get up every morning and set his goals for the day.
The CHS senior, who plans to major in Biology at The Citadel, is also a member of the ROTC at The Citadel. After graduation, Fowler will be a commissioned officer in the Army. His ultimate goal: to be a Special Operations Force medic.
Skyler Dumas, the son of Paul and Angie Dumas, plans to attend Western Washington University or Skagit Valley College. He has a CHS GPA of 3.08 (rank—71st).
Dumas is one of those rare four-year, three-sport athletes who has excelled at every athletic endeavor he has participated in.
Off the courts and fields and track, he has been integrally involved in a variety of school-related activities, among them Carnival and Homecoming committees and Project Pals.
In football, Dumas is a three-year varsity player and Unity Council member. He was voted Most Inspirational in 2007 and has had an exemplary track and field career. A state meet veteran, Dumas has excelled at the high jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and on relay teams.
Dumas says he has lived his athletic career and life by a quote from Michael Jordan: “I can accept failure, but I cannot accept not trying.”
That was tested last fall when Dumas was faced with a serious leg injury the first full practice of his senior football season.
“”That caused me to reflect, develop patience, and work through adversity that I had never encountered to that point,” Dumas said. “My role on the team dramatically changed from being a key player to one of providing leadership, encouragement—and serving as a sideline coach.”
Dumas says that as he recovers, there is a sense of pride in never having given in or given up—and keeping a positive attitude through it all.
“As hard as it has been, I believe I am a stronger and better person. Athletics will continue to be a way of life for me. They have taught me the strength of team commitment, hard work, compassion and they have given me memories that will last a lifetime.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 May 2008 )
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