extra! (pg. A-5,6; Sept. 24, 2009)

Coach Roy Graffis on hall of fame list

Former Oakesdale Coach Roy Graffis will be one of four inductees into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 13 at the Spokane Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

Coach Graffis, who started his career at LaCrosse, led Oakesdale to the state B basketball title in 1973. He later went to Columbia of Hunters where he led the girls basketball team to a state B title in 1986. He is the first coach in Washington to take both a boys and a girls team to a state title.

Graffis also coached the Columbia football team to state titles in 1987 and 1988.

Over his 38-years, he also coached and taught at Oakville, Sprague and Odessa.

The induction ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a no-host reception at 11 a.m. and lunch at $30 per person at 11:45 a.m.

Other inductees will be John Friez, UI and San Diego NFL quarterback; Irene Matlock, long time Community Colleges of Spokane volleyball coach and Jon Heimbigner, Ritzville native who served 30-years on the State B Basketball steering committee and other sports commissions

Dale Goodwin, head of Gonzaga’s public information office and a volleyball official for 29 years, and Marcia Saneholtz, retired WSU senior associate athletic director, will be placed on the scroll of honor at the hall.

North Central team will play at Colfax

North Central’s junior varsity football team from Spokane has been booked to play at Colfax Oct.23 for the Colfax High School homecoming game. Athletic Director Mike Morgan has been searching for a foe to fill the homecoming football date after Republic dropped out of the NE District’s 11-man football schedule this season. Republic opted out because they did not have enough players for 11-man ball.

In another schedule change, the Oct. 9 Colfax football game has been moved to Davenport. The game had originally been scheduled here, but Colfax agreed to travel to Davenport because the Gorillas were left with just two home games after Republic and Garfield/Palouse canceled out of games at Davenport. The Gorilla JVs will play here.

Colfax will play on the road until the Oct. 23 when they return home for the game with the North Central team.

WSU marching band to play at Washtucna

Forty to 50 members of the WSU Marching Band are scheduled to perform at the homecoming football game at Washtucna High School Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. The Tigercats will play Valley Christian.

Donations to cover transportation costs are welcome and appreciated, and can be dropped off at Washtucna, Kahlotus, or LaCrosse Schools or with Lora Hille, Tigercat Pep Band Director. Checks can be made out to Washtucna ASB. There will also be a collection at the game.

Willson wins on SG course

Morgan Willson of Colfax picked up another cross country win when she led 23 other runners Tuesday at St. George’s. She clocked 20:02 on the SG course which includes hills and the long sand grade. The time was just 17 seconds over the course record

Cody Wuestney and Brandon McAdams finished in the middle of the 51-runner pack. Wuestney clocked 22:16 for 33rd, and McAdams 23:15 for 37th.

Jackson Elfers clocked 11:23 over 1.5 miles in the junior high race.