News and Notes

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

• Resident and veteran Bob Schneidmiller thanked the city and Tom Pauley for honoring veterans through the newly introduced Purple Heart City program. A proclamation confirming Liberty Lake as a Purple Heart City was read as part of the agenda the June 20 council meeting. The program pays tribute to soldiers who have been wounded or killed in action and received the Purple Heart award. “Liberty Lake has a reputation throughout the veteran community, so this is just icing on the cake,” said Pauley, who retired from a 27year career in the military in 1992. “All veterans appreciate what you are doing.”

• Council Member Dan Dunne gave a report on the Liberty Lake Yard Sales on June 17-18 which featured 170 registered homes. The event has been a summer staple since 1993.

• Liberty Lake Police Chief Damon Simmons has been selected to serve as treasurer of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs for a three-year term beginning in 2024. The WASPC was founded in 1963 and includes more than 900 members. "WASPC plays a vital role in collaboration between law enforcement executives in the state of Washington," said Simmons. "This collaboration is essential in providing public safety for the citizens of the state of Washington. I am excited to serve in the capacity of treasurer for such a fine organization."

• The city will accept feedback on the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan through July 5. A total of 340 responses to the survey had been received as of June 20. The 13-question survey takes approximately five minutes and can be accessed at www.libertylakewa.gov.

• Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key told council on June 20 that a walk-through recently took place at the Trailhead clubhouse renovation site. “Exciting times,” Key said. A temporary certificate of occupancy was issued June 16. The new pro shop has announced a soft opening on June 30 with the entire facility slated to open by mid-to-late July. “We are on budget,” Key added.

• Council approved a mural for the two basketball courts at Pavillion Park at its June 6 meeting. The artwork was submitted by Spokane artist Danielle Davis whose work has been featured on a Bloomsday perennials T-shirt, a bike corral sidewalk at Gonzaga University and a Hoopfest backboard. A committee comprised of Parks and Arts Commission members, city staff and others selected the design. Work on the mural is expected to begin in August and be completed by the end of September.

• The 33rd annual Liberty Lake Community Parade will take place July 4 at 11 a.m. in the Alpine Shores neighborhood. Line-up for the procession begins at 10 a.m. and no cars or pets are permitted. Longtime residents Jay and Sandy Rydell will serve as grand marshals. Food and games will follow the parade.

• The fourth annual Liberty Lake Boat Parade is set for July 3 at 4 p.m. This year’s parade has a sponsor for the first time – Tobler Marina out of Hayden. Awards will be given out in various categories. Live music at Dreamwood Bay, a private lakeside community, will be part of the festivities with boats welcome to anchor in the bay for the concert.

• The city’s Fourth of July celebration will take place at Pavillion Park beginning at 5 p.m. The Liberty Lake Kiwanis Club will be on hand with their snack shop and Too Slim and the Taildraggers will take to the Pavillion stage beginning at 7 p.m. The city’s fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m.

• The long-running, community-funded “Over the Water Fireworks Extravaganza” is scheduled for the evening of July 4. Those who wish to donate to the display, are encouraged to visit www.libertylakefireworks. org.

Ridgeline spring sports wrap up, Part 2

By John McCallum Splash contributor

Several Ridgeline High School spring sports athletes advanced to state competition to finish the 2023 season, along with a couple coaches receiving all-league awards.

Golf (girls)

The Falcon girls, composed of Carolyn Rose, Kate Mulligan, Brooke Robertson, Reagan Rothley and Sawyer Anderson, placed second at district competition and thus qualifying them for the WIAA 3A state tournament, May 23 –24 at Hawks Prairie Golf Course (Woodlands) in Lacey. Four of the five made their first appearance at state golf.

Falcons coach Brittany Pounds said they came up short after the first day of play of advancing as a team to day two. Two golfers, Rose and Rothley, made the individual cut to move on to second day competition.

Rose tied with Francesca Brinkman of Silas for 35th overall, shooting an 89 on day one and 88 on day two for a combined 177. Rothley finished in a three-way tie for 53rd, shooting a 92 and 100 for a combined total of 192.

Rose was selected to the All-GSL First Team with a league average of 86, fifth overall in the league.

“We will be losing two seniors this year, Brooke Robertson and Ataviah Adams,” head coach Brittany Wilcox said. “Brooke ended her high school career with a birdie on the 18th hole at Hawks Prairie. It was a pretty spectacular way to end it.

Wilcox was also named GSL Girls Golf Coach of the Year.

Soccer

Competition results for the Falcons was covered in the June issue of The Splash. As for team statistics, head coach Ernie Merino said junior midfielder Braylon Helm-Renz led the team with seven goals and six assists, giving Ridgeline four players — including Zac Olson (moving to forward from midfield), Landon Lee and Griffyn Rider — who were in the top-15 in the GSL in scoring.

Junior Caden Thompson was the leader on defense, with sophomore

See RIDGELINE, Page 24

Ridgeline HS All GSL winners Baseball

Caden Andreas Freshman Second team Infield

Craig Anglesey Senior Second team Outfield

Nate Fitzpatrick Junior Second team Pitcher

Easton Amend Junior Honorable mention Infield

Jaxon Barcus Sophomore Honorable mention Pitcher

Ben Wartinger Freshman Honorable mention Pitcher

Fastpitch softball

Savannah Smith Senior Second team Catcher

Sam Mowry Senior Honorable mention Infield

Lilley Triplett Sophomore Honorable mention Outfield

Golf (boys)

Tanne Smith Junior Second team Golf (girls)

Carolyn Rose Sophomore First team Soccer

Cameron Krieder Senior Second team Defense/Midfield

Caden Thompson Junior First team Defense

Braylon Helm-Renz Junior First team Midfield

Zac Olson Junior Second team Forward

Tennis (boys)

Callen Johnson Senior First team

Tyler Baker Senior First team

Jack Rau Senior Second team

Zander Palm Junior Honorable mention Tennis (girls)

Avery Lewis Senior First team

Charley Palm Senior Honorable mention

Vivian Van Buren Freshman GSL junior varsity singles champion Track and Field (girls)

Briana Pires Junior First team Triple jump

Second team 4x100 relay

Presley Young Junior Second team 200 meters

Second team 4x100 relay

Second team 4x200 relay

Honorable mention 4x400 relay

Liv Smith

Alex House

Second team 4x100 relay

Second team 4x100 relay

Second team 4x200 relay

Honorable mention 4x400 relay

Emma Mostek Second team 4x200 relay

Honorable mention 4x400 relay

Izzie Olson

Second team 4x200 relay

Honorable mention 4x400 relay

From

Ridgeline

Continued from page 20 goalkeeper Brady McMahon stepping up in his first year starting to give up just 12 goals in 14 games while posting three shutouts.

All-league selections went to Thompson (defense) and Helm-Renz (midfield) at first team. Senior Cameron Krieder (defensive midfield) and Olson (junior, forward) were second team selections.

“For Zac this was especially impressive as he traditionally plays midfield but was called on to play a different role after losing our starting striker for the season,” Merino said.

“While this year we may have finished short of our goals we did have a lot of success for our season, “Merino added. “Finishing third was no small feat and we learned a lot this season. We will miss our three seniors next season, but we will return with 13 juniors and a more mature squad.”

Softball

Bailey Baker was named GSL Assistant Coach of the Year.

Tennis (girls)

Ridgeline girls tennis coach Russell Tarmann said his team “had a great season.”

Senior Avery Lewis went 7-2 in GSL match play at No. 1 singles, qualifying for subdistricts and District 8 regional action, losing to Mead in the latter. Missing the first five matches of the season due to a back injury, freshman Eilean McLaurin earned a singles spot in District 8 competition, losing to Southridge in the consolation bracket.

“Seniors Charley Palm, 5-2, Cassidy Kuhlmann, 6- 3, and Katelynn Fay, 5-4, had an impact on the team success this year,” Tarmann said, adding that Gianna Longo, Svetlana Wickham, Eilean McLaurin, Prasidha Krishnaswamy and Sophia Brinkman will be returning varsity players next year.

The Falcons look to have a solid group of players coming up through the ranks for the future. Vivian Van Buren earned top GSL honors as the league’s junior varsity singles champion and teamed with Morgan Hymas for success in doubles play. Tarmann said impact players to look for next season off the JV squad are Abby Lind (some varsity experience), Elliott Edminster, Kali Richardson and freshman Tessa Currin.

Ridgeline’s C squad had 32 girls turning out, with 10 participating in matches against GSL opponents. The Falcon girls tennis will have a summer camp for incoming Ridgeline freshman girls (9th graders) and current Ridgeline students July 25, 26 and 27. Sign up is on Ridgeline High School Athletic page.

Track and field (girls)

Junior Presley Young placed fifth overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.26 seconds, 77/100ths of a second behind state champion Alex Buck of Bellevue. Young teamed with fellow Falcons Emma Mostek, Izzie Olson and Alexandra House to place sixth overall in the 4x200 relay, finishing with a time of 1:44.84, 2.3 seconds behind state champion Capital.

Relay alternates for Ridgeline were Sophia Combs and Bri Pires.

Olson also competed individually in the 400, finishing 15th overall with a time of 1:01.04 but missing the finals.