The District tennis tournament was all it could be for the Chewelah Cougars last Friday and Saturday at Mead High School, with the Cougs beating out Lakeside, Riverside, Medical Lake and Freeman for the most points earned and another title as District Champs. The Cougs entered 12 players into the tourney and will be advancing 10 to the Regional tournament at West Valley on Friday May 17 starting at 9 a.m. "This is by far the most players to ever represent Chewelah at a regional tourney," stated Coach Smith. "It is a definite statement as to how strong our program is this year. The 80 degree weather didn't affect us mentally, but was draining physically. In both ways we showed our toughness. I couldn't be any prouder of these kids"
In girl's action, Bethany Kofmehl and Becka Kenney were seeded #1 in doubles and rolled through the bracket with authority as MVP players should. In the first round they held the #2 team from Lakeside scoreless, 6-0, 6-0, serving aces and putting shots away at the net left and right. The second match was against a young and improving Medical Lake team but Kofmehl and Kenney asserted themselves with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. The final match for the championship was tougher but they won the first set 6-4, before Talbott and Gady of Freeman jumped out with the 3-0 lead in the second set. Chewelah struggled with consistency but corrected their problem and put away the next six games with aggressive net play, which is their signature weapon, to win the title of Districts Champs.
The duo of Ryann Richmond and Tenika Smith, both All-Conference players, was the other doubles entry. They had played singles all season and consequently had to play a loser out pig tail game to even get into the tourney. With determination and nerves they beat the Riverside team 6-1, 6-0 making a few too many errors but still playing much better than their opponents. They then faced the #2 seed of Talbott and Gady from Freeman who had much more doubles experience and used it to their advantage to place shots away from the Chewelah pair giving Richmond and Smith their first loss and sending them to the loser's bracket with two must-win matches to stay alive. Richmond and Smith focused on serves and net play to win the next two matches against Coit and Hord of Lakeside 6-2, 6-2 and Lewan and Houger of Medical Lake 6-3, 6-0. This placed them in the match against Ryann and Carlson of Medical Lake for 3rd or 4th to Regionals. The pair used consistent cross court returns and better net play to win 6-3, 6-3 and be seeded 3rd into Regionals.
In girl's singles, Naomi Miller and Tia Justice both had a challenge ahead of them because they had to play pig tail matches to get into the regular 8 place tourney due to not having season records at #1 or #2 singles.
Miller showed consistency and determination in her first match against a hard hitting, inconsistent McCann from Lakeside 6-0, 6-4. Next came a tough match against Spray from Riverside with the scores not quite justifying how well Miller played, 0-6, 1-6, moving Miller to the loser's bracket. Her third match was put off until Saturday due to darkness. Against Lee of Freeman she just couldn't find the right mix of shots and lost a close 5-7, 3-6, which wasn't what she was hoping for, but there are high hopes for her senior year.
Tia Justice was the other singles player and fought through terrible bouts with asthma for four of the longest matches of the tournament. She poured her heart and lungs into every match and fought with every breath. Her first match lasted two hours against Fitzgerald from Riverside in over 80 degree weather. Justice showed how good of a singles player she is becoming with tough ground strokes and long rallies to win 6-3, 7-5. She then advanced to play the #1 seed, Olson from Freeman and continued to have severe asthma problems and lost but put everything she had into the match and came off barely able to breathe. In her third match she played into the darkness against Fisher of Lakeside and outlasted her in lots of long rallies and well placed shots near the lines to win 6-2 and finished up the next morning with a 7-5 win. Her final match against Larkin of M.L. was not one for the faint of heart. It took all she had to fight her difficult breathing and tough opponent in another long, hot match in which Justice came up just a little short, shaking and exhausted, but the best effort she could have given.
In boy's action, doubles MVP's, Mason Miller and Collin Kirk-Patterson were well prepared for the tourney after a long week of practice. They had to wait two and a half hours for their first match against Medical Lake #2 doubles. It was an easy warm up match with Miller and K.P winning 6-0, 6-3 and demonstrating ace and volley techniques. They then beat #4 seeded Freeman 6-3, 6-2 showing everyone they were prepared to play some tough tennis. After more long waiting and watching, Miller and K.P got the opportunity to play for District Champs. With some excruciating rallies and frustrating points they pulled out the nail biting 7-5, 7-5 win for District Champs thus showing Medical Lake why the Cougs are League Champs.
The other doubles team of Sam Cobb and Tommy Norman were seeded 6th into the tournament due to their teammates being seeded first and knowing they had to place in the top four to advance. They came prepared and mentally focused as they entered the tourney. As a second Varsity team they had to encounter Lakeside's first team. They played knowing they had quit the challenge ahead, but never backed down. They won the first set 6-3 with great serving and alley shots. With a lot of hiccups and unforced errors they dropped the second set 4-6. Before the third set they mentally and physically rejuvenated themselves and pulled out the 6-3 win. In the second match they faced the tough #1 Medical Lake team and barely lost the first set 4-6, and were tied 2-2 when the match was called due to darkness. The next day they resumed and tried their best and gave M.L. a good challenge but lost 4-6. This placed them in a must win match against Schueler and Chaney from Lakeside. The pair handily won the first set 6-4 and were ahead 1-0 when Norman smashed an opponent in the face and caused a bloody nose. This resulted in a long medical delay where Cobb and Norman lost focus and intensity. Their anger got the best of them at the end of the set and they were warned about language and racquet throwing from the tournament director. Any further misbehavior would result is disqualification. In an effort to not repeat their mistakes, they brought their best behavior and some great teamwork to the court and put the match away 6-3. Their final match against the #3 seed, Shovelier and Abrams of Lakeside was another tough one. They won 6-4 in the first set but missed a lot of shots in the second fighting back in a few dangerous situations. They ended up in a 6-6 tie and kept the lead through out most of the tie breaker for a close 7-5 win to wrap up 3rd seed into the Regional tourney .
In singles, all conference player, Ben Johnstone was seeded #2 behind Jaime Aragon, a foreign exchange student at Riverside. Johnstone played well throughout his matches using the consistency he has honed over the season and great point strategies. His first win was an easy one against Franz of Freeman 6-0, 6-0 as he exhibited great sportsmanship and confidence after a long wait. His second match against the big server, Rustin of Lakeside went into the darkness of the night where each player had a tough time returning the fast paced serves and ground strokes from each other. However, Johnstone knew if he could return the serve he would win most of the points because of his consistency and came out the winner and advanced to the championship match on Saturday against Aragon. Johnstone took a good attitude into this match knowing his opponent was a better player and did his best to win every point he could. Eventually he was beaten and will represent Chewelah as the #2 seed at Regionals.
Braeton Dainty-Flanagan, also an All-Conference player, was seeded #4 in the tournament and proved himself better than that by achieving the #3 player by the end of the tourney. In his first match he didn't have to try hard and seemed to be moping around, but beat Mitchell of Freeman 6-2, 6-1. In his second match he was all fire and determination to get a game from Aragon of Riverside. His intensity, hard ground strokes and big serve is what every coach likes to see. Even though he lost he brought his best game to the court. He then played Franz again and beat him easily 6-1, 6-0 with more intensity this time. His final match came after a long wait to face Rustin who was seeded one higher than Daint. Daint took advantage of the tired Rustin and served up some aces, moved back almost to the fence for serve returns and finished off Rustin in record time in the heat of the day, to earn the #3 seed into Regionals.
-Submitted by JHS Tennis

In This Photo: The Varsity Boys Tennis Team took the League Championship for the third consecutive year  and in addition earned the District Championship! Sporting their League trophy are Coach Denise Smith, Ben Johnstone, Braeton Dainty-Flanagan, Mason Miller, Sam Cobb, Collin Kirk-Patterson, Tommy Norman and Luke Timm. They had a perfect season with no team losses! Great Job Guys!  Kim Johnstone photo

The Varsity Girls Tennis Team took their first League Championship in many years sharing it with the Medical Lake Girls team, Shown are Coach Smith, Tia Justice, Naomi Miller, Bethany “Beef” Kohfmel, Becca Kenney, Tennika Smith, Ryann Richmond, Coach Wulczynski. Not pictured is Kayleigh Hansen. Great work ladies!  Kim Johnstone photo

In a combination talent show and telethon, Chewelah Community Radio hosted a fundraiser influenced by national competitions such as the X Factor, America's Got Talent, and American Idol to come up with an entertaining event featuring local talent, cash prizes, and celebrity impersonated judges. The "Chewelah's Got Talent" finale took place May 4 at the Chewelah Civic Center where 19 acts of all ages from Chewelah, Valley and Addy competed for $1,500 in cash prizes.

Valley resident Shannon McNeil, 16, took first place for $600 with a fiddle performance of "The Orange Blossom Special." He was the last contestant of the evening before judges scores and audience votes were tallied.

McNeil, also known as "Smokin' Strings," has been playing the fiddle since he was 11. He won first place at the 2012 Fiddlers on the Peak competition and placed fifth at the Washington State Fiddlers Competition.

"I couldn't have done any of this without dad's help. He started us all in music," McNeil said. "I definitely got talent from my parents." McNeil is the son of Steve and Stacey McNeil.

He said the prize money from Chewelah's Got Talent will help him rebuild a 1979 El Camino he plans to use for the screen-printing business he started two years ago called Northwest Tees.

Jenkins High School freshman Merideth Kirry placed second in the contest to win $400 for singing "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which included a trumpet solo she said she had just come up with the day before.

"I didn't know how it was going to go, but it ended up working out just fine," Kirry said.

Kirry participates in the JHS jazz band, along with the concert and pep bands, and has always enjoyed singing. She also participates in the weekly JHS broadcast club that meets every Wednesday. Kirry said she is really excited to be recognized and felt like a celebrity for the first time when young girls excitedly asked her to sign their programs during intermission.

"I am so glad to have entertained everyone, especially in support of community radio," Kirry said.

Cristian Parrish, a 15-year resident of Chewelah, took the third place prize of $200 for playing instrumental music on an African percussion instrument called the Balafon. He started playing the Balafon after learning drums helped him through therapy while recovering from a spinal cord injury. He said he entered the contest to meet other performers, get some local notoriety, and "get more like minded artists together," Parrish said.

His Balafon was made by a small African tribe and took three months for them to make and ship, Parrish said.

Four other performers were awarded $50 prizes for Honorable Mentions:

Aaron Gabriel, vocal/guitar, "Hunger" (original song)

Ivan Joyce, electric guitar, "Crazy Train"

Elena Markham, piano, "Waterfall" (original song)

Jesse Timm, vocal/guitar, "To War, Pacifist" (original song)

A $50 prize was also awarded for best costume to Sean Taboloff and Kathleen Malcolm with their vocal dramatic performance of "A Song That Goes Like This" and a final $50 prize was awarded for most original performance to 2 Dudes and 11 Strings (Shea McNeil and Seth Hubbard) who performed "Salt Creek" on the banjo and guitar.

The remaining featured performers were:

Emma Larsen, vocal, "The Fields of Athenry"

Lily Kirry, vocal, "Almost There"

David Colvin, vocal/guitar, "Get My Guitar, Get the Blues"

Mallorie Powell, dance, Ballet from "Spartacus"

Stephen Zerr, vocal, "I'm Yours"

Elizabeth "Liz" Taft, vocal, "Turning Tables"

Jimmy and Tommy Kirry, vocal/dance, "Life's A Happy Song"

Lindsay Merl, vocal, "White Rabbit"

Jean Jones, vocal/guitar, "How to Talk Dirty in Hawaiian"

Melanie Huff, dance, "China Roses"

Chewelah's Got Talent was also a successful fundraiser for Chewelah Community Radio as it raised $1,100 in profits for the station to help "Raise the Antenna." To make money, they charged admission, sold concessions, and charged $1 for each audience vote. They also sold event t-shirts printed on site by Northwest Tees.

The event was webcast live on www.KCHW.org for those out of town to be able to pledge their money as well. At one point, host Scott Schlafman announced that they received a $100 donation from Western Washington, and, overall, received about 10 pledges total from listeners outside of Chewelah.

Director and Producer Schelley Schlafman said she was just happy to break even but the new funds will allow them to start purchasing needed equipment. Their goal is to get the big antenna to full range and finish construction by July in time for Chataqua. A federal mandate has ordered them to accomplish it by 2014.

Although the event ran a little long, over three and a half hours, Schelley was proud of the show they put together and the local talent they were able to feature.

"It was totally awesome," Scott said and thought it was great how most everyone stuck through to the end.

Schelley said 45 people auditioned during the two weekends prior to the finale and 22 made it to the event, although a few had to back out due to illness. She said the show featured talented performers even she had not seen before even though she is around the Chewelah entertainment scene.

The contest's judging panel consisted of celebrity impersonators: Bill Barnes as Steven Tie-Dye-ler, Lori Londagin (along with Alison Stevens who filled in for more than half of the show) as Mariah Scary, Rob Floyd as David Hassel-scoff, Donjrai Dixon as Sticki Minaj, and Clint Kirry as Simon Towel. The contestants were judged on a 1-10 scale in originality, costume, and overall performance.

The judges mixed comedy with some positive feedback with the exception of Kirry (as Towel) who offered cruel but fake criticism to each performer similar to what one would expect from Simon Cowel.

Although all four of his children competed in the contest, Kirry did not let them off any easier (his scores were not calculated in the totals for those he was related to). For example, he told his fifth grade daughter Lily that her family should be embarrassed by her performance but she retorted with, "Well I would hate to be your daughter!"

The judges even fit sponsor plugs within their commentary to recognize many local businesses who helped underwrite the event. Dixon said one performer was "as multi-talented" as Hansen Logging and Barnes said having T&M Restoration alongside you related to the song that Jim and Tom Kirry sang together as brothers.

Lots of laughs were had throughout the night, but many audience members agreed that the range of talent featured was impressive.

One person commented on Elena Markham's piano performance by saying, "This girl doesn't even belong in Chewelah, she belongs in Carnegie Hall."

To view the entire show, go to www.kchw.org for the full-recorded webcast.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

In This Photo: Shannon McNeil plays “The Orange Blossom Special” on the fiddle to win first prize of $600. Michael Barone photo

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In this Photo: (L-R): Geno Ludwig, Andrea Arnold, Avery Arnold, Jared Arnold, Kellie Trudeau