Community roundup: EvCC’s Jackson named North Region’s MVP

Published 1:30 am Monday, March 12, 2018

Everett Community College’s Gio Jackson had a season for the ages, and last week his efforts were recognized as he was named the Northwest Athletic Conference’s men’s basketball North Region Most Valuable Player.

Jackson, a sophomore point guard from Federal Way, averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists for a Trojans team that finished 26-5, won the North Region championship and reached the quarterfinals of the NWAC Championships.

Everett freshman guard Markieth Brown Jr. was named first-team All-Region, while Trojans sophomore guard Conner Moffatt was named to both the second team and to the All-Defensive team. Everett coach Mike Trautman was named the Coach of the Year.

Edmonds sophomore forward Zach Walton was a first-team selection, while Tritons sophomore guard Raven Frazier was named to the All-Defensive team.

On the women’s side, Everett sophomore forwards Uju Chibuogwu and Alexis Biggerstaff were named first-team All-Region, while sophomore forward Tyra Lopez was named to the second team. Chibuogwu, a Shorecrest alum, was also named to the All-Defensive team.

Edmonds freshman forward Zaria Smith, a Mariner alum, was named to both the second team and the All-Defensive team.

Adiya Jones-Smith, a sophomore forward at Skagit Valley who’s a graduate of Tulalip Heritage High School, was a first-team selection.

Two locals earn All-American status with CWU track

Snohmish High School graduate Kodiak Landis and Stanwood High School graduate Ali Anderson both earned All-American status with their performances at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships held over the weekend in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Landis, a senior, finished third in the men’s heptathlon with a score of 5,508, which was both a personal best and a school record. It was the second straight year Landis took third at nationals.

Anderson, also a senior, finished eighth in the 400 with a time of 56.02 seconds. Anderson broke the school record during preliminaries when she ran a time of 54.98.

Smith named Division II wrestling All-American

Meadowdale High School graduate Morgan Smith, a senior on the Simon Fraser University men’s wrestling team, earned All-American honors for the second straight year by finishing third in the 197-pound bracket of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships held over the weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Smith, who was fourth at 197 pounds last year, is the first two-time All-American from Simon Fraser since the school joined the NCAA. He finished the tournament with a 5-1 record and completed the season 41-4.

Johnson earns beach handball bronze

Kamiak High School graduate Bill Johnson earned a bronze medal as a member of the Team USA men’s squad at the Pan American Beach Handball Championships held over the weekend in Oceanside, California. Johnson and the U.S. went undefeated in pool play and the quarterfinals, lost to Uruguay in the semifinals, then beat Argentina in the bronze-medal match. By finishing in the top four the U.S. qualified for the Beach Handball World Championships, which will be held July 24-29 in Kazan, Russia.

Junior Silvertips 16-U A1 team advances to nationals

The Everett Junior Silvertips 16-under Tier II team won the Tier II state championship held March 2-4 in Kennewick. The Junior Silvertips swept their two games against Spokane, winning 3-2 and 6-0 to claim the title. The Junior Silvertips advanced to the USA Hockey 16U Tier II National Championships, which take place April 5-9 in Wayne, New Jersey.

If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.