Rigby’s Giada Bertagnolli headed to Air Force, plus rankings and records for soccer and cross country

EASTERN IDAHO – Dozens of the area’s best athletes earn scholarships every year to play in college.

Rigby volleyball player Giada Bertagnolli has a bit of a different path.

Bertagnolli said she considered playing in college, but things got interesting when she was invited to a camp hosted by the Air Force Academy.

“I hadn’t thought about a service academy,” she said.

But after a strong camp and follow-up conversations, Bertagnolli decided to enlist in the Air Force Academy.

The academy doesn’t offer typical athletic scholarships, but cadets do receive government funding for full tuition, as well as room and board.

Bertagnolli said she plans to study medicine and eventually go to medical school.

“I think just the opportunities the Air Force Academy offers me,” she said about her decision. “I get to study medicine as well as play volleyball.”

Bertagnolli will have a service obligation after she graduates, but said the plan is to go to medical school for that commitment.

Soccer polls

Halfway through the soccer season the coaches’ polls are mixed.

In this week’s boys poll, Idaho Falls remained No. 4 in 5A, behind Jerome, Caldwell and Wood River, which all received first-place votes.

Teton entered the 4A poll at No. 2 after defeating Sugar-Salem 5-2 last week. The Timberwolves improved to 5-0, 3-0 in conference.

The two goals allowed were the first for Teton after opening the season with four straight shutouts.

The Diggers (6-1-1, 3-1), dropped from No. 2 behind Wendell, to tied for fourth with Preston.

Battle in 5A

Entering Thursday, Skyline (8-1-1, 7-0-1) and Hillcrest (8-0-1, 6-0-1) were tied for No. 1 in the girls soccer state coaches poll.

Former No. 1 Vallivue dropped to No. 4 after a loss. Skyline moved up from No. 2 and Hillcrest jumped up from No. 4.

Pocatello (8-2-0, 8-2-0) entered the poll at No. 5

The Grizzlies and Knights play Sept. 23 at Ravsten Stadium.

The Sugar-Salem girls are No. 1 in 4A, but had their 38-game win streak snapped on Sept. 4 with a 1-1 tie against Marsh Valley.

The Diggers received all five first-place votes in the poll, while Marsh Valley moved up from No. 4 and is tied for second with Kimberly.

Preston is No. 5.

Performance list in cross country

Jonas Porter of Rigby, Ethan Hansen of Century, and Ammon Bitton of Century, entered last week’s Tiger-Grizz meet with the top three times in the state, respectively.

Bitton won the race, but windy conditions impacted the times and negated any records or personal bests.

Weather wasn’t an issue for Coeur D’Alene’s Wyatt Morgenstern, who ran a blistering 15:09.7 at last week’s Timberline Invitational to take over the top time in the state this season.

Volleyball stats

East Idaho players are well represented among state leaders.

Among schools that reported stats, Leah Thomas of Idaho Falls is fourth in the state with 174 kills.

Rigby’s Brinley Larsen is second with 407 assists, with Makiyah Carlson of Bonneville fourth with 377 assists, followed by Brynlee Cook of Hillcrest at 356.

Avery Lunt of Shelley is second with 60 total blocks, just behind District 5’s Taylee Silcock of Pocatello with 66. Tycee Gines of Hillcrest is fifth with 47.

Kara Olson of Watersprings has 38 aces, good enough for fifth in the state.

Coaching opportunity

Butte County is looking for a girls wrestling coach. Reach out to coach Jensen at 208 589-4549 if interested.