Charlston, Barr honored by WAC, Vandal women predicted second
Idaho senior Alyssa Charlston and junior Stacey Barr were named preseason All-WAC first team candidates by the media Tuesday at WAC Media Day in Las Vegas. The defending champion Idaho women’s basketball team was picked to finish second in the conference in polls by both the coaches and media. Seattle University, the 2013 WAC runner-ups, were predicted to be the conference champions in both polls. The Vandals came in 15 points short of the Redhawks in the media poll, which selected New Mexico State third. Charlston and Barr were both all-conference selections a season ago, as the senior from Sammamish, Wash., earned All-WAC first-team honors, while the junior from Melbourne, Australia, was given second team honors. Barr earned WAC Tournament MVP honors in 2013, as well.
Idaho men picked second at Media Day
The Vandal men’s basketball team was picked to finish second in the WAC in the media poll and fourth in the coaches poll Tuesday at Media Day. Senior Stephen Madison was selected as a preseason All-WAC first team member by the coaches and media. Junior Connor Hill was picked to the preseason second team by the coaches, who predict New Mexico State, Seattle U and Cal State-Bakersfield to finish above the Vandals in the conference standings. Both polls picked NMSU’s Daniel Mullings as their preseason player of the year. Madison, a forward from Portland, Ore., and Hill, a guard from Post Falls, Idaho, are the only returning starters on an Idaho team that added nine new players during the offseason, including five true freshmen.
Millet honored by WAC
For the seventh time during her three-year career, Idaho swimmer Rachel Millet was honored as WAC Swimmer of the Week. The junior cleaned up during the Vandals’ meet against Boise State on Oct. 5, with victories in the 200-yard backstroke and 200 individual medley during the dual meet. Millet’s time of 2:01.36 in the backstroke race earned the Spokane native a pool record. Both times are good enough for top 25 in the nation. Millet also finished second in the 200 freestyle event, clocking in at 1:51.50.
Kicker/punter honored again
Idaho punter Austin Rehkow was named Independent Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season, after averaging 44.9 yards per punt in a loss to Arkansas State. Rehkow, a true freshman, hit a long punt of 56 yards and he managed to down two inside the 20-yard line. The Spokane native is tied for third nationally with an average of 47 yards per punt. On the kicking side, Rehkow connected on a 28-yard field goal and converted three PAT attempts.