Inked to play at Portland State next year are four heralded basketball recruits. Men’s coach Ken Bone and women’s coach Sherri Murrell each signed two players that will suit up for the Vikings next season.
The men’s roster will be bolstered by Lake Oswego senior Max Jacobsen, a 6-foot-7 wing player, and 6-foot-4 guard Chris Harriel from Riverside, Calif.
Murrell continued her recruiting domination over the state of Washington by signing two highly regarded Seattle-area prepsters in guards Nichole Jackson and Karley Lampman.
ESPN.com ranks Jackson, who will play her senior season at Auburn Riverside High School, as the 31st best point guard in the nation.
Piloted to an impressive weekend was the athletic scene at the University of Portland.
Not only did the women’s soccer team impress as the Pilots crushed their two opponent’s in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by a combined score of 8-1, but the men’s basketball squad opened their season with an 80-74 win over Washington, prompting a large group of purple-clad students to mob the floor in an awkward celebration.
Grappled to a 1-1 duel record in their first weekend of action was the Vikings wrestling team. Portland State was crushed in their first meet 40-0 by Arizona State before rebounding to defeat Grand Canyon 24-15 on Saturday.
Seniors Henry Kofa and Alex Bubb, juniors Steven Dailey, Brian Lemmon and Keena Washington, and sophomore Brady Garner all picked up their first victories over opponents from Grand Canyon.
The team will make their home debut this Thursday at the Stott Center as they take on Simon Fraser and Utah Valley at 5 p.m.
Recognized by the Big Sky Conference was Montana State senior running back Demetrius Crawford, who earned Player of the Week honors after running for 187 yards and two touchdowns against a philanthropic Vikings defense.
The award was the fifth player of the week recognition given to a player who had faced Portland State in their previous game.
Crawford joined Montana running back Chase Reynolds, Northern Arizona’s kicker Robbie Dehaze and defensive end Kyle Rath, and Sacramento State defensive back Deionte Gordon as players who have put up terrific numbers against the Vikings this season.
In contrast, only three Vikings have won the award this season, including fullback Bobby McClintock, kicker Danny Urrego and quarterback Drew Hubel.