Barkly the Bernedoodle
Sn o z Fan A r t & A r t Co n t est A n n o un cem en t !
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A P R O J E C T O F S P A R K C E N T R A L’ S W E S T C E N T R A L P U B L I S H I N G U N I O N A T L E V E L U P A F T E R S C H O O L
NO COST
• West Central, Spokane, Washington, USA, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy • June 2021 •
Issue No. 9
GONZAGA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
W I T H L I S A F O RT I E R MARLEY Audubon Elementary
“Keep working hard, it's really important to spend time shooting and dribbling. Those are things that everyone has to do regardless of what position you play.” -Lisa Fortier, head coach of the Gonzaga women’s basketball team
Solid advice for all young aspiring athletes and advice Lisa Fortier's team must have listened to, which could explain their success this year. The Gonzaga women’s basketball team went 23-4 overall this year (2020-2021) at the West Coast Conference (WCC) championship. Pretty good given all that has happened this past year. Other factors that Fortier mentioned, “We spend a lot of time building relationships. We try to be funny. We try to be teachers.” One thing that didn’t change due to the pandemic was the rigorous season of practice 5-6 days a week. Other changes due to COVID-19 that stood out were the use of hand whistles instead of using regular whistles. While teams played without masks, coaches on the other hand, had to wear their masks all the time, even when they were on the court. Lisa Fortier was an assistant for seven years for Gonzaga’s team and has now been head coach for another seven years. Fortier’s hometown is Grass Valley, California and she started playing basketball when she was in kindergarten. Fortier’s husband is Craig Fortier, who is an assistant coach for her team. The relationship “is r
Photo of Gonzaga University taken by Spark Staff
eally fun sometimes. Other times it is really hard. We really care about each other.” Craig has been instrumental in recruiting for Gonzaga Women’s basketball team and even sent 400 letters to a recruit from Michigan who will join the team as a freshman this fall. It looks like next year will prove to be another hard working and supportive team. Go Zags!
“We spend a lot of time building relationships." - Lisa Fortier
T H I S P R O G R A M A N D P U B L I C AT I O N A R E M A D E P O S S I B L E B Y: AVISTA
F O U N D AT I O N
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GESA CREDIT UNION
SPOKANE TEACHERS CREDIT UNION SHAWN VESTAL •
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US BANK
GARY GRAHAM • ALLISON SIMS BRIANNA
D I LT S
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SMITH-BARBIERI PROGRESSIVE FUND • •
HOLMES ELEMENTARY KASEY BERGLUND
REMELISA CULLITAN
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SPOKANE ARTS
AUDUBON ELEMENTARY
N AT H A N I E L S I C U R E L LO O W E N S
DESEURE DEBERRY
S T O R I E S , P H O T O S & M O R E AT
S PA R K - C E N T R A L . O R G / P U B L I S H I N G