Two Lewiston-Area Honorees Join North Idaho Hall of Fame as Idaho Vandals Sweep College Awards at Annual Banquet
COEUR D’ALENE — Two Lewiston-area figures were inducted into the North Idaho Hall of Fame over the weekend, joining a class of four honorees recognized at the annual banquet held at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The University of Idaho Vandals also dominated the college awards portion of the ceremony, sweeping all major honors as the program caps a landmark year for both its men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Lewiston Legends Lead Hall of Fame Class
Super Bowl champion Jake Scott and longtime NAIA College Baseball World Series groundskeeper Corky Fazio were among the four new inductees to the North Idaho Hall of Fame, representing a pair of careers defined by sustained excellence and deep ties to the Lewiston and Lapwai communities.
Scott’s path from Lewiston Bengal standout to four-year starter at the University of Idaho to a decade in the NFL stands as one of the more complete athletic stories in the region’s history. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and Scott earned a Super Bowl ring with the team two years later. His career also took him to Tennessee, Philadelphia, and Detroit before his playing days concluded.
Fazio, a former Lapwai mayor, has served as the head groundskeeper for the NAIA College Baseball World Series for more than 25 years. Before transitioning to field management, he served as an assistant coach under the late Ed Cheff, contributing to multiple national championship-winning squads. Fazio also spent more than 40 years as an umpire across high school and college athletics, including officiating at the College World Series level.
Former NFL and college football coach A.J. Christoff, who played offensive and defensive line at the University of Idaho in the 1960s, and longtime Big Sky Conference football official Roger Stewart also joined the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Vandals Sweep College Hardware; Championship Prep Programs Also Honored
The University of Idaho claimed every major college award at the banquet following a banner year for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Both Vandal squads won their respective Big Sky Conference Tournaments and earned berths in the NCAA Tournament — a double achievement that underscored the program’s rising profile under two first-year head coaches.
Women’s basketball coach Arthur Moreira and men’s basketball coach Alex Pribble each earned coach of the year honors. The Vandal women were also named Women’s Team of the Year, while the men’s squad claimed the same distinction on their side of the ledger.
Women’s basketball standout Hope Hassman was named Women’s College Athlete of the Year after a season in which she averaged 14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while recording 143 total assists. The Idaho women set school records in conference wins, home wins, and total victories during the campaign. For those following the Vandals’ ongoing roster development, Idaho recently secured a Division I transfer addition that should factor into the program’s future plans.
On the men’s side, offensive lineman Nate Azzopardi was named Men’s College Athlete of the Year after completing his sixth year with Idaho football. A unanimous team captain and first-team Big Sky honoree, Azzopardi embodied the kind of multi-year commitment and program leadership that defines consistent winning cultures.
At the prep level, championship programs from across the region took home team of the year awards. Moscow girls soccer, Lapwai girls basketball, and Deary girls basketball all earned recognition after state title runs. Lapwai claimed its state-record 12th girls basketball championship in the first year under coach Lori Mader, who notably defeated her former school, Prairie High School, in the state title game after being released from that position last June. Deary, meanwhile, made its first state championship game appearance in 40 years, claiming the 1A crown behind standout performances from Kaylee Wood and Allie Vincent.
Moscow’s Jessica Brown was named girls soccer coach of the year, while Matthea Nuhn — who won four individual event state championships in track and field — shared the 6A-5A co-female athlete of the year honor with teammate Jessa Skinner. Kendrick’s Ralli Roetcisoender earned 4A-1A male athlete of the year after helping the Tigers to a fifth consecutive state football championship while earning all-state recognition in football, basketball, and baseball.
Local baseball honorees included Tyson Izzo of Moscow and Mahki Durrett of Troy, both recognized in the 4A-1A division for their spring season performances.
The University of Idaho’s athletic programs have faced financial pressures alongside their on-field success. Idaho’s State Board of Education recently approved tuition increases that will affect students across the university system, including those at Moscow.
What Comes Next
The North Idaho Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction class adds four more names to a growing list of athletes, coaches, and contributors who have shaped Idaho’s athletic landscape across generations. For the University of Idaho, the question now turns to how the program sustains the momentum built during a historic 2025-26 season as roster construction for the next year gets underway. Local prep programs in Deary, Moscow, and Lapwai will also look to build on their championship campaigns as fall sports seasons approach. Additional information on the University of Idaho’s academic and extension programs can be found through UI Extension’s upcoming programming, as the university continues community engagement efforts across Latah County and beyond. For broader Idaho sports and education coverage, readers can visit Idaho News.