Prep digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

LEE TO JOIN HUSKIES: Churchill's Candace Lee has committed to play volleyball at Washington next season.

According to Lancers coach Didier Hemelsoet, Lee will be a walk-on during her freshman season because the Huskies don't have a scholarship available, but Lee is expected to be on scholarship by her sophomore year. Lee has been a first-team all-Midwestern League selection in each of the last two seasons.

"Washington is a great fit for her," said Hemelsoet, who is a former Oregon assistant. "They hired a new coach (Jim McLaughlin) last year and I think he is doing a great job. Washington is a good school and Candace is a great student, so it is a good deal."

Hemelsoet said Lee will be playing a new position called libero, which is already used in international and club games, but will be added to the college game in the fall.

"It is a player who wears a different shirt and can only play on the back row," Hemelsoet said. "She cannot hit or serve, just pass and play defense. The back row is important and Candace will be on the court a lot."

Hemelsoet said Texas A&M also showed interest in Lee, who teamed with Lindsay Newton to win the district doubles title in tennis last spring.

PAIR HEADED TO OIT: A pair of Midwestern League stars from 2000, Heidi Gilbert and Angela Smith, will join the women's basketball team at Oregon Institute of Technology.

Gilbert, who was a second-team all-Midwestern League selection for North Eugene two years ago, averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 steals per game last year for Lane Community College. The 5-foot-7 junior is also a top defensive player.

The 5-10 Smith was a second-team all-league selection at Thurston two years ago before taking the past two years off from playing the sport. She will be a freshman for the Owls.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS: North Bend had the highest grade point average of any boys swimming team in the state with a combined GPA of 3.76.

Elmira led the way in wrestling with a 3.63 GPA. Marshfield ranked seventh in 4A boys basketball at 3.57, and Douglas was fourth in 3A at 3.60, followed by Siuslaw in 10th at 3.44.

Churchill ranked sixth in 4A girls basketball with a 3.74 GPA, and Elmira was fifth in 3A at 3.74. Douglas and Bandon were sixth and 10th, respectively, in 3A at 3.71 and 3.64. Elkton ranked ninth in 1A girls basketball at 3.59.

In 4A boys swimming, South Eugene (3.75) and Marshfield (3.65) ranked second and third, respectively, behind North Bend. Marist was ninth in 3A at 3.31. South Eugene was fourth in 4A girls swimming at 3.79, and Newport was eighth in 3A at 3.52.

Churchill ranked second in 4A wrestling at 3.42. In 3A, Newport (3.19) was eighth and Brookings (3.14) was 10th. Oakridge ranked eighth in 2A at 3.17.

Marshfield's dance and drill team was second in 4A at 3.64, and Central Linn (3.52) and Elmira (3.44) were third and eighth, respectively, in 3A.

Springfield was No. 1 in 4A cheerleading at 3.51, followed by North Bend (3.50) in second and Churchill (3.48) in fifth. Marist was fourth in 3A at 3.49, and Elkton ninth in 1A at 3.29.

HILLSBORO FORFEITS TITLE: Marshfield will go down in the record book as the lone Class 4A small division cheerleading champion after Hillsboro had to forfeit its share of the title.

Marshfield and Hillsboro shared the title at the state competition last month, but later Hillsboro acknowledged that it used an ineligible cheerleader. A member of the Spartans' squad had poor grades which should have disqualified her from competing. However, coach Twila Smith did not check grades when they were released in June.

A school administrator noticed the problem earlier this month and the school reported it to the Oregon School Activities Association. The school returned its trophy, and the OSAA is expected to accept the forfeiture at a meeting in May.