Monday, August 29, 2016

PORTLAND  – The first episode of the fifth season of the weekly radio show GNAC Insider aired live on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time, hosted by Rob Lowery.

The 95th episode overall of the live show featured Simon Fraser graduate Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, Humboldt State wide receiver Chase Krivashei, and Great Northwest Athletic Conference Commissioner Dave Haglund.

Two days before the official start of the 2016-17 athletic season, the show took a look back at what has been a memorable summer for Raincock-Ekunwe, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics as a member of Canada’s women’s basketball team. The 2013 GNAC Player of the Year and three-time first-team selection led Canada to the quarterfinals, playing 22.5 minutes per game. Raincock-Ekunwe tied for the team lead in rebounds (6.0 per game) and was third on the Canadian squad in scoring (7.7 per game). Raincock-Ekunwe’s biggest impact on the court was when she converted a three-point play in the final minute of regulation against eventual bronze medalist Serbia, giving her country the lead for good in the group-phase contest. The forward also registered a game-high nine rebounds as Canada won four of its five group-phase games.

Kriviashei joined the show from Jefferson City, Tennesee, where Humboldt State is getting ready for its season opener against Carson-Newman. After being a part of the Humboldt State team that went 0-11 in 2013 his freshman year, Krivashei played a key part in turning the program around to the 2015 GNAC champions and 2016 preseason favorite to win the conference. Last year, Humboldt State reached the playoffs as the first GNAC representative to earn a playoff spot since 2009. For his role, the wide receiver and returner was named a unanimous selection for First Team All-GNAC. Entering his senior, Krivashei ranks in the GNAC’s top 20 all time in a handful career categories, including receiving yards (2,474), punt return yards (460), kick return yards (873), all-purpose yards (3828) and touchdowns (25).

The final guest was Haglund, now entering his fifth year as commissioner of the GNAC. It’s the only NCAA conference with international representation in Canada along with schools from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The conference has grown to 11 member schools since 2011 from some of the most picturesque spots in North America. The GNAC has 16 championship sports and is the only NCAA Division II conference on the West Coast sponsoring football.