Isle File
Gier to head Maryknoll basketball

Advertiser Staff

Blaine Gier has been named Maryknoll School's boys varsity basketball coach and coordinator for the boys basketball program, athletic director Patricia Heatherly announced yesterday.

He succeeds Garrett Gabriel, who resigned from the positions in March.

Gier has been head of the school's physical education department since 1995 and head coach for the Division II boys varsity basketball team since 1999. He also is the coordinator for the boys volleyball program.

Gier's previous experience includes coaching and teaching basketball and volleyball at schools and organizations in California, Washington and Hawai'i.

"I look forward to teaching basketball and taking on the challenge of coaching the varsity boys team as they compete against the best teams in the state," Gier said. "I also look forward to developing relationships with those who support the basketball program, including parents, players and coaches."

Gier graduated from Maryknoll in 1988 and the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, Calif., in 1992.

ACADEMICS

• Merc recognized: Brigham Young-Hawai'i tennis player Eddie Merc has been named to the prestigious Verizon Academic All-District 8 Men's Spring At-Large Team (College Division) released yesterday.

Merc, a sophomore from Poprad, Slovakia, helped the Seasiders (30-4) to a No. 4 national ranking this season with a 23-5 singles record and a 15-3 doubles mark. He finished the season ranked No. 21 in singles nationally. Regionally, he was ranked fourth in doubles and 10th in singles.

Merc, an international business major, maintains a 3.76 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. He was earlier named to the Pacific West Conference All-Academic team.

In order to qualify for the 10-member Verizon Academic Team an athlete must be a significant contributor to his team athletically and maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or better.