WIAA honors Colfax's Kinley at state game

Colfax High School sophomore Jonathan "JonJon" Kinley was honored with the 2020 Jace Malek award Saturday at Spokane Arena, at halftime of the state 2B boys basketball state championship game. The award, presented at the discretion of the WIAA Board president, is in memory of the late Jace Malek, a 2016 West Valley High School graduate who died of cancer at age 18 while a student at University of Idaho. Students chosen for the award, as stated by the WIAA, are "known for their actions that reinforce healthy culture, a strong, fair, competitive spirit and an infections love of life." Kinley, born amidst human traffickers in Guatemala in 2002, was adopted at eight years old from an orphanage by Todd and Jamie Kinley of Colfax. He was born with spina bifida, which caused scoliosis in his spine. In 2019, JonJon was a state champion in the WIAA 2B ambulatory 200-meter dash and the discus, along with placing second in the 100-meter dash. He also helped lead the Colfax boys track team to win the 1A, 2B, 1B team ambulatory championship. JonJon also plays on the Colfax J.V. and C squad basketball team.