Spokane Valley family emphasizes hoops with a heart
By Craig Howard, News EditorShare:  
April 5, 2010 — On the most celebrated day of the year in college basketball, Freddie and Austin Rehkow are preparing for church.
It's not the first time that the NCAA Final Four - featuring a quartet of the best teams in the nation - has coincided with the semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Last year, the University of North Carolina - the preferred team in the Rehkow household - competed in a semifinal game against Villanova, but Freddie and his son, Austin, bypassed the basketball to attend the Saturday night priesthood session.
This year, the Rehkows - members of the Belle Terre Ward in the Spokane East Stake - once again set aside their favorite sport to hear instruction from church leaders. Freddie said the arrangement of priorities is part of the family's commitment to put the gospel first.
Basketball is the No. 1 sport at the home of Freddie and Kim Rehkow, members of the Belle Terre Ward in the Spokane East Stake. The Rehkow starting lineup includes (from left to right) Ryan, Cameron, Kim, Austin, Freddie and Landon. Contributed Photo.
"You could make excuses about not going to church," he said. "But it's just the right thing to do."
The balance of church and sports has always been a pillar at the Rehkow home even when it meant Austin missing a chance to play in a national championship youth soccer game because it fell on Sunday. Austin said the policy has been a testimony builder.
"It's guided me," he said. "Sometimes friends will bring it up but they're pretty respectful."
Freddie, who earned all-region honors in Texas as a high school basketball player, said Austin and his brothers - Ryan, Landon and Cameron "set an example" by putting church and athletics in the proper perspective.
"The gospel sets wonderful standards," Freddie said. "It helps them make good decisions."
Kim said the rule of no sports on Sunday has been a blessing to the family even if it means missing out on important games.
"We live it as a commandment," she said.
Freddie has served as head coach of the Central Valley High School girls basketball team for the past three seasons. This year, he was named Greater Spokane League co-Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to 18 wins and a league title. Contributed Photo.
Freddie first realized there was something different about those of the LDS faith years ago prior to joining the church. He was working in Anchorage, Alaska when he met his future wife, Kim, then a member of the University of Alaska -Anchorage women's basketball squad.
Kim had been an All Greater Spokane League standout at Central Valley High School before playing two years at North Idaho College. On scholarship at Alaska-Anchorage, she earned academic All-American honors.
Despite the success on the court, Freddie said it was clear that Kim knew there was more to life than basketball.
"You could tell she was a genuine person," he said.
After several discussions with Kim about the gospel, Freddie began attending church and talking with the full-time missionaries. He would play basketball with the full-time elders each Monday on their preparation day. While he was earning good money and living comfortably, Freddie remembers searching for more meaning in his life.
"There was something missing , a void," he said.
Kim gave Freddie a Book of Mormon with her testimony written on the sleeve. He read it in a matter of days. Freddie remembers principles like eternal marriage and forever families ringing true.
"I appreciated that the church put family first," he said. "And a marriage for time and all eternity made more sense than 'until death do you part.'"
Freddie was baptized in May 1991. He and Kim were sealed in the Portland, Ore. Temple in August 1992.
"Joining the church was a big change for me," Freddie said. "It's brought peace, direction, stability and happiness to my life."
After the couple left Alaska for Spokane, Freddie went back to school and earned a degree in education from Eastern Washington University. He and Kim served as assistant coaches for part of a season at Central Valley during a time when the Bears were among top high school teams in Washington. Before moving on to take the head coaching job at East Valley High School, Freddie was part of two state 4A titles at Central Valley in 2001 and 2002.
Austin (far right) played on the Central Valley junior varsity team this season as a freshman. Ryan (third from left) started on a Spokane area AAU squad. Landon (second from left) participates in YMCA club basketball and Cameron is polishing up his fundamentals on a height adjusted hoop in the Rehkow's backyard. Contributed Photo.
For the past three seasons, Freddie has been the head coach at Central Valley guiding the Bears to a winning record and playoff bid each year. This season, he was named GSL co-Coach of the Year after leading CV to an 18-7 record and the school's first league championship since 2004.
Freddie continues to lace up the high-tops himself, playing county basketball and excelling for a Belle Terre Ward team that last month won its second consecutive stake championship. Yet when his schedule conflicts with one of his son's game, Freddie is always in the stands, cheering on his kids.
"We make it a point to support each other at our events," he said. "Family is the first priority."
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