The nugget., June 20, 2018, Page 8, Image 8

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Wednesday, June 20, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
OSU
Latecomer to sport will wrestle in college
extension
By Rongi Yost
Dustin Smith signed an
offers suicide official
letter of intent to wres-
tle for Life Pacific College
prevention
(LPC) on May 23, and will
wrestle for the Warriors, who
will launch their first year of
training
wrestling this fall.
Correspondent
Have you ever wondered
what you can do to help pre-
vent suicide?
QPR (Question, Persuade,
Refer) will be offered by
Oregon State University
Extension Family and
Community Health program
to adults and teens. QPR,
an evidence-based train-
ing program, is intended to
offer hope through positive
action.
Participants who would
like to be equipped with skills
to help individuals that may
be in need of some help and
hope are invited to join one
of two free training sessions
on June 21. Participants may
pre-register for the 2 to 3:30
p.m. or 6 to 7:30 p.m. ses-
sions at the OSU Extension/
Deschutes County office
at the Deschutes County
Fairgrounds in Redmond.
Space is limited, so pre-reg-
istration is required. Contact
OSU Extension at 541-548-
6088 by June 19.
QPR sessions are free.
Sessions will be led by
Glenda Hyde, Associate
Professor of Practice and
certified QPR instructor.
QPR training sessions are
offered in collaboration with
St. Charles Health System,
through their suicide pre-
vention initiative. This basic
training program seeks
to train individuals who,
because of their contact with
those who may be at risk of
suicide, are often in the best
position to identify and refer
people thinking about suicide
to important resources and
services.
Smith had never wrestled
before high school, and shared
how he got involved.
“John Downs (Sisters
High School varsity wres-
tling coach) was my lineman
coach in football my fresh-
man year and he talked to me
about wrestling,” said Smith.
“I didn’t really know what I
was getting into. I didn’t know
anything about wrestling, but
thought I’d give it a shot.”
Dustin caught onto the
sport quickly and was a var-
sity wrestler all four years. He
earned all-league honorable
mention his senior year, and
was voted team captain his
junior and senior years.
Downs had high praise for
Smith and his influence on the
wrestling squad.
“I have never coached any-
body that has had the passion
for wrestling that Dustin has,”
said Downs. “His commit-
ment to the sport and to his
teammates is unrivaled. He is
a leader for the team and he
always wants to help others
improve, and share what he
has learned at camps that he’s
attended. He is the first wres-
tler I’ve coached that will go
on to wrestle in college.”
SHS Athletic Director
Gary Thorson added, “Dustin
has a faithful heart for his
peers, community, and for the
Lord. He is a model of what
we want as an Outlaw athlete
and Outlaw human being.”
“The main thing I love
about wrestling is the disci-
pline,” said Smith. “To be
good you have to put in the
time and effort.”
Smith heard that a wres-
tling team was being built
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Dustin Smith, who took up wrestling in high school, will wrestle in college.
in Southern California, and
decided to check into it. It
turned out to be Life Pacific
College, the college where
a friend, Drew Pade had
attended.
“I talked with Drew, and
he told me it was an amazing
college, and nice and small
so you can get to know your
professors,” said Dustin. “I
applied, and after just a cou-
ple of days I saw there was
a Spring Preview happening
over spring break, so I went on
the fly. I fell in love with the
campus. It seemed like para-
dise; palm trees everywhere,
and wooded and very green.
I knew then that that’s where
I’d attend, even if I didn’t
wrestle.”
But, after lengthy phone
conversations with the wres-
tling coach from LPC, Smith
was asked to come and wres-
tle, and be a part of the brand-
new program.
“At first, I thought I’d just
be a walk-on,” said Smith.
“Most of the wrestlers that
play are California State
Qualifiers, and you have to
go through four levels to get
to that point. I was just an
Oregon State Qualifier, and
just had to get to Districts. So,
I was shocked when Coach
Arsen Aleksanyan asked me
to come and wrestle.”
LPC is in the NAIA
Division Golden State Athletic
Conference, and Smith is
excited to be a part of the pro-
gram from its inception. In
it’s first year, Warrior wres-
tling will participate in seven
meets, and host two of those
on the San Dimas campus.
Linda, Kim, Marg, Bert,
Terry and Diane are still
here and excited to say
hello and give you
the same personalized
service they always
have.
Pharmacy Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Our Heritage-Your Trust
541-549-6221 • 635 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters
Smith will head to south-
ern California August 20, and
plans to major in transforma-
tional ministries. He is excited
about what lies ahead.
“It’s a door I definitely
thought wouldn’t open,” said
Smith. “I was very set on
going into the Marine Corps,
but I wasn’t able to get in. So,
I pursued college and the door
just opened. I’m super-stoked,
and really excited about the
opportunity to continue my
wrestling career.”
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