A10   Wednesday, March 18, 2020 The Dalles Chronicle TheDallesChronicle.com SPORTS Seufalemua and Green set sights on Western Oregon TD seniors accept scholarship offers to play football at the Division II program Rodriguez ■ Ray The Dalles Chronicle homesick or something or feel like I don’t belong. Now we get to start a new chapter together and I am grateful to have Ty there with me. I am extremely proud of my broth- er for that and it will be great for us in the future.” Coming off a historic 2019 football season that featured the program’s first semifinal run since 1993, Seufalemua and Green earned spots on the OSAA 4A All-State Team with Seufalemua picking up first-team honors for the second year in a row as a On a recruiting trip to defensive lineman and Green Western Oregon University chalked up a second-team in late January, Dalles bid at wide receiver. Seufalemua had his team- TD head coach Andy mate and friend Okean Green Codding, who was a 2019 4A by his side. The campus tour, team and Coach of the Year finalist, coach meetings and the vibe said that Western is on the rise and WOU coach Arne were a perfect fit. Ferguson, who helped lead Seufalemua and Green the Wolves to a 7-4 record last accepted scholarship offers year, is getting two quality to continue their football careers at Division II Western individuals to build their program to help continue Oregon University, where that rise. Seufalemua plans to major “Both of these kids as high in exercise science, while Green is focused on earning school seniors were people a degree in the medical field that we, as football coach- with an ultimate goal of being es, trusted with leadership a cardiologist. responsibilities and that is “On our recruiting trip, it something they will take to felt like home,” Seufalemua Western with them,” Codding said. “The players there were said. “They were good to the really welcoming, and they younger guys, and they were treated us like family. They looked highly upon by their brought us in like we were teammates and coaches. already part of the team, so They are just two respectable it felt like home already. It is young men and that is all really good to feel that love aside from the fact that they because I don’t want to get are getting two very good football players. They are both playmakers, they have different skill sets and they are going to contribute.” Seufalemua had 37 tackles, 14 for loss, with a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and added a blocked kick in 2018. He had an increase in tackles in 2019, however, jumping to 56.5 tackles, sev- en for loss, and had a sack, two pass breakups, two pass- es defensed, three forced fumbles and two blocks in 12 games. “I really don’t want people to talk about me when it comes to legacy or all that other stuff,” Seufalemua said. “I just want every kid to know that they can do anything in life as long as they are willing to put the work in for it. They got to grind. Life is a grind, sports are a grind, school is a grind. It takes hard work, dedication and working in the mornings when you are not really feeling it to get where you want in life.” This past fall, Green was dual threat in the ground game and through the air with 1,844 combined yards and 23 touchdowns. When carrying the ball, green rushed 106 times for 1,066 yards and 14 scores, as he eclipsed 100 yards rushing in five of the team’s 12 games and he had a career-best 95-yard touchdown in quar- terfinal playoff action versus Henley. The Dalles seniors Dalles Seufalemua and Okean Green accepted scholarship offers to play football at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. In the photo with the duo are, from left to right, in the back row, Dave and Repeka Seufalemua (mother and father) and Shawn Hill (Green’s uncle). Ray Rodriguez photo As a receiver, Green hauled in 43 catches for 743 yards with nine touchdowns and he had a long of 77 yards. “There were a lot of times where I didn’t think that this would be possible. Honestly, if I would have stayed in (Compton) California, I don’t think I would be alive today to get to this point,” Green said. “I never thought that I was going to do this, so it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I am a first-generation college student and it means a lot to me to get this opportunity. I have worked my whole life for this, and I am glad, and I am happy to see my hard work pay off.” It takes a village to build up young children into upstanding citizens and great humans. It starts with great families and solid father figures as coaches to teach athletes that work ethic, dedication, education and positivity can open doors they never thought could have been possible. Joining Seufalemua at his Letter of Intent signing were his parents, Repeka and Dave Seufalemua, two community stalwarts who have embraced their son’s coaches over the years. “It is a very emotional day for me,” Repeka said. “As a parent, you pray for your kids to be successful and healthy. This is just one of my prayers answered. It is a dream come true. I am thankful and I am so proud of Dalles and TJ and I am so happy and glad that they have made it this far and are going to be able to contin- ue to play football in college. It is not about just sports. They have to study hard, work hard and do their best. It is important for them to do well in the classroom and hit those books.” Julie Hull gets elusive Region 1 Hoop Shoot title “Because this was my last time competing, I wanted to get past regionals, and go 25- for-25 in a competition, so by accomplishing those goals, it proved to me that after all these years, my hard work has paid off,” Hull said. After draining her first 25 free throw attempts to score a Ever since she started her regional triumph and qualify run at The Elks Hoop Shoot four years ago, Maupin native for nationals in Chicago, Ill., Julie Hull has had lofty goals Hull then shot five sets of five shots to serve as a tiebreaker of making it to the National and went 5-of-5, 5-of-5, 5-of- Championships in Chicago, being considered a top shoot- 5, 4-of-5 and 4-of-5 for her er and going 25-for-25 on the 23-for-25 output. Because of the Coronavirus big stage of regionals. disease (COVID-19), there will Saturday at Columbia be no trip to Chicago as di- Basin College in Pasco, Wash., the South Wasco rectors canceled the National County eighth grader sank Championships, which means 25-of-25 shots to claim her that Hull’s 23 made shots will first Northwest Region 1 be put against everyone else in Hoop Shoot Championship the United States. and then hit 23-of-25 in a “My family and I watched separate session and is cur- a Lakers-versus-Celtics 30- rently in line to take National for-30 on ESPN and Larry Bird talked about when he Championship honors, and played that he told himself, have her name and likeness ‘I’m not going to miss a shot,’” enshrined in the Naismith Hull said. “That is what I told Memorial Basketball Hall of myself that morning until it Fame in Springfield, Mass. Crazy four-year ride ends with a perfect performance Rodriguez ■ Ray The Dalles Chronicle was my turn to shoot.” Along the way, Hull dealt with adversity and road- blocks that kept her from realizing those regional and national goals. After a third-place finish at regionals in 2017, in 2018 the eighth grader suffered a bro- ken pinky, and participated with three fingers, and placed fourth at the Northwest Region 1 event. Last year, Hull missed out on a regionals berth following a one-shot loss at state. Back on Feb. 10 of this year, Hull sustained a knee injury, which put her elusive region- al title shot in jeopardy. Between working with her doctor and physical therapist, Hull eventually got strong enough to start practicing again two weeks ago. “I didn’t want my Elks ca- reer to end on an injury and take away the chance I have been preparing over the last four years for,” Hull said. Last time she lost at region- als, Hull said she had her father, Jim, take her up to the gymnasium in Maupin for practice the very next day. After her brother Jason made it to Chicago back in 2017, where he sank 12-of-25 from 15-feet away to place 12th, winning regionals and qualifying for nationals has been Julie’s motivation. Julie and Jason are the only competitors from The Dalles Elks Lodge to ever make the National Championships, and they are the only two from the same family in his- tory to earn that distinction. To go from being so close, yet so far away, Julie Hull can now share some bragging rights in the Hull household. Her Elks Hoop Shoot days may be done, but she takes several valuable lessons away from the experience. “Losing in the past, taught me that there is a bigger picture than just being on the line,” Julie said. “It teaches me how to deal with pres- sure, and how to win and lose with grace. I was also able to gain a bunch of new friends from these competitions.” Maupin native Julie Hull stands next to Northwest Region 1 Hoop Shoot Chairman Joe Basil after drilling a perfect 25-of-25 shot at- tempts to pick up her first-career regional title this past Saturday at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash. Following her regional win, Hull then hit 23-of-25 in a separate session and is currently in line to take National Championship honors, and have her name and like- ness enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Ronda Hull/Contributed photo Kainos Coffee teams up with TD track and field big believer in the organi- zation of sports programs and discussed the fact that athletics allows kids to work in unison as teammates and with their coaches. “All of the things that help me run my business I learned from being part of sports teams,” Boyden said. “We do everything together, we are a team and I think it is really important that we support local organizations to make sure they have the funds they need, the uniforms and the equipment The Dalles track and field head coach Garth Miller has they need to compete on a joined forces with co-owner level playing field with every- of Kainos Coffee and Pizza one else.” and TDHS graduate Marten Kainos originally got its Boyden on a coffee fund- start in Portland, but in raiser to help offset growing February of 2018, Boyden costs ahead of the upcoming and his wife Mary had a de- 2020 spring campaign. sire to move closer to home. When Miller initially ap- “We have seen some good growth in this company proached Boyden, it was an in those two years and we instant acceptance. “It seemed like a win-win are hoping for more during the spring and summer for us and this company,” this year,” Boyden added. Miller said. “We used to sell “As a small business, you coffee as a fundraiser in the are striving to be the best, past and we got our coffee but a lot of times, you are out of the Seattle area, but when I saw that we could get working hard just to get by. it locally, and support Kainos In athletics, during wres- here, it just seemed like a tling, football, baseball and good deal for the track team track season, when you feel as well as this local business.” like you are at the end, but All Kainos coffee is slow you just got to keep going. I roasted in-house with three think that kind of plays into different flavors, but all everything you do in life, but coffee lovers can get the especially in small business limited edition Riverhawk and athletics.” Blend in a one-pound bag Much of the Kainos foun- in the ground or whole bean dation is built on giving to variety for $15, while sup- others and Boyden has spent summers working at the plies last. Dream Center in Los Angeles Boyden, a former high and volunteered time to help school athlete himself, is a Local business joins fundraiser to help program with growing costs ahead of 2020 campaign Rodriguez ■ Ray The Dalles Chronicle kids in the Philippines to name a few activities he is involved in. A portion of the revenues go towards different charities and organizations, but this is his first time helping a high school athletics program. “As a company, one of things that we strive to do is give back,” Boyden said. “In the past, we have worked with local and international organizations and it is some- thing we will always do be- cause you want to be known for setting a good example for others to follow.” Coffee can be purchased at Kainos, located at 418 E. 2nd Street, through any track and field athlete or Miller. Call the shop at 541-769- 0080 or contact Miller at 541-980-3181 to purchase a bag or a case for the office or job site. The Dalles track and field head coach Garth Miller, on left, partnered with Kainos Coffee and Pizza co-owner and TDHS graduate Marten Boyden on a fundraiser to help offset growing costs ahead of the upcoming 2020 spring season. Bags of ground or whole bean coffee can be purchased from Kainos, through a track athlete or Miller. Ray Rodriguez photo Athlete of the Week Dr. Cullen’s Julie Hull South Wasco County Eighth grader South Wasco County basketball player Julie Hull made 25 of 25 shots to claim her first Northwest Region One Hoop Shoot championship Saturday in Pasco, Wash. at Columbia Basin College. The eighth grader then hit 23 of 25 in a separate session and is currently in line to take National Championship honors, and getting her name and likeness enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Bas- ketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The Athlete of the Week will receive a large 2 topping pizza from Papa Murphy’s. Congratulations to our winner 3-18-20 Student of the week Rose Miller for English: Rose Miller is an outstanding student. She is here early every day, has outstanding quality of work, is reliable, and thoughtful in her writing. She has moved from English 9A into Honors English 9B and is doing fantastic! Congratulations Rose Miller, TDHS Columbia View Dental 1915 E. 19th Street | The Dalles 1323 W 6th St. • The Dalles • 541-296-1141 Victor Cullen, DDS 541-296-5677 | Se habla español