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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2021)
Sports 6A Saturday, March 27, 2021 The Observer La Grande seniors preparing for the final match As the sun sets on their high school careers, players look forward to the future By ALEX WITTWER The Observer LA GRANDE — The La Grande High Tigers vol- leyball team is preparing to fight in its final games of the season in one of the most challenging years for sports. The COVID-19 pan- demic, in a sense, has stolen a year of play from the team that had grown up together — a team that challenged life and their rivals with equal ferocity. As the chapter closes on five girls with the team, they practiced in the gym early in the morning Wednesday, March 23. With graduation around the corner, inevitable goodbyes loomed like a final dead- line. But now it was spirit week, and the girls dressed up in colorful tie-dye shirts and wore garish hair for the occasion. The team made its way to the gym and began set- ting up the net, donning surgical masks and athletic shoes while making jokes to one another. The chaos of chatter beget a cacophony of balls flying every which way and landing onto the gym floor with thunderous thuds as spikes, sets and serves. For Jayde Wiggins, who plays for the varsity squad, as well as the high school’s basketball and softball teams, there was another challenge she fought. An injury in January 2020 left her unable to play the sports she loved — and COVID-19 made watching sports impossible as well. She recovered in time to play when the season opened, but months of isolation and healing wore down on the dedicated player. “We were out of school, and even if we could do sports, I couldn’t,” Wiggins said. “All I could do was show up.” It was her second injury of her high school career. As a freshman, she suffered a torn ACL in basketball that kept her from playing volleyball. “It was, honestly, terrible to see all these guys playing and missing that,” she said. Relentlessly, Wiggins recovered both times and her desire to play sports intensified. Obstacles to her seemed more like gaso- line than rain. And now that the games have resumed in the midnight hour, it’s near time to say goodbye to the players she had grown up with for nearly half a decade. “Volleyball is like a stress relief,” Wiggins said. “We come here, and we just let it all go.” Wiggins plans on HEALTH NOTIFICATION! burden can sometimes reach intolerable levels, and nauseating anxiety can disable her on the worst of days. During those times however, her team, family and coach lift her back up. With the decision to move across the nation, those sup- port structures will be left behind — though the young star viewed it as another avenue for growth. Three senior players who also are graduating — Hayden Robinson, Madison Hanson and Anna Green — will be attending col- leges throughout the Pacific Northwest. There will be new friends and new chal- lenges, and memories of when the pandemic made their friendships and desire to play stronger. The Tigers have a 6-3 record for the season with five matches remaining. The team plays a home match against Baker on Tuesday, March 30, then comes an April 1 match against Ontario. The final set of the season is April 6 against Powder Valley in La Grande. Are You Hard of Hearing? A major name brand hearing aid provider wishes to field test a remarkable new digital hearing instrument in the area. This Presley Justice (center) leaps into the air to spike the ball during a practice at La Grande High School on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. The senior will continue playing and learning at Kentucky of Christian University. and you are under no offer is free charge to the opportunity — and nected to sports in a ful- attending Eastern Oregon obligation. filling way. the stress that comes along University to study phys- ical therapy, close to home Other players, such as with the responsibilities of These revolutionary Digital and family. She said while Presley Justice, are setting playing for a 100% college team. she wants to focus on aca- their sights elsewhere. “I have to do the best I instruments the latest technology to demics, sports will remain a Justice accepted a schol- use can,” said Justice. “I have passion in her life. With the arship to play volleyball at that expectation, for myself, comfortably and almost invisibly help you Kentucky Christian Univer- that I’m playing at the next degree, she would be able sity in Grayson, Kentucky, to help others through the level so I This need to act like I hear more clearly. technology solves last year prior to the pan- types of injuries she expe- am.” demic, and “stopped looks forward up Justice rienced and remain con- admitted the “head in a the ears” and provider A major name brand hearing aid barrel” sensation some people experience. wishes to field test a remarkable new If you wish to participate, you This will be digital hearing instrument in the area. to have your hearing tested in our offer is free required of charge and you are under no office FREE OF CHARGE to determine candidacy and review your results obligation. A major name hearing brand hearing aid provider with the hearing instruments with our care specialist. to field test a 100% remarkable new These wishes revolutionary Digital At the end of this evaluation, you may keep your instrument, if aid you provider so A major name brand hearing digital hearing instrument in the area. This instruments use the technology to new desire, at a tremendous savings for free participating this field wishes to latest field test a are remarkable offer is of charge and in you under test. no Special and almost invisibly you area. This testing will be done to comfortably determine the increased of help this technology. obligation. digital hearing benefits instrument in the hear more clearly. This solves offer and is free of technology charge and loss, you are under no These 100% Digital Benefits of hearing aids vary by revolutionary type degree of hearing noise instruments the proper latest obligation. up use and ears” and technology “head in to a environment, accuracy the of “stopped hearing test, fit. comfortably and some almost people invisibly help help you is barrel” sensation experience. This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing These revolutionary 100% Digital hear more clearly. This technology solves available for your hearing loss and hearing help at a very instruments use “head the to If you the wish to get participate, you latest will be affordable “stopped up ears” and in a technology EOU football price. comfortably and almost invisibly barrel” some hearing people experience. required to sensation have your tested in our help you cracks NAIA hear to more technology If you wish participate, you This will be results Call and Make a clearly. Reservation if solves office FREE OF CHARGE to Now determine candidacy and review your the “stopped up ears” and in “head in a Top-25 poll hearing instruments with our required to have your hearing tested our with the hearing care specialist. you wish barrel” to be Included! The Observer office FREE OF CHARGE to determine candidacy and review your people results experience. sensation some KANSAS CITY, Mo. the evaluation, hearing instruments with our hearing care specialist. if you so At National the Associa- end of with this you may keep your instrument, — The If you wish to participate, you will be tion of Intercollegiate Ath- At the end of this evaluation, you may keep your instrument, if test. you hearing so at a tremendous savings for participating in this field your Special tested in our letics desire, released its second required to have Football FirstDown Play- desire, at a tremendous savings for participating in this field test. Special Date) book testing Top-25 Poll this will be office done FREE to determine the increased benefits of this technology. OF (Insert CHARGE to Expiration determine candidacy and review your results week, and Eastern Oregon testing will be done to determine the increased benefits of this technology. University jumped into with the hearing with our hearing care loss, specialist. Benefits of hearing vary aids instruments by vary type degree noise the rankings Benefits of aids hearing by and type and degree of of hearing hearing loss, noise The Mountaineers At the end accuracy this of evaluation, may keep hearing and proper fit. your instrument, if you so environment, accuracy of of hearing test, test, and you proper fit. checked in at No. 21 after environment, starting off the spring This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing in help is field test. Special desire, at a tremendous savings for participating this 2021 This season 1-0 is with a a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing help is 28-0 shutout win Sat- available your and get hearing help at benefits a very affordable testing for will be hearing done to loss determine the increased of this technology. urday, March 20, against for your hearing loss and get hearing help at a very affordable available the Carroll College Saints price. Benefits of hearing aids vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise inside Community Sta- price. dium, La Grande. The win Call accuracy Now and Make test, a Reservation environment, of hearing and proper fit. if for the Mounties propelled the team from the realm you wish to be Included! Call and Make a Miracle Reservation if help is The Ear Foundation This Now is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing of the unranked into the Since 1990 the Miracle-Ear Foundation™ has been providing hearing aids, follow-up care, and educational resources to top-25. people your with hearing loss who demonstrate provide for their hearing needs. We do available for hearing loss personal and inability get to financially hearing help at health a very affordable Eastern Oregon Uni- you wish be this because to we believe everyone Included! in our community deserves quality hearing instruments. versity Athletics also price. reported the Mountaineers Alex Wittwer/The Observer HEALTH NOTIFICATION! Are You Hard of Hearing? HEALTH NOTIFICATION! HEALTH NOTIFICATION! Are You Hard of Hearing? Are You Hard of Hearing? THIS WEEK ONLY! THIS WEEK ONLY! picked up a pair of Fron- tier Conference Player of the Week honors this week for quarterback Kai Quinn as the offensive player of the week and punter Jaiden Machuca as the special teams player of the week. The duo’s perfor- mances helped get EOU off to a 1-0 start and it was the sixth consecutive win against the Saints, dating back to 2015. In the Frontier Con- ference, the only other ranked team is College of Idaho. The Yotes are in the No. 5 spot overall with a 2-0 record. The Mountaineers are on the road this weekend in Billings, Montana, to take on the Rocky Moun- tain College Battlin’ Bears on Saturday, March 27. Kickoff is set for noon. (Insert Expiration Date) THIS WEEK ONLY! you wish to be Included! THIS WEEK ONLY! OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 31, 2021 Call Call Now and Make and a Reservation wish to be Included! Now Make if a you Reservation if Special Notice State Employees You may qualify for a hearing aid benefit up to $4,000 every 4 years. Call for eligibility status. Offer Expires THIS WEEK ONLY! (Insert Expiration Date) The Miracle Ear Foundation Since 1990 the Miracle-Ear Foundation™ has been providing hearing aids, follow-up care, and educational resources to people with hearing loss who demonstrate personal inability to financially provide for their hearing health needs. We do this because we believe everyone in our community deserves quality hearing instruments. Special Notice State Employees You may qualify for a hearing aid benefit up to $4,000 every 4 years. Call for eligibility status. Code: (Locations, Address, Phone Mention 21MarHealth LA GRANDE BAKER CITY ENTERPRISE numbers) 111 Elm Street 2021 Washington Ave. 113-1/2 Front E. Main St. La Grande, OR 97850 Special Notice Baker OR 97814 State City, Employees Enterprise, OR 97828 You may qualify for a hearing aid benefit up to $4,000 every 4 years. Call for 541-605-2109 541-239-3782 541-239-3877 eligibility status. visit us online at: www.miracle-ear.com The Miracle Ear Foundation Hearing tests are always free. Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs only. Hearing Aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences will vary depending on severity of Since 1990 the Miracle-Ear Foundation™ has been Pursuant providing hearing follow-up and educational resources to the completion of fitting, in loss, accuracy of evaluation by our Consultant, proper fit, and the ability to adjust amplification. to terms of your aids, purchase agreement, care, the aids must be returned within 30 days of satisfactory condition for a full people refund. with hearing loss who demonstrate personal inability to financially provide for their hearing health needs. We do this because we believe everyone in our community deserves quality hearing instruments.
