Sports
A7
Saturday, December 4, 2021
PREP BASKETBALL
PREP SWIMMING
Experienced
Cove team
looking for
state placers
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
COVE — Cove head
coach Steve Koza only has
six swimmers on his team,
but each one has a shot at
competing for a state title.
The Leopards have three
boys and three girls on this
year’s team, all of whom
have competed for the high
school or club team in the
past. Cove’s girls swimmers
will look to make some
noise, while standouts on
the boys side are aiming to
come away with state titles.
“I’m really excited about
this season,” the coach said.
“Everybody that we’ve got
has experience, so I think
that’s a good spot to be in.”
The Leopards are led by
junior Taylor Fox and senior
Tim Koza. Fox is coming
off a fi fth place fi nish at the
2A/1A cross-country state
championship. Both upper-
classmen competed at the
state swimming tournament
in the 2019 season.
“We’re feeling really
good about their chances of
making it back again this
season,” Steve Koza said.
Cove will also welcome
in senior Kaleo Theis, a
senior who previously went
to school at Pendleton.
“He will likely be a state
swimmer, too,” Steve Koza
said. “On our boys side
with those three, I’m really
optimistic about what we’ve
got there.”
On the girls side, senior
Trinity Gettman will look
to lead the way. She com-
peted at the state champi-
onships in 2019 and has
the most experience on
the girls team. Trinity’s
younger sister, sophomore
Ally Gettman, and Sarah
Koza will also aim high this
team.
“Sarah has swam club
for us for years and will
likely be a state qualifi er,”
Steve Koza said. “Both her
and Ally have swam some
with the club, so they have
some experience under their
belt.”
With only three swim-
mers on each side, Steve
Koza is realistic about how
the Leopards will compete
as a team. Even so, Cove
has a strong showing of
swimmers this year for a
Class 1A school.
“Unfortunately we’re
small enough that we don’t
have enough kids to do
relays, so you’re not going
to see us winning meets or
that kind of stuff ,” he said.
The Leopards start the
season at a meet in La
Grande on Saturday, Dec.
11.
“I really think you’ll see
all three of our boys at state
and probably competing
well there,” Steve Koza
said.
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Terrell Davis gets into position for a shot during practice at Cove High School on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Davis, one of the few upperclassmen on the team, will
look to help Cove compete in the Old Oregon League in the 2021-22 season.
TURNING A CORNER?
Cove looks to put
struggles behind with
increased turnout,
strong returners
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
C
OVE — Head coach Doug Wig-
gins and the Cove boys basket-
ball team are looking forward to
a return to normalcy this season.
The Leopards consist of a young
group, but will look to build on a 3-1
season in limited play last spring. Now
facing a full slate of games, Cove is
aiming for a run in 2021-22.
“We’re excited for the season and I
think we have a lot of good returners,”
Wiggins said. “I think the kids are
excited to play. We’ve got a good group
that is bonding well, which is a really
good thing.”
Cove saw an increase in turnout this
year, which Wiggins thinks will go a long
way. The Leopards have three juniors,
two sophomores and nine freshmen,
which will allow the team to fi eld a junior
varsity squad this year.
“Compared to last year when we only
had seven kids, it makes a big diff erence,”
Wiggins said.
The Leopards are led by juniors Pat-
rick Frisch, Terrell Davis and Caleb Wig-
gins. Frisch is coming off a productive
season on the gridiron and fi gures to play
a large role for Cove this year.
“He’s our big guy in the middle,” Wig-
gins said. “He’s going to be a standout.”
Wiggins is also excited about sopho-
more Wyatt Burgess, who he says could
have a breakout year in his sophomore
campaign. Davis returns as a junior and
will compliment Frisch on the perimeter.
“He’s going to be really improving
on his shot and his ball-handling skills,”
Wiggins said of Davis.
The Leopards get off to a fast start,
facing a competitive slate of games at
the Union Lions Tournament. December
consists of a full slate of tournament
games before Old Oregon League action
begins on Tuesday, Jan. 1, against Powder
Valley.
Two years removed from a 2-20
season, Wiggins is pleased with the
team’s progress. As the team heads into
the upcoming season, lofty goals are in
reach for the Leopards.
“I think obviously compared to two
years ago, we’ve turned a corner,” Wig-
gins said. “We’re looking to be competi-
tive enough to get into districts this year.”
STARTING FROM SCRATCH IN COVE
Leopards have young,
hungry team ready
for new season
By JEFF BUDLONG
For The Observer
C
OVE — Kindra Wright and
her Cove girls basketball
team are one in the same.
Wright was hired as the team’s
head coach last year, but the pan-
demic ended hopes of a season. So
in her fi rst true year she is leading a
team with almost no varsity basket-
ball experience.
Wright, a 2015 Cove graduate,
has 11 players on the roster, with
only one having any high school
basketball experience. Junior Dan-
ielle O’Reilly has
limited experience while Rachel
Baird and Audrey Garlitz are the
two seniors on the squad.
“Danielle is the only one that
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
See, Leopards/Page A7
Audrey Garlitz drives to the basket during practice drills at Cove High School on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.
SPORTS SHORT
Reser Stadium’s West side will be imploded on Jan. 7
By NICK DASCHEL
The Oregonian
CORVALLIS — The big one is
coming soon at Reser Stadium.
Oregon State University and the
$153 million Reser Stadium West
side renovation team decided to
bring down the aging grandstand
by implosion. It takes place Jan. 7
between 7-8 a.m.
Rather than demolish Res-
er’s West side by taking apart the
structure in pieces, it was deter-
mined implosion by a licensed
contractor was safer.
The structure will implode ver-
tically to the ground following a
series of explosions over a two-
second period. It will require
weeks of preparation and planning.
One of the Northwest’s most
famous construction implosions
was the Seattle Kingdome in
2000. The Reser implosion will
be shown via livestream, with
viewing information coming prior
to the event.
To bring down the West side
by implosion will require plenty
of community cooperation and an
orchestrated safety plan. All struc-
tures within 500 feet of the stadi-
um’s West side will be unoccupied
during the implosion event. Occu-
pants in buildings within 1,000
feet are asked to stay indoors and
away from windows and patios.
Several neighboring streets will
be closed to vehicle, bicycle and
pedestrian traffi c for about a half
hour.
Rebuilding Reser’s West side,
the most expensive construction
project in OSU history, is expected
to be complete prior to the start
of the 2023 football season. The
project includes premium seating
for football, a welcome center for
prospective OSU students, and a
wellness clinic.
Oregon State University/Contributed Photo
Oregon State University and the $153 million Reser Stadium West side renova-
tion will begin by bringing down the aging grandstand on Jan. 7, 2022.