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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 2022)
Sports ON THE SLATE Saturday, Feb. 26 COLLEGE BASEBALL Eastern Oregon at Lewis-Clark State, noon Eastern Oregon at Lewis-Clark State, 3 p.m. COLLEGE WOMEN’S LACROSSE Eastern Oregon at Whitman, 10 a.m. PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL Oakland at Union, 2 p.m. Valley Catholic at La Grande, 3 p.m. PREP BOYS WRESTLING Union, Elgin, Imbler, Joseph, Wallowa, Enterprise at OSAA 2A/1A State Championships, Culver High School, TBA La Grande at OSAA 4A State Championships, Cascade High School, TBA COLLEGE SOFTBALL Eastern Oregon vs. Hope International, Rocklin, California, 10 a.m. Eastern Oregon at William Jessup, Rocklin, California, noon Sunday, Feb. 27 COLLEGE WOMEN’S WRESTLING Eastern Oregon at Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, Great Falls, Montana, TBA COLLEGE BASEBALL Eastern Oregon at Lewis-Clark State, 11 a.m. Eastern Oregon at Lewis-Clark State, 2 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Eastern Oregon vs. Marymount California, Rocklin, California, 10 a.m. Eastern Oregon vs. Marymount California, Rocklin, California, noon COLLEGE WOMEN’S LACROSSE Eastern Oregon vs. Whitworth, Walla Walla, 1 p.m. All-star seasons Union, Enterprise standouts earn all-league nominations By DAVIS CARBAUGH The Observer Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian UNION — At the conclusion of the 2A Blue Mountain Confer- ence tournament, several standouts from Union and Enterprise were nominated to all-league teams for their accomplishments this season. The Union girls defeated Enter- prise 46-30 in the championship game at the Pendleton Conven- tion Center on Saturday, Feb. 19, to take the district crown, while Hep- pner was victorious on the boys side. Union guard Callie Glenn was a unanimous first-team selection . Senior Audrey Wells, a guard, also earned first-team recognition. “Those two kids are exception- ally hard workers,” Union girls coach Jordan Klebaum-Johnston said. “I think it speaks to their work ethic and performances.” Union’s Callie Glenn (22) puts up a shot during the fourth quarter as the Bobcats bat- tled the Enterprise Outlaws on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at the Pendleton Convention Center. Union defeated Enterprise 46-30 to win the Blue Mountain District Title. Union’s Kaylin Nowak, a senior, earned second-team recog- nition. Freshman Jesse Ledbetter and senior Audrey Hill were both named to the honorable mention all-league team. “All four of our seniors getting recognition is really special,” Kle- baum-Johnston said. Union, which compiled a 21-3 overall record through the end of the district tournament, will host Oakland in the first round of the 2A state tournament on Feb. 26 at at 2 p.m. For Enterprise, senior Rilyn Kirkland was a unanimous first- team choice, and senior Jada Gray also earned first-team marks. Emily Love and Maci Marr earned honorable mentions. The team fin- ished 15-10 on the year and will travel to Gervais for a first-round matchup on Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. On the boys side, Enterprise senior Jackson Decker earned a second-team nomination. The Out- laws went 4-18 on the season and 2-10 in league play. Union’s duo of sophomore Tee Ledbetter and junior Bo Ledbetter earned first-team nominations — Tee Ledbetter was selected as a unanimous pick. “Tee had never played post before this year, so he was A8 Saturday, February 26, 2022 extremely flexible to our coaching and trying to get him to be a force. We could see it all along that he could really dominate inside,” Union boys coach Odin Miller said. “He’s extremely coachable and highly competitive, which led to his success.” Tee Ledbetter averaged 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while Bo Ledbetter scored 10.6 points and dished out 6.4 assists per contest. Miller noted Bo Ledbetter’s role as point guard and as the team’s defensive anchor was invaluable this season. “Bo is as tough as they come. I think other coaches recognized that,” Miller said. “He’s our true point guard, our quarterback and our leader.” Union’s Chase Koshinsky earned a selection to the honorable mention team after converting 56 3-pointers on the season and aver- aging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. After graduating seven seniors from last year’s roster, Union tal- lied a 15-10 record overall and went 8-4 in league play. All 11 of Union’s players on this year’s var- sity roster are set to return next season. “The tough losses create the fire, but the success creates the confidence,” Miller said. “I think that combination is extremely dan- gerous going into next year.” Carson, Burns attempt to write wrestling history DAVIS CARBAUGH CARBAUGH’S CORNER Union County may witness wrestling history this weekend — not once, but twice. La Grande’s Braden Carson and Imbler’s Garrett Burns are both in pursuit of their third career indi- vidual state titles at their respective championships this weekend. For Carson, a three-peat would put him atop the ranks of a storied wrestling program at La Grande. The senior enters the 145-pound competi- tion with a 35-1 record on the season. Carson has won individual state titles in the last two seasons. The Tigers also enter Satur- day’s competition at Cascade High School as a contender to take home a team title. This would be the second time in three years that La Grande has brought home a state championship, following a run- ner-up finish last season. For Imbler, all eyes will be on Burns as the senior is the only wrestler for the Panthers at the 2A/1A state championship in Culver. Burns enters the 126-pound division having lost only twice this year. The senior is the odds-on favorite in the event and aims to reclaim his title. No wrestler has won three indi- vidual titles in Union County, and the feat is rare across the state. The last time a wrestler in the area accomplished a three-peat was when Steven Beckman did so for Joseph/Wallowa in 2019. The two wrestlers have already made history in their programs as two-time state champions, but will be looking for even more this weekend. Securing their third indi- vidual state titles would cement Burns and Carson as two of the greatest wrestlers to ever take the mats in the state of Oregon. ——— Davis Carbaugh covers news and sports for The Observer. He can be contacted at dcarbaugh@ lagrandeobserver.com. WHERE WILL MOMENTUM TAKE YOU? HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT Don’t keep those home renovations or that dream vacation waiting! hzcu.org/momentum *OAC. Introductory rate valid for 6 months from the date the loan is booked. 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