10
schools
october25
2011
VHS Fall Sports Update:
Football—The Vernonia Loggers
defeated Nestucca 14-7 in the
Homecoming game on October 21. It
was the Loggers second win this season,
first in league play and first win in front
of their hometown fans in three seasons.
Radio station KUPL was on hand to
help celebrate and add to the already
festival-like atmosphere.
The Loggers took and early 7-0
lead after a long punt return by Austin
Cutright; quarterback Cutright scored
on an option runs two plays later and
Kristian Wredstroem converted the
extra point. The Logger defense shut
down Nestucca throughout the first
half, lead by strong play from the entire
defensive line and Craig Weller and
Sean Solberg. The Loggers led 7-0 at
halftime.
After the introduction of the
Homecoming Court and an excellent
halftime show by the Logger Marching
Band, the team came out for the third
quarter and scored again. After Cutright
was banged up, Tim Jennings relieved
him at quarterback and immediately hit
running back Joe Benes with a short
pass on his first play. Benes took it into
the end zone and Wredstroem again
converted the extra point. Nestucca
scored late in the fourth quarter to make
the score 14-7, but the Logger defense
stopped the Bobcat’s final drive to
secure the victory.
On the night, the Loggers
offense got strong running from
Wredstroem, Benes, and Cutright;
two big pass receptions from Jacob
Stevens and solid play from their
offensive line. On defense, Solberg
had an especially impressive night,
Loggers Win Homecoming Game; Fleck Wins League X-Country Title
harrassing the Nestucca quarterback
all night and getting in on three sacks.
Weller also had an strong game with
several key tackles and an interception.
Other defensive standouts were Jacob
Titus, Cutright, Jonathon Anderson,
Mikol Pihl, Ryan Lawrence, Jerimiah
Hammons and Kanan Olsen.
It was an especially great night
for Senior captain Joe Benes, who after
being named Homecoming King earlier
in the week, scored what turned out
to be the winning touchdown in the
Loggers win.
The Loggers lost to Gaston
32-6 on October 14 before facing
Nestucca. The Loggers league record
now stands at 1-2 with upcoming league
games away at Knappa on October 28
and the season finale at home against
Neah-Kah-Nie on November 4.
Cross Country—The Logger boys
won the Rainier Invitational, beating
Rainier, Neah-Kah-Nie, Warrenton,
Clatskanie and Banks; the girls finished
second to Banks. Nathan Fleck led the
boys and was backed up with a strong
performance by Quin Johansen and
Jacob Medaris. For the girls, early
season sensation, Gloria Ramirez has
been out with a season-ending injury
and Rowan Cheney has taken over as
the lead runner.
At the Northwest League
Championship Meet on October 20
the Loggers finished 2nd in both boys
and girls at Teevin Ranch. Nathan
Fleck won the individual boys league
championship, winning in a personal
record time of 16:56; Quin Johannsen
finished 4th, also with a personal record
time of 17:42. The girls were led by
Rowan Cheney. who finished 4th with
a personal record of 22:20. “We were a
little disappointed because we were so
close to a team league championship
and we were missing one of our best
runners,” said Loggers Head Coach
Byron Brown. “Nathan Fleck beat
some really great runners to become
league champ. He’s had an absolutely
Nathan Fleck crossing the finish line to
take first place at the league meet.
Photo courtesy of Mike Easlon.
fantastic, break-thru season. Also, the
team itself has matured to become a
really good team.”
The district meet will be held
at Tualatan Hills recreation area, on
Thursday, October 27, which will
decide the qualifiers for the State meet
held a week later at Lane Community
College in Eugene. “We have an outside
shot at 2nd and qualifying for the state
track meet,” said Brown. “ We have
come a very long way this season.”
Volleyball—The Lady Loggers moved
their league record to 5-6 and overall
season record to 9-10, locking up third
place in the northeast conference--east
division, and securing a place in the
league playoffs which start October 27.
After an away loss to Neah-
Kah-Nie 3-0, Vernonia returned home
and defeated Gaston 3-0 on October 13.
The Loggers looked strong, especially
on defense, led by middle blockers Tori
Dalebroux and Sara McMahon and
the back line play of Kelsey Brown,
Shyla Tungwenuk, Brooke Johnson
and McMahon. The Logger’s serving
was difficult for the Greyhounds to
handle, especially from Cierra Henson;
Johnson and McMahon also served
well at times during the match. Setter
Natalie Wallace ran a good offense in
the second and third games, and was
rewarded with strong hitting from
McMahon, Dalebroux, Henson and
freshman Julia Fletcher, who moved
up from the JV squad and had a very
strong first match.
The Loggers lost in an away
match against second place Portland
Christian 3-1 before returning home and
losing to perennial league power Faith
Bible 3-1 on Thursday, October 20. In
the match the Lady Loggers showed a
lot of spirit, losing the first game 22-25,
and winning the second game, before
falling to the strong hitting Falcons in
the final two games.
The Lady Loggers had one
more home league match scheduled
against last place Riverdale on October
24 before the league playoffs begin.
2011 VHS HOMECOMING
It was a great week to be a Logger!
Vernonia High School and the Vernonia com-
munity, celebrated Homecoming Week with
Logger Olympics, Airjams and class spirit com-
petitions, the coronation of the Homecoming
Court, a parade through town and ended the week
with an in-
spirational
football
win!
Left: Homecoming Queen Natalie Wallace and King Joe
Benes. Above: Natalie Wallace with Princesses
Nicki Thompson and Shyla Tungwenuk.
Below: Austin Edgar, Joe Benes and Kristian Wredstroem
The Lady Loggers volleyball team wore pink
and black uniforms on Thursday for Breast
Cancer Awareness Week and to honor a
Vernonia School District employee who is
fighting cancer. The football team wore
pink socks on Friday night.