12
schools
april10
2012
VHS Basketball: A Season of Memories!
By David Weller
I just want to take this time
to thank all those who took part in the
basketball team this year. Whether it
was through your attendance at games,
or through your generosity in giving
toward the team through money or
food, it was very much appreciated by
all of us coaches and players. I was
amazed at how quickly money, food,
and drinks were given to help make our
trip to Pendleton a very enjoyable and
memorable trip. We had a very generous
donation and were told to use it to buy
the team a steak dinner. So when we
arrived in Pendleton we went to a buffet
that was serving unlimited prime rib as
the special. I bet those boys ate half a
cow! Craig put down 8 steaks!
Our trip to Pendleton included a
stop at Umatilla High School to run a
practice, a prime rib dinner at the buffet
in Pendleton, two trips to pizza (once
taken by Randy Parrow, and again by
our team host), a spaghetti dinner, and
oh yeah, 3 basketball games!
As most of you know we took
4 th place in the state tournament. It was
the best we could finish after losing
a heartbreaker in the opening round
against Regis. I can honestly say that
the only thing I heard from players after
that loss was how they felt so bad about
letting their fans, school, and community
down. We all knew we were the better
team and let one slip away from us.
With that loss, it put us playing
the next morning at 10:45 against a
really quick and athletic Central Linn
team. We had word that there were still
fans on their way to watch us, and that
PTA Press
the Kindergarten kids from Vernonia had
made a sign saying “We Believe.” We
just said, “Hey the fans are not quitting
on us, they will still be here to cheer us
on; we owe it to them to win the rest
of our games.” It would have been real
easy for us to fold,
but the guys really
came
together,
played through the
adversity, and came
away with a 2 point
win over Central
Linn.
The
next
day
(Saturday),
with the Regis
game a little more
behind us, the guys
came out with
lots of focus and
determination, and
pretty much led the
whole game against
Wes t o n - M cEw en
for a 46-37 win for
fourth place.
I can’t even begin to express
how proud I am of our guys and their
efforts in Pendleton. I know as well as
they know, that we let one get away from
us in that first game, but for as easy as it
would have been to dwell on that loss,
the guys overcame it and really played
those last 2 games for their fans! Finally,
on the bus ride home the guys started
to show some excitement, and I think
as a little time has passed and they look
back on it, they realized how much they
accomplished. A 24-5 record doesn’t
just happen. It comes from a lot of hard
work and these guys have definitely
earned it.
From the first day of practice
we set out that our goal was to “Win the
Day” and to look no further than one day
at a time, because if we won each day
we would ultimately reach our goal. This
group of young men really came together
as a team and I know I will cherish the
memories for the rest of my life.
This all being said, we can’t even
begin to thank you all for your support
this season. This season would not have
been the season it was if it wasn’t for
the support of my wife, assistant coach’s
wives, player’s parents, and all the rest
of you Logger fans! All the little things
you guys did from money donations, to
food, the fire department escort in and
out of town, and those that made the trip
over, all helped make this experience so
much more enjoyable.
I also want to extend
congratulations to Austin Cutright
who made 2 nd all-tournament team and
Pavel Jiranek who made 1 st team all-
tournament. Also Craig Weller and Pavel
Jiranek made 3 rd team all-state! We had
our winter sports dessert
award, and in case anyone
was wondering here are
the 12 members of the
team and the awards they
received. Austin Cutright
– Most Valuable Player,
Pavel Jiranek – Most
Inspirational, Craig Weller
– Toughness, Byron Weller
– Best Defender, Austin
Edgar – Shot Blocker,
Jesse Edgar – Most
Improved, Jerrid Johnston
– Passion, Alex Lembke
– Coach’s Award, Josh
Butcher – Sportsmanship,
Finn Hoeck – Personality,
Kendrick Leaverton –
Hustle, and Jake Titus –
Diver.
I know I could keep on writing
about the memories and how thankful
I am to my wife, coaches, fans, and
community and their efforts in making
this a special year, but I am sure it is
something that we will be talking about
for years!
So in closing, thank you fans,
and thank you men for the hard work and
positive attitude you brought each day to
the hardwood. I challenge you to hold
onto that work ethic as the work ethic
you displayed will help you through the
good times and times of adversity you
face in your life.
Extra!! Extra!! Read All About It
By Melissa Zavelas
Rain, Rain, Please go away!
Don’t come again another day.
We would love our sunshine back
Maybe April will cut us some slack.
With so much planning
underway from Easter Eggs to Read-
a-Thons and more, we need the sun
to ensure fun for everyone. Carnival
planning is coming your way, so put on
your sunshine face, and join PTA today.
Your local PTA is working
hard on some great new ideas. We have
so many thoughts, from scholarships,
to fundraising, to recognizing great
students, and most importantly getting
you involved. Our PTA meets once
a month. Please join us at our next
meeting Thursday April 19th at 7:00 PM
in the WGS library. At this meeting we
will also be having open elections for
positions on PTA board.
Some upcoming events include
the “READ-A-THON”, dates TBA.
A student wide competition to design
a poster for our fall carnival, a float to
be designed for the annual “Vernonia
Jamboree,” parade, and lastly, a
committee to be formed to help in
the process of choosing a scholarship
recipient.
We are very excited to announce
the purchase of an Indoor Rock Wall
for the small gym in the new school.
The rock wall was purchased by the
PTA with money earned at various
fundraisers and the “ Jump Rope-a-thon”
that WGS physical education instructor
Mr. Spaulding has been so gracious to
hold for many years now. Thank you Mr.
Spaulding! The wall is approximately 8
x 40 feet. We will be asking for volunteer
help to install this Rock wall into the new
school. We are thinking mid- August and
will provide the date and time as soon as
we know for sure. Here is an image of
what our new rock wall will look like:
If you have any questions regarding PTA
please call President Camrin Erryick at
971-258-9994
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