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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 2012)
schools december11 16 2012 VHS Winter Sports Preview Boys Basketball-After a trip to Pendel- ton and a fourth place finish at the State Tournament last season, Logger head coach David Weller knows this year is going to be a little different. Not that he doesn’t believe this year’s team can’t ac- complish a lot. “There is talent here, we just have to get them all on the same page,” says Weller about this year’s squad. Last season Weller and assistant coach Matt Blair guided the team to a 25-4 record overall. He has lost a lot of leadership and skill from that squad and is looking at how to rebuild what really was a special group of players. The Loggers opened the 2012- 13 campaign with losses to Portland Adventist and Oregon Episcopal before winning their league opener against Portland Christian 54-43. Weller has five foreign exchange students on the varsity roster this year and has had to deal with some language and coaching barriers. “We have found ourselves having to show them what we want them to do instead of just telling them,” says Weller. “When we get past having to teach and can start coaching them on how to be better players, I think we will start to see some real improve- ment.” Returning this year in the front court is senior Austin Cutright, last year’s team MVP. Cutright was named Second Team All-League and had a huge post season, being named Second Team All-Tournament at Pendelton. At 6-4 Cutright is a handful for any defense in the paint and will be the Loggers go to guy when they need points. Senior Jesse Edgar, at 6-4, is the other returning front court piece to this year’s team. Edgar was the sixth man last year and provided key relief off the bench for the Loggers. This year, Edgar will have to step up and play a more sig- nificant role as a starter for Weller. The back court is the big ques- tion this year. Foreign exchange student Ezio Rusticali seems to have earned the starting point guard position. Senior Kendrick Leaverton, a key backup in last year’s run to Pendelton, looks to be the other starting guard. Jake Titus also a senior, may also see some time off the bench. Two other exchange students should play some role on this team. Ste- fan Scheer at 6-5 and Ruben Fabers at 6-4 give Weller some addition height to work with. The Northwest League looks like it could be wide open this year. If the team comes together and starts to understand Weller’s system the Loggers should be right in the thick of the race and have a chance to make some noise in the post season again this year. “I feel like we have the pieces we need to be a Pendleton team,” says Weller. “I know we are going to struggle early on but I think the reward at the end will be worth it.” sity squads this season, a testament to the youth program in the community. “Twenty-six made the teams and there were many others that I hope will go to camp and work to improve their games,” says Whiteman. Whiteman has a core group of seniors with significant varsity experi- ence. It is a mature team that accord- ing to Whiteman, have paid their dues. “This is their chance to shine,” says Whiteman. “We’re not going to be get- ting ready for next year, we’re going to try to win every game. This season is about them.” Senior guards Samantha Lindau- er and Samanatha Wallace will be back- court starters. Foreign exchange student Maina Martin is also expected to start in the backcourt and could be the wildcard on this year’s squad. “All three of them can handle the ball,” says Whiteman. Senior Cierra Henson will team with ju- nior Stephanie Castro in the front court. “They have both really worked on their game over the summer and we need to take advantage of what they have to offer inside,” says Whiteman. Senior Rowan Cheney will also see some playing time in the front court. Whiteman looks to have a deep bench with sophomores Julie Fletcher and Meghan Sullivan playing impres- Girls Basketball-Head coach Steve Whiteman is back at the helm for the Lady Loggers after a one year hiatus. Whiteman is excited to be back and ex- cited about this year’s squad. Whiteman had forty-three girls try out for the varsity and junior var- Schools Update g WiFi n i vid et & o r P tern In SL aga s D COMPUTER & INTERNET SERVICES ral jeff@agalis.net Now that we have settled in to our new schools I had hoped that things would settle down in our office as well. However, there seems to never be an end to new ideas and projects. Here is a sampling of some of the things that are happening: • Mr. Miller recently received an additional $10,500 to go toward the greenhouse that we just received the building permit to install on district property just north of the covered play area. This will be a 30’ by 48’ structure used as part of the Native Plant Nursery that we will be sponsoring for the Bureau of Land Management. They will grow native plants that will be used in stream restoration projects throughout our local region. • Our Forestry class has had some practical real world experience as they have cleared the grove of trees where the greenhouse will go. They have not only cut and limbed the tress, Wrestling-New head coach Chris Barnes has inherited a successful pro- gram that he helped build over the last few years. Last year as an assistant coach, Barnes helped the Loggers win their second District Championship in three years. This season looks to be a re- building year for the Loggers but Barnes thinks things are shaping up better than anticipated and expects the team to be very tough. “I think people are going to be pleased,” says Barnes. “I know I’m pleased so far.” Barnes has a good turn out this year with twenty-two wrestlers out for the squad. At the season opening Harris- burg Tournament the Loggers were in fifteenth place out of sixteen teams be- fore the start of the consolation rounds, but battled back to move all the way up to seventh place by the end of the tourna- ment. “We showed a lot of heart,” says continued on page 20 but have had instruction on sizing and measuring the lumber in them as well as how to use a cable, pulley and a pickup to move them around. • The demolition of the old building is moving at a slow and steady pace with the wood from the logger dome being ground and shipped out this past week. The current schedule is for WGS to come down in early January. • The school board is looking into the feasibility of re-using the green building. We have checked on the seismic upgrades that would be necessary and are going to get an accurate estimate of what it would take to move the building. Because of this possibility it will not be disassembled until March. As you can see there is still a lot going on in our schools. Don’t forget to come to one of our Christmas Programs on December 13 th for the VMS/VHS Concert and the Mist Program and on the 18 th for the Vernonia Elementary School Program. Thank you for your continued support of our schools. Path Health Ser ces vi Na tu 503.429.TECH By Dr. Ken Cox sively early in the season. Senior guards Dezi Roberts and Riplee Burch are also in the mix for court time. The Northwest League looks to be wide open this year and Whiteman expects the Lady Loggers to be in the hunt for a playoff spot this season. Dr. Carol McIntyre Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 786 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR, 97064 Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace Phone (503) 429.2617 Kitchen Countertops Fax (503) 429.0941 Fireplace & Furniture ABSOLUTE@AGALIS.NET Tubs & Vanities www.absolutemarbleandgraniteinc.net