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
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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