10
schools
november2
2017
VHS Fall Sports Update
Football – The Vernonia Log-
gers ended a very good season
with two straight losses, but both
games were extremely close and
head coach Reed Watson says he
is proud of his team’s effort and
the growth they’ve shown this
season.
“I am super proud of
them,” said head coach Watson.
“I think they learned some good
lessons. They learned how to
have courage and I think some of
them overcame some fears. I think
the fans know that these kids left
everything on the field this year
and really tried their best.”
The Loggers lost to a very
good Neah-Kah-Nie team 26-20
on October 20 in their final North-
west League game. With second
place and an automatic spot in the
state playoffs on the line, the Log-
gers took an early lead, but gave
up several big plays and could not
hold on for the win.
“In that Neah-Kah-Nie
game, that was probably the most
focused the team has been all year
long,” said Watson. “They really want-
ed to get second place in the league and
qualify for the playoffs.”
In a non-league match up against
Seton Catholic on October 27, and with
a chance to grab an at large berth in the
state playoffs, the Loggers again battled
hard but came up just short, losing 35-
32. With the Loggers driving down the
field and deep in Seton Catholic territory
the game ended on a controversial call
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Above: Jake Patton. Below: #1 Josh Rice
Photos courtesy of Whitley Tolonen
by the referee, and ended the Logger’s
season.
“Both games were competitive
and it felt like we could have won both
of them,” said Watson.
The Loggers finished the season
with a 2-2 league record, a 4-5 record
overall, and ranked #16 in the state but
just on the outside of the 16 team state
playoff bracket.
Watson believes this team
has shown great leadership, atti-
tude, and determination through-
out the season. He pointed to
seniors Gaven Everett, Josh Pat-
ton, and Brandon Johnson who
he said have all helped set a tone
and spirit that the team will car-
ry forward and build on. “The
way those guys play football will
have an effect on the younger
players and stick with them,”
said Watson. “We had tremen-
dous senior leadership this year
and it’s going to be really hard
to fill that gap next year. But we
do have a great group of young
players coming up.”
Sophomore Josh Rice was the
offensive leader for the team, scoring
20 touchdowns while racking up 1,140
yards rushing in nine games, along
with almost 500 yards on kick returns
and almost 400 yards receiving, for a
total of 1,930 total yards on the
season. Watson also mentioned
sophomores Camren Depue,
Brandon Clapshaw, James Wat-
son, Kale Sullivan and quarter-
back Gunnar Harral as a strong
nucleus of young players and key
pieces for the future. “We have a
lot of potential,” said Watson.
Watson mentioned the high
number of participants on the
team as another positive going
forward. “We had 29 players
most of the year and we were
able to play a JV team, which
we haven’t been able to do for a
while,’ said Watson.
“It was a really special year,”
said Watson. “I feel like these
kids really matured and grew a
lot this season. They discovered
what it was like to put a whole
bunch of effort into something
and get back some of the re-
wards.”
season with a 10-1 record in Northwest
League play, a 12-9 record overall, and
ranked #13 in the state.
Following the District play-
offs several Lady Loggers received
All League honors. Sara Ghislanzoni
was named Honorable Mention, Joyce
Everett was named Second Team, and
Morgan Harral and Jordan Walters were
named First Team.
Williams had high praise for ju-
nior setter Joyce Everett, who she said
was a mainstay throughout the season.
“Joyce was consistent in her play,” said
Williams. “She never lets down and is
always vocal and encouraging.”
Volleyball – The Vernonia Lady
Loggers qualified for the seventh
straight year for the first round
of the state playoffs, but fell in the first
round.
After falling to Gaston 3-0 in the
District Championship on October 2, the
Lady Loggers were forced to travel to
5 th seeded St. Paul for the first round of
the state playoffs where they lost 3-0 on
October 28.
Sara Ghislanzoni
Photo courtesy of Garry Kinney
“We worked hard to tighten up
our offense during the week before the
state playoff, and I felt like practice went
well, but we just didn’t execute when we
got there,” said head coach Teresa Wil-
liams. “It’s disappointing.”
The Lady Loggers finished the
Morgan Harral
Photo courtesy of Garry Kinney
Cross Country – Vernonia’s
cross country runners conclud-
ed a very good season at the
two final meets, the Pre-District
Challenge on October 20 and
the District 2 Championship on
October 27.
At the Pre-District Chal-
lenge Jakob Handegard was the
top finisher for the Logger boys,
finishing 13 th with a time of
17:59.0. Justine “Tanzy” Mas-
sengo finished 64 th , followed by
Clay Sullivan who finished 69 th ,
Mekhi Williams in 75 th and By-
ron Cook in 76 th .
“Tanzy has been nursing a calf
strain the last 3 weeks of the sea-
son,” said coach John Roady. “He gave
it his best effort, but wasn’t able to get
back to his best time earlier in the year.”
For the girls, exchange student
Adele Cousseau continued her climb up
the rankings, finishing 15 th in a time of
V ernonia C hristian C hurch
MIKE PIHL
LOGGING CO., INC
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Worship Service
11:00 am
Pastor Sam Hough
410 North St.
Vernonia
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continued on page 11
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fax 503.429.0252
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1984 mist drive, po box 321
vernonia, or 97064