10
schools
december7
2017
VHS Winter Sports Preview
Wrestling – The Loggers are
the defending District Champi-
ons and look like they have a
very good shot at repeating this
season.
Head Coach Chris
Barnes has a deep line up that is
loaded with experience and tal-
ent, along with a solid group of
up and coming young wrestlers.
Early in the preseason,
Barnes had 25 wrestlers show-
ing up for practice. He ap-
peared thrilled with the large
turnout and what that says about
his growing program, the inter-
est locally in the sport, and the
potential for a really rewarding season
for his competitors and Logger fans.
“It’s exciting because the first
year I coached I think we finished the
District Tournament with just nine kids,”
says Barnes. “Last year we finished with
18. A lot has changes in five years. We
have a girls team now, we won a District
Title, and we have tough wrestlers in al-
most every weight class. We have a kids
club with over 30 wrestlers and a good
middle school program. We’ve received
great support from the community and
local businesses for our fundraising pro-
grams, especially our 24 hour workout
challenge each summer. We have four
individual returning District Champions
and a bunch of other kids that placed at
District. And we have several returning
wrestlers who went to State last year. So,
yes, I’m excited!”
For Barnes, there is really just
one piece missing – more fans. “We
have almost no fan base in this town,
James Watson
which is sad because it’s a good team,”
says Barnes. “As a coach, it’s embar-
rassing for me to look up in the stands
and see that our opponents bring more
fans than we have. We have a lot of kids
in the program and I would like to see
more parents show up, and others from
the community. We’re going to be a fun
team to watch this year. We pin a lot of
our opponents, which is fun for the fans.
These kids work hard and they deserve
to get some recognition.”
Leading the way for the Loggers
will be returning District Champions
Storm Henson, Kailia Jackson, Mekhi
Williams, and Elijah Bozied.
Senior Henson, who had to
withdraw from the State Tournament
last year after suffering a knee injury, is
back and looks to be a favorite to repeat
as District Champion at 160 pounds.
“Storm is a strong team leader and he’s
really starting to ‘flow wrestle,’ where
he’s doing things before he even realizes
it’s happening himself,” says Barnes.
“He’s countering, and moving, and working with him on his technique and
covering really well. I’m excited strategy,” says Barnes. “Nick Bennett is
to see how far he can go this year.” tough and has continued to improve each
Jackson had the distinction year of his career,” says Barnes.
last year of being the first female
Jacob Pasko, who qualified for
wrestler in Vernonia history to win State last year with a second place finish
a District title and go to the state at District, has moved up several weight
tournament. She is back to defend classes and should wrestle at 120 along
her title at 106. “Kailia is a great with Zach Larke. Josh Sholes, who took
team leader and has been helping third at District last year should wrestle
out with coaching our kids club,” at 126. Hepner Forster, a fourth place
says Barnes.
finisher last year at District, should be at
Mekhi Williams will look to 152 and James Watson will most likely
pick up where he left off last year, wrestle at 182. “The exciting thing about
after finishing third at State, and Hepner is that he wants to pin everyone
should wrestle at 132. “Mekhi will he wrestles. It’s just how he thinks and
be a big and strong 132 pounder it happens a lot,” says Barnes. “James
and if he can get a little more strategic, Watson is taller and thinner this year and
he will be tough to beat,” says Barnes. he should be a threat at District.” Ex-
Bozied will most likely wrestle at 132.
change student Murad Yazanedov looks
Other wrestlers
big and very strong and
to watch for this year
will probably wrestle
include Nick Bennett,
at 195. “I’m really ex-
who finished third at
cited about him,” says
District last year, at 170,
Barnes.
and Josh Rice who has
The
Loggers
not settled on a weight
have two home meets
class yet. Both have
this season on Tuesday,
been practicing, along
December 12 at 5:00
with Henson, with leg-
pm and on Tuesday,
endary club coach Roy
January 16 at 5:00 pm.
Pittman in Portland at
They also have tourna-
the Peninsula Wrestling
ments close by at Banks
Club, and have made
on December 13, the
significant improvement
Bill Haggerty Invita-
over the last year. “Josh
tional at Nestucca High
Rice, who finished third
School on December
at District last year, is
16, and the Clatskanie
a very exciting wres-
Holiday Tournament on
tler who is very pow-
December 30.
erful and athletic. I’m
continued on page 11
Clay Sullivan
Shawn Gibson
Broker
Licensed in the state of Oregon
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Grand Opening Celebration
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MORE Realty
Email: shawn@shawngibsonhomes.com
Vernonia Office
Cell/Text: 503-866-7986
736 Bridge Street, Suite 2
Office: 503-353-MORE
Vernonia, OR 97064
V ernonia C hristian
C hurch
•
MIKE PIHL
LOGGING CO., INC
Everyone is welcome in our vibrant & active community!
Sunday
Worship Service
11:00 am
Pastor Sam Hough
410 North St.
Vernonia
• Youth and Adult Sunday School
• Evening Youth Groups
Free Estimates
Specializing in Private Timber
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503-429-1470
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office@VernoniaChristianChurch.org
503-429-6522
cell 503.789.1268
fax 503.429.0252
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vernonia, or 97064