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PAGE 12, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 9, 2015 KEIZERTIMES.COM The Real Deal Swift timeline planned for football coach replacement By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes McNary High School of- fi cials are wasting little time in their search for a replacement for Isaac Parker, the current head coach of the Celtic foot- ball program. Parker is leaving his coach- ing and teaching positions on Jan. 26 to take a job as an of- fensive coach and recruiter for Lewis & Clark College. Principal Erik Jesperson and Athletic Director Ron Richards said they would be opening the position this week with the expectation of assessing the pool of applicants within the next two to three weeks. “It’s a bit tricky because Isaac was also a math teacher and it’s a priority for me to have a coach who will be in the building,” said Jesperson. “The best applicant for the job may not be a math teacher.” If all goes according to plan, Richards hoped interviewing could begin late this month or in early February. “We’re looking for the best football coach we can fi nd. I would like a coach with dem- onstrated success in leading a program as head coach or as a coordinator,” Richards said. “Our vision for all of our coaches is that they have four ideals as their cornerstones: support academics, develop character, provide leadership opportunities, and to compete at the highest level. Our new coach must support this mis- sion.” Parker said he’s offered to assist in the search but he’s leaving it to the discretion of Jesperson and Richards. After arriving to the pro- gram with a long-term vi- sion three years ago, Parker is leaving with it only partially completed. However, Jesper- son said Parker’s vision was “spot-on.” “Isaac is a glue guy when it comes to bringing people together. From organizing events like Blue Day to devel- oping relationships with the feeder schools, Isaac has a way of bringing people into the tent. Continuing that will be a priority for any new coach, but we will also be looking for what the candidates can bring to our program,” Jesperson said. Both Jesperson and Rich- ards agreed that fi lling Parker’s shoes goes beyond the grid- iron. “Isaac is a great leader. He has created relationships across all boundaries and, specifi cally, with his players as witnessed by the feelings he has for his players and that the players have for him,” Richards said. Mat men shine in winter break tournaments KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald McNary’s Harry Cavell puts up a shot in the Celtics’ game with South Salem High School Tuesday, Jan. 6. A 67-60 win for McNary puts it alone in fi rst place in the Greater Valley Conference and at No. 5 in statewide OSAA rankings. Barn-burner with Saxons puts Celts at top of GVC By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Ryan Kirch, head coach of the Mc- Nary High School boys varsity basketball team, expected the winner of a game with the South Salem High School Saxons to be the last team with the ball. He was right, and for the Celtics, it meant claiming the top spot in the Great- er Valley Conference with a 67-60 win Tuesday, Jan.6. To be completely fair, McNary had some help. The Saxons handed over the ball fi ve times on offensive fouls in the fi - nal 1:20 of the game and Celts Tregg Pe- terson, Harry Cavell and Trent Van Cleave combined to hit 9 of 10 from the foul line. “We want to show them that we can play and compete and that they’re not running away with the title,” said Mc- Nary’s Cole Thomas prior to the game. While the Celts get to bask in the glory of the win, if any Celt players have night- mares this week, they will surely come in the form of 5-foot-7 Saxon point guard Jacob Ramos. Ramos hit four consecu- tive three-pointers at the top of the night to keep McNary from running away on an early 12-6 lead. He also lifted South over McNary with three points (a bucket and a free throw) in the last seconds of the fi rst frame. The teams started the second quarter with South up 23-20. The Celts leapt back into the driver’s seat on buckets by Dunagan and Peterson and didn’t relinquish it again the rest of said Celt Mathew Ismay. the night. However, South didn’t throw in “We weren’t ready and we weren’t the towel until the fi nal minute. knocking down shots early,” he said. “We McNary managed to extend its lead to also need to get more consistent with our seven points midway through the second free throws.” period and doubled it, 50-36, by the end Lebanon outscored the Celtics 12-1 of the third period. in the fi rst frame. The Keizer team took With about three minutes left in the the game back in the second quarter and game, South had managed to stop the went into halftime up 22-19, but the bleeding and cinch up the gap to 54-50. Warriors’ 22-point fourth period sealed Peterson put in consecutive two-pointers, McNary’s fate. but South answered “Our attitude and both times – fi rst with effort wasn’t where it a two and then with a needed to be, but the trey. The teams were boys responded and got at 58-55 when the up the next morning Saxon frustrations be- and gutted out a tough gan getting the better game with Seattle Acad- of them. emy,” Kirch said. — Celt Cole Thomas The Celts were McNary beat Seattle ranked fi fth in the Academy 58-50 with ju- state at press time, but nior Harry Cavell lead- the team was still working out some kinks ing the offensive effort, pouring in 23 over the winter break when a tough loss points. made for a good lesson. Devon Dunagan had 16 points in the The Celts were on a fi ve-game win win; Tregg Peterson had 14 points; Ismay streak after the fi rst game in a Summit had three and Trent Van Cleave put in High School tournament the weekend two. after Christmas. McNary had already tak- The Celtics returned home for a game en down Bend High School 66-49 the with Oregon City Friday, Jan. 2, and fi rst night of the tournament and play- battled to a 64-50 win in a game where ers had their thoughts on playing for the the outcome wasn’t certain until the fi nal championship, said Kirch. minutes. Lebanon High School’s squad had oth- McNary had a 20-11 lead after the fi rst er plans. The Warriors doled out a 59-54 period, but the Pioneers started the sec- Please see REAL, Page 13 loss to McNary. Things started out rough, “They’re not running away with the title.” By ERIC A. HOWALD the Ruppel 2nd Man Tour- Of the Keizertimes nament in Cupertino, Calif. The McNary High School The Celts had six wrestlers wrestling teams spent their in championship matches and winter break getting better. fi ve crowned. “Typically we come out of “I can’t tell you the last the winter break as a stronger time that happened,” said team, and I think that’s go- Jason Ebbs, McNary head ing to mean more wins all- coach. “We had three major around,” said Taran Purkey, a goals going to the California senior. tournaments this For evidence, year: getting rid look no further of the baggage than the records of rankings, see- from a trio of win- ing new faces and ter break tourna- fi nding out what ments. other programs are The Celtic teaching. On top of streak started with a that, we got some tournament at Lib- medals and plac- erty High School ings.” in which senior Al- To u r n a m e n t varro Venegas won champs at Ruppel the 195-pound were: Jordan Cagle A. Venegas division with a by pin in 44 sec- second-round pin onds at 145 pounds; over Tualatin’s Hunter Lucas in Phelan Alvarado. an 8-4 decision at Purkey took 152 pounds; Jesse second in the same Gomez in second- tournament with round pin at 160 a fi nal round loss pounds; Ryan Ed- to Sandy High sall in a 10-2 deci- School’s Spencer sion at 170 pounds; Barnett. and Gage Mance “Barnett was with a second- just a tank and I round pin at 182 T. Purkey couldn’t get past pounds. him,” Purkey said. Eli Mance made Senior Riley it all the way to Repp made it all the championship the way to the third fi ght before getting place match before pinned in the sec- falling to Sandy’s ond round by An- Hector Ramirez niruoh Ankola of in a 7-4 decision; Terra Nova High Carlos Vincent also School. made it to the third Other top plac- place match where ers for the Celt- he lost in a major ics were Jonathon B. Ebbs decision; Brayden Collins and Wil- Ebbs took fi fth liam Smith who place with 13-2 major deci- each took third place. sion; Michael Phelps lost a Also in Cupertino, the var- 5-2 decision in a fi fth place sity team wrestlers took part match-up; and Gage Mance in the Blanchini Varsity Tour- lost a fi fth place match to nament. Brayden Ebbs, Taran Braden Watson of Sandy High Purkey and Alvarro Venegas School. won their respective divisions. The McNary junior varsity “I felt like we had more wrestlers also made waves at Please see WRESTLE, Page 14