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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2017)
PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 27, 2017 KEIZERTIMES.COM Middle school wrestling back for second year By Derek Wiley Of the Keizertimes Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Cam- eron Parks started wrestling in kindergarten. “I never really liked basket- ball, wanted to do something more physical,” Parks said. But after budget cuts took the sport out of Salem-Keizer middle schools, Parks wasn’t sure what would be available to him once he reached the sixth grade. Thankfully for Parks and 60 other kids at Whiteaker and Claggett Creek, wrestling returned to the middle schools last year and Parks took ad- vantage of the opportunity, even qualifying for the middle school state tournament. In its second season back, after a fi ve-year hiatus, Parks is one of 50 kids at Whiteaker that came out for wrestling in January. Coach Kelly Ha- fer said that is 20 more than last year and includes six girls, like sixth grader Destiny Ro- driguez, who began wrestling when she was just fi ve, has won multiple state champi- onships and the Reno World Championships last April. Please see MIDDLE, Page 11 KEIZERTIMES/Delek Wiley Left: Claggett Cleek wlestlel Blandon Blanco won by pin fall in his fi lst match of the season. Right: Whiteakel wlestlels Eoan Shalabalin and Camelon Palks wolk on moves duling plactice. McNary halfway through league play By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes McNary boys basketball coach Ryan Kirch knew play- ing in the Greater Valley Con- ference would be tough. He just didn’t realize how tough. “By far it’s the best league in the state for a number of rea- sons,” Kirch said. “One, there’s some very good coaching. Two, there’s some very good players. Three, there’s a lot of differ- ent styles. You’ve got a McKay team who runs the ball up and down the fl oor. South Salem can slow it down on you with some really good guard play. Sprague’s got a dominant post player. Forest Grove’s got great coaching. Every game is men- tally draining. It makes it fun but it’s a real challenge to make sure you’ve got to be up and ready to go at all times or any- body can beat you.” The Celtics went 6-2 in their fi rst run through league play with their only losses coming in low scoring contests against West Salem and South Salem. “The tempo was not in our favor,” Kirch said. “We recog- nize that teams might want to slow us down a little bit, which I would want to do the same thing if I was playing us. So we just have to do a better KEIZERTIMES/Delek Wiley Sydney Huntel is avelaging 15 points and 11 lebounds fol the Lady Celts this season. job of being able to execute in the half court and not become rushed. We get a little lost men- tally and out of rhythm because things aren’t coming so easily for us. In that situation, we’ve got to be more mentally tough to get the shot we want.That’s a point of emphasis.” Please see HALF, Page 11 KEIZERTIMES/Delek Wiley Matthew Ismay leads McNaly in points, lebounds and assists as the Celtics ale tied fol the top spot in the Gleatel Valley Confelence midway thlough the season. Celtics drop duals to McKay, North Salem By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes McNary wrestling coach Jason Ebbs was pleased with his junior and senior wrestlers after duals against McKay and North Salem. There just wasn’t enough of them as the Celtics lost to North Salem 38-36 on Friday, Jan. 20, a night after falling to McKay 51-27. “With the guys who un- derstand wrestling, we’re doing our job right now,” Ebbs said. “The guys who are juniors and seniors we’re putting out on the mat are doing good work but they also understand what we’re dealing with. We are ex- tremely freshmen heavy. In an ideal world I have juniors and seniors in my varsity lineup and my freshmen and sopho- mores are watching my juniors and seniors and learning from them. I have four to six fresh- men in my varsity lineup every week.” And with so many under- classmen, Ebbs is not only hav- ing to teach wrestling tech- nique but also the importance of commitment, loyalty and time. “You give all three and great things will happen, for you and the program,” Ebbs said. “We’ve taken it on as a coach- ing staff the idea of we’re in the process of changing the culture on this team.” If a kid misses practice the day before a dual, they aren’t allowed to wrestle in that dual. McNary had to forfeit four weight classes against North Salem and three versus McKay. “We’re teaching these young kids what it means to be com- mitted and loyal to a program at a very young age,” Ebbs said. “We’re having four, fi ve or six forfeits every dual because kids don’t understand their respon- sibilities to the program. Please see DUALS, Page 11 KEIZERTIMES/Elic A. Howald A 106 pounds, McNaly fleshman Noah Gatchet pinned his McKay opponent but it wasn’t enough fol the Celtics to defeat the Royal Scots.
