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.