9A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017
KNAPPA WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
The Daily Astorian
Paris Vanderburg has her eyes on a big senior season
for the Knappa girls basketball team.
Basketball season
‘going to be fun’
for Knappa girls
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
The Daily Astorian
Junior Timber Engblom and the Knappa Loggers will drive towards a league championship this season.
Knappa boys know how to win
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
KNAPPA BOYS BASKETBALL
T
hey’ve had success on the baseball
diamond (state champions) and the
football field (semifinals) … now it’s
time for the Knappa boys basketball pro-
gram to get in on the trophy action.
With a roster stocked full of talent —
including three all-league returners — the
Loggers should find themselves among the
final eight in Pendleton this season, after
coming up one win short of the state tour-
nament in 2016-17.
“We have a lot of guys who have been
through the battle,” said Knappa coach
Chris Spencer. “We’ve got key contribu-
tors in multiple sports, so hopefully we can
have some carry-over from football, into
basketball season. That winning tradition is
something you can’t teach.”
THE NWL
Expect a lot of 30, 40 and 50-point vic-
tories for Knappa in league this year. Other
than Columbia Christian, there won’t be
much competition for the top two teams.
That’s why Knappa is loading up on
big teams in the preseason (Astoria, Regis,
Western Mennonite).
Spencer said, “Columbia Christian will
be the favorite in our league, then us and
Vernonia fighting for the next spot,” Spen-
cer said.
“Vernonia has Clay Sullivan, a Player
of the Year candidate; he’s going to score a
lot of points. Columbia Christian has a 6-6
freshman, Ben Gregg, who’s already on the
Coach: Chris Spencer, 5th year
2016-17: 18-9 (14-4 league)
State Playoffs: Lost first-round game at Im-
bler, 51-49
All-league loss: Jason Miller
All-league returners: Timber Engblom, Jr.;
Dale Takalo, Sr.; Colton Weirup, Sr.
recruiting radar. They also have a 6-6 trans-
fer from Jefferson, another 6-8 freshman,
and they bring back three key players. They
could start four guys over 6-5.”
That’s how the private schools
“rebuild,” Spencer said. “Us country folk,
we take the guys we get, work with them,
and play hard-nosed basketball.”
THE LOGGERS
“We lost some blue-collar guys,” Spen-
cer said. “Jason Miller did a little bit of
everything; Ethan Rubus, Mitch Geis-
ler and Mike Goodman were unsung,
high-character leaders. We’ll miss their
leadership, and we’ll need some guys to
step up in that area.”
Don’t despair Logger fans, There’s
plenty of talent returning, such as seniors
Dale Takalo and Colton Weirup, the best
1-2 punch in the NWL.
“You’re never going to take No. 5 out
of the lineup,” Spencer said of Takalo.
“He’s the first one in the gym, and the
last one to leave. He’s so versatile he can
play point guard, center … it doesn’t mat-
ter. He started as a freshman, every game
as a sophomore and a junior, first team all-
league the last two years, a 20-point-a-night
guy … he’s the type of player who can put
us over the top and make a run for a league
championship. He’s basically everything of
what we do.”
Weirup is “a man on a mission; he’s
been ready to go since Day 1. He could set
the tone for us.”
Knappa’s third returning all-leaguer is
junior Timber Engblom, who “came on the
second half of last season. He’s a junior and
will play much more of an increased role.
“He will be one of the primary ball
handlers, and good at getting to the hoop;
he’s a two-way player, locking guys up on
defense and pushing the tempo on offense.”
Then there’s senior Kaleb Miller (the
Loggers are allowed one transfer), who
came from Pleasant Hill two years ago and
played a pretty important role in Knappa’s
successful football season.
Other seniors are Reece Hunt (“pro-
vides depth and scoring on the block, and
toughness inside”); and Braedon Eltagonde
(“real athletic, another versatile player who
can play in different areas”).
Other players expected to see action:
junior Ty Vanderburg (“could be a break-
out player this year. Kind of a Dale Takalo
clone, some of the inside-outside abil-
ity”); and sophomores Kanai Phillip, Joe
Ramvick and Eli Takalo, all potential
all-leaguers.
Spencer will be assisted by Paul Isom,
Tim Miller and Jed Miethe.
Prediction: The No. 1 seed out of the
Northwest League, and a Final Four run for
the Loggers.
The Knappa girls basket-
ball team lost their two all-
leaguers to graduation, but
— as they always do — the
Lady Loggers are reloading,
and ready to make another
strong run in the Northwest
League.
Coach Marie Green
always takes the positive
approach: “We have a good,
solid group of returners com-
ing back, and everyone —
even the sophomores from
last year — can step into that
leadership role. It’s going to
be fun.”
The loss of Kaitlyn
Landwehr and Devin Van-
dergriff to graduation will be
felt, but, life goes on, Green
said.
“You can’t replace; you
can only hope to find people
who have that drive, compas-
sion and coachability,” she
said.
THE NWL
“Gaston is going to be
good,” Green said. “They
still have Charity (Hall), and
they only graduated one last
year. They’ll be tough when
we start league.
“Faith Bible will be
good, because they still have
the Fajer sisters (Katie and
Sarah). They’re both fantas-
tic players.
“If anyone were to run
away with it, it would be
Faith Bible, just because
Eddie (Kirkpatrick) runs a
tight ship, and the two sisters
can score 50 points combined
if they had to.”
THE LADY
LOGGERS
As for her own team,
Green is confident that her
KNAPPA GIRLS
BASKETBALL
Coach: Marie Green, 4th year
2016-17: 9-13 (8-8 league)
Playoffs: Defeated Gaston,
lost to City Christian in league
playoffs.
All-league losses: Kaitlyn
Landwehr, Devin Vandergriff
returners — plus another
strong incoming class of
freshmen — can make up
for the loss of Landwehr and
Vandergriff.
Senior Paris Vanderburg is
ready to be the focus player,
Green said.
“Her shooting selection
and confidence at practice
has been fantastic. She really
wants to make her last year
special. And I know she’s
going to do well.”
Green will carry 10 play-
ers on the varsity, with
seniors including Vander-
burg, Ressa Inman, Mack
Strain and Emma Taggert.
The junior class returns
Laicee Hendrickson and
Kourtney Tischer; and soph-
omores with varsity experi-
ence include Sophia Carlson,
Aiko Miller and Madelynn
Weaver.
Knappa has eight sopho-
mores and six freshmen ready
to add depth, including Syd-
ney Phillips, a 6-0 sophomore
transfer from Warrenton.
“We also have a 6-1 fresh-
man, so we’re finally getting
some height,” Green said.
“Sophia Carlson grew two
inches from last year. Made-
lynn, Sophie and Aiko make
us strong at the guard posi-
tion. Right now, we’re split
with five guards and five
posts.”
Green will be assisted by
Tracie Brockey and Amanda
Isom.
New-look wrestling team at Knappa
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
Filling all the weight
classes may be difficult, but
the Knappa wrestling team has
some individuals who could
score some quality points this
year, as the Loggers enter a
new season.
And with a new season
comes a new look, says long-
time coach Dan Owings.
“We have a lot new wres-
tlers on the team this year,
but we should hold our own
against our league opponents,”
Owings said. “We have a new
team in our district,” as Ken-
nedy as joined the conference.
“Seems like every team has
two or three good wrestlers.”
The Loggers still have
wrestlers with state experience,
and of course the never-ending
line of Goozees will continue,
with one (Andrew) moving on,
another (Luke) returning, and a
third (Isaac) coming in.
Luke Goozee will compete
at either 132 or 138 pounds,
while Isaac, a freshman, will
start his prep career at either
182 or 195.
Another returner for the
Loggers is David Patterson,
one of just two seniors on the
preseason roster. Patterson will
wrestle at 285, in his quest for a
return to state.
Go Loggers!
Knappa Offi ce
(503) 458-6671
42894 Old Hwy. 30
Knappa, OR 97103
Rainier Offi ce
(503) 556-0410
29191 Dike Road
Rainier, OR 97048
www.teevinbros.com • CCB #133907
THE WRESTLERS
(With projected weights, and
the expectations from Owings):
Jade Somoza, Fr. (106/113)
“Scrapper, looking for good
things from her this season.”
Robert Pina, So. (113/120)
“Injured last year, but back
looking strong this year.”
Micah Sapp, So. (126/132)
“Second year of wrestling;
learning.”
Damien Ford, Fr. (126/132)
“Learning, should do OK.”
Luke Goozee, Jr. (132/138)
“One of my core wrestlers;
should be state material this
season.”
Shadia
Somoza,
Fr.
(132/138) “Twin sister of Jade;
in a tough weight for compet-
ing with boys, but will do OK
otherwise.”
Sunny Bay, Jr. (138/145)
“First year wrestling; strong,
quick.”
Spencer
Fulton,
Sr.
(145/152) “One of my core
wrestlers, but is sched-
uled for surgery on knee in
mid-December.”
Taya Holiday, Jr. (145/152)
“New to team, willing to learn.”
Kaleb Roe, So. (170/182)
“Second year on team; came
on strong late last year. Works
hard.”
Isaac Goozee, Fr. (182/195)
“Luke’s little brother; is strong
and I look for great things
Go
!
s
r
e
g
g
Lo
The Daily Astorian
The Knappa Loggers are pinning big hopes on Luke Goo-
zee, top, this season.
from him.”
Cristian Rodriguez, So.
(220/285) “New on team;
learning.”
David Patterson, Sr. (285)
“Core wrestler; fired up this
year. Should be state material,
but in a tough weight.”
Good
Luck
Loggers!
We Deliver!
3693 LIEF ERIKSON DR. | ASTORIA
(503) 458-6886
42929 Old Hwy 30 • Astoria
(JUST EAST OF SAFEWAY)
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