A8
THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, AuguST 24, 2019
CONTACT US
FOLLOW US
Gary Henley | Sports Reporter
ghenley@dailyastorian.com
Banks’ Gobel
named Athlete
of the Year
The Astorian
Blake Gobel, who graduated
in June from Banks High School,
has been selected as the 2019
recipient of the Johnny Carpen-
ter 4A/3A/2A/1A Prep Athlete of
the Year award.
The honor, announced last
month,
rec-
ognizes
the
most outstand-
ing male ath-
lete across the
Oregon Schools
Activities Asso-
ciation’s
4A,
Blake Gobel
3A, 2A and 1A
classifications.
Gobel was an integral part of
the most successful boys sports
season in Banks’ history. A three-
sport athlete, he led the Braves to
4A state championships in foot-
ball, boys basketball and base-
ball, with wins over Seaside in
the football and basketball state
title games.
It was the first time since
North Valley in 1984-85 that a
school has won state champi-
onships in all three sports in the
same school year.
The 6-7, 230-pound Gobel
played tight end and defensive
end in football. He caught six
passes for 88 yards and a touch-
down and finished with six tack-
les and one sack in Banks’ 31-20
victory over the Gulls in the
championship.
He earned 4A and Cow-
apa League first team honors
as a tight end after finishing the
season with 47 receptions for
689 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defensively, Gobel recorded 33
total tackles (11 for lost yardage),
4.5 sacks and one interception.
Gobel will continue his foot-
ball career as a defensive end at
Eastern Washington University
this fall.
On the hardwood, Gobel
was named the 4A and Cowapa
League Player of the Year after
leading the Braves to a 27-3 over-
all record and their first-ever state
title. He averaged 14.6 points,
8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per
game, and tallied 24 points and
13 boards in Banks’ come-from-
behind win over Seaside in the
state championship.
In the spring, Gobel played
pitcher and first base for Banks,
which earned the No. 1 overall
seed in the 4A state playoffs, and
finished league play with a 12-0
record en route to a state title.
He hit over .300 and served as
both a starter and reliever on the
mound, posting a sub-2.00 ERA.
Gobel is the first boys ath-
lete from Banks to receive a Prep
Athlete of the Year honor, which
has been awarded annually since
1966.
Baylee Touey of North
Valley was selected as the
4A/3A/2A/1A Prep Girls Athlete
of the Year.
Businesses should
beware of company
soliciting advertising
The Astorian
Astoria High School is send-
ing out a warning to local busi-
nesses, about a company from
Texas trying to solicit advertis-
ing dollars for sports schedule
posters.
“Sports Media, from San
Antonio, Texas is falsely rep-
resenting themselves as solici-
tors for the Astoria High athletic
department,” Astoria athletic
director Howard Rub said in a
news release. “This company is
falsely trying to solicit advertis-
ing dollars from our local busi-
nesses for sport schedule posters.
“Please do not purchase an
advertisement from this com-
pany … always contact the Asto-
ria High athletic department
directly at 503-325-3911, ext.
317, or email hrub@astoria.K12.
or.us, with regard to advertising
and donations supporting Astoria
High School athletic programs.”
The Astoria High athletic
department does not contract
with outside agencies for the pur-
poses of fundraising, Rub said.
facebook.com/
DailyAstorianSports
Ducks freshman Thibodeaux
should get plenty of playing time
By ANNE M. PETERSON
Associated Press
E
UGENE — Most college freshmen
struggle with things like laundry.
Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux is
not your typical freshman.
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound defensive
end enrolled early so he could get a
jumpstart on his college career. He said
the biggest adjustment came with the
realization that no one was going to cod-
dle him.
“There’s no one to get on you,” Thibo-
deaux said. “There’s a lot more self-dis-
cipline here, which for me wasn’t that
hard because I’m more of a self-disci-
plined person, but that was a challenge
that I faced.”
So, a bit more esoteric than laundry
and scheduling classes.
“I’ve always been told I’m ahead of
my years as far as my maturity so I guess
you could say it’s been different for me
than most freshmen, but I feel like it’s
been pretty easy,” he said.
No. 11 Oregon landed the five-star
recruit from Westlake Village, Califor-
nia, on the first day of the early signing
period, beating out Alabama along with
a host of other interested schools. Thibo-
deaux was ESPN’s top overall prospect
and easily the highest-ranked signee in
Oregon’s history.
He is among several promising pros-
pects in coach Mario Cristobal’s 2019
recruiting class, considered to be in
the top 10 nationally. Eleven of those
recruits, including Thibodeaux, enrolled
in school early.
“I’ve said this a few times, and I really
mean it, the most impressive part about
Kayvon is not the five stars that sit beside
his name, it’s his five-star attitude and
work ethic,” Cristobal said.
Known for his agility and athleticism,
even at his size, Thibodeaux was impres-
sive in spring drills. He’s been battling
Gus Cumberlander for the starting nod
during fall camp.
The Ducks open the season against
No. 16 Auburn on Aug. 31 at AT&T Sta-
dium in Texas.
Thibodeaux is brimming with confi-
dence, proclaiming that his aim is to get
10 sacks a season. The Pac-12 leader last
year was Utah’s Bradlee Anae with eight.
Thibodeaux said his mentality is “no
AP Photo/Anne M. Peterson
Kayvon Thibodeaux speaks to reporters at media day in Eugene.
UP NEXT: DUCKS
• No. 11 Oregon Ducks (0-0)
at No. 16 Auburn Tigers (0-0)
• August 31, 4:30 p.m. TV: ABC
excuses.”
“Even though you guys, I’m answer-
ing questions (but) I’m not gonna go
watch the video. I’m not gonna go watch
the videos or listen to what’s being said
or what’s going on,” he said. “It’s just
about focusing on what we have to do to
get better, what I have to do personally,
what we as a team have to work on.”
Among the other newcomers who
stood out in preseason camp was
receiver Mycah Pittman, but he injured
his shoulder during a scrimmage and is
not expected to be back for six to eight
weeks. Pittman was pushing for a start-
ing role before he was hurt.
Cornerback Mykael Wright should
also see ample playing time, as should
stud end Mase Funa. An intriguing pros-
pect is tight end Patrick Herbert, who is
senior quarterback Justin Herbert’s little
brother.
“I could go on and on about guys like
Mase Funa, Mycah Pittman, Mykael
Wright, Kayvon. It goes on and on and
on, (running back) Sean Dollars,” Cris-
tobal said. “All these guys, they’re really
talented guys, and we expect these guys
to be contributors, and we expect them
to contribute quickly. They’ve played at
high levels. They’ve had extraordinary
coaching at the high school level.”
Thibodeaux said the freshman class is
ready to show what it can do.
“I can’t really speak for anybody else
but I know that Coach Cristobal pushes
us. And even for the guys that might not
play, he’s pushing us like we’re gonna
play,” he said. “So regardless of how it
turns out on Aug. 31, everybody’s work-
ing hard and getting ready for football.”
Quiet Seahawks hoping to make noise in NFC West
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEATTLE — There is an unusual
and notable lack of noise surround-
ing the Seattle Seahawks.
The loud personalities of the past
are gone. There are no contract dis-
putes. The general buzz around the
franchise is at a murmur. There are
no outlandish Super Bowl expec-
tations, but there remains a belief
Seattle is a good team that should be
in the NFC playoff conversation.
After years when Seattle was
among the loudest teams in the
NFL, it’s a stark change.
“We had so many names that
people were paying attention to that
were doing so many different things
that it’s just kind of different now.
... I think a little bit of that, too, is
I think the league is sleeping on our
team,” Seattle linebacker Bobby
Wagner said. “They kind of did it
last year, but we had lost so many
players there was no expectation.
This year kind of has that same vibe,
but we know what we’ve got in our
locker room and know how good
our team can be.”
Last season was supposed to
be the transition year in a remodel.
Instead, the Seahawks found a for-
mula that worked with a revitalized
run game, an efficient Russell Wil-
son, and a defense that while taking
a step back from the past was still
good enough for Seattle to win 10
games and earn a wild-card berth.
Seattle should be able to pick up
where it left off, but might not be
ready to challenge the Rams in the
NFC West. The Seahawks’ offense
could be dynamic with a run game
led by Chris Carson and an expe-
rienced, veteran offensive line, but
will need to find a replacement for
the loss of go-to wide receiver Doug
Baldwin. Seattle has one of the best
linebacker groups in the NFL led
by Wagner, but has major questions
UP NEXT: SEAHAWKS
• Seattle Seahawks (1-1) at
Los Angeles Chargers (0-2)
• Tonight, 7 p.m. TV: NFLN
AP Photo/Jim Mone
Russell Wilson watches from the bench during the second half of the
preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
about the pass rush and whether vet-
eran Ezekiel Ansah — coming off
shoulder surgery — can be the dis-
ruptive answer.
The Seahawks seem to be equal
parts potential and questions going
into the 10th season with Pete Car-
roll in charge.
“I’m hoping we can be a very
complete team,” Carroll said. “In
years past, we’ve been able to be
good at a lot of areas and it’s hard to
find a way to get at us.”
Here’s what else to watch for the
upcoming season:
Locked up
The Seahawks avoided a major
distraction by locking up Wilson to
the richest contract in league history
in April. With his long-term future
set, Wilson can focus on building
off one of his most efficient seasons.
With Seattle producing the best run
game in the NFL, Wilson set career
highs in touchdown passes (35) and
passer rating (110.9) while match-
ing his career low with seven inter-
ceptions. Wilson threw for only 215
yards per game, but that number
was similar to the two seasons when
he helped lead Seattle to NFC titles.
Wilson’s task will be finding
a new No. 1 wide receiver. Tyler
Lockett is coming off a career year,
but Baldwin often drew coverage,
leaving Lockett open. Look for
rookie DK Metcalf to be another
favored target, but minor knee sur-
gery during training camp could
slow his start.
In the middle
Wagner also got a contract exten-
sion at the start of training camp that
keeps the four-time All-Pro as the
center of Seattle’s defense going
forward. Wagner will team with
K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks
to form what could be the best line-
backer trio of Carroll’s tenure. There
is depth as well with capable backup
Austin Calitro and promising rookie
Cody Barton. The three starters will
be asked to make plenty of plays
with questions elsewhere on the
defensive side.
Causing chaos
Seattle lost its primary pass
rusher when Frank Clark was traded
to Kansas City, sending away 13
sacks to acquire more draft picks.
The Seahawks will also be with-
out Jarran Reed and his 10 ½ sacks
for the first six games due to sus-
pension. If healthy, Ansah can be
part of the answer. He’s two years
removed from having 12 sacks in
14 games, and Seattle needs that
kind of production. The Seahawks
would be helped if youngsters Jacob
Martin, Quinton Jefferson or vet-
eran Cassius Marsh could provide a
boost. Pass rush will be key to take
pressure off a secondary that was
exposed at times last season.
Rock solid
For a rare change, the offensive
line is not a concern. Seattle returns
four of five starters, with veteran
Mike Iupati stepping in for J.R.
Sweezy as the one change among
the starting five. Left tackle Duane
Brown continues to play extremely
well going into his 12th season.
Germain Ifedi has matured at right
tackle and is entering a contract sea-
son. And right guard D.J. Fluker is a
massive run-blocking star if healthy.
Back loaded
If Seattle can handle a midsea-
son stretch of challenging tests it
could benefit from playing three of
its final five games at home, includ-
ing the final two weeks against divi-
sion foes San Francisco and Ari-
zona. But the Seahawks face a tough
stretch from Weeks 5 thru 10 with
road games at Cleveland, Atlanta
and San Francisco to go with home
games against the Rams, Baltimore
and Tampa Bay.