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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2015)
S PORTS www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Saturday, February 28, 2015 A7 Hard work pays off for Nordic standouts Teacup Nordic standouts Nils Engbersen and Sam Wiley were on the road last weekend for a Junior National qualifier race in Spokane. Both skiers placed high enough to represent the Pacific Northwest at next month’s Junior Nationals race at Donner Pass, Calif. Engbersen placed fourth in the U18 classic race and sixth in the skate race, while Wiley, who is in his first year of college in Bozeman, Mont., placed third in classic and fourth in skate to qualify in the U20 division. The two will be joined by Daniel Fischer, who qualified in the U18 class earlier in the season. This has been a challenging season for the racers. Due to lack of snow, the team has had to significantly modify its training and competi- tion schedule, making extra trips to Bend and training on a short loop generously created by Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort on the Sunrise parking lot. With the recent warm and sunny weather the team has resumed some of its fall training routines like rollerskiing, running and strength training. HRV Nordic teammates Valerie Fischer, Con- nor Traux, Jesse Wiley and Leif Bergstrom ac- companied the two to the Spokane qualifier. Fischer finished ninth in both skate and clas- sic; Truax (in his first year skiing) was 12th in classic and 17th in skate; Wiley was fourth in SAM WILEY and NILS ENGBERSEN skate and second in classic and Bergstrom (an- other first-year Teacup racer) is showing great potential placing seventh in classic and 11th in skate in the U18 class. The skiers will all represent Hood River Val- ley High School this weekend at the high school state race Feb. 27-28 in Bend. HRV defeats TD, claims second in CRC News staff writer For seniors Dan Kuech- mann, Austin Clarke, Scottie Ziegner, Kam Walker, Bran- don Campos, Kaydin Gibbs and Colin Tegman, it turns out Tuesday’s senior night matchup against The Dalles won’t be their final home game in the Eagle uniform. In a thrilling and pivotal end to the regular season, the Hood River Valley varsi- ty boys basketball team de- feated The Dalles – for the third time this year – 82-76 to end its Columbia River Con- ference schedule with a 5-4 record. That same night, Hermiston lost to Pendleton (45-38), which bumped the 4-5 Bulldogs to the conference’s No. 3 slot and the Eagles to No. 2, thus giving them a home play-in game for the upcoming OSAA 5A state championships. The boys are scheduled to host Northwest Oregon Conference’s No. 5 team, Parkrose, at 7 p.m. March 3. “It was a very satisfying victory,” Coach Steve Note- boom said of Tuesday’s game. “Our goal since the be- ginning of the year was to be able to get at least third place in our league. After we de- feated Pendleton in the league opener, we revised that goal to get first or sec- ond. It has been an exciting season and satisfying to watch the boys play with lots of energy and enthusiasm.” Seniors led the way on se- nior night, with Ziegner posting a team-high 15 points, along with six re- bounds, three steals and an assist. Gibbs added 15 points and five boards, and junior guard Dallas Buckley had 12 points and four steals to round out the team’s top three. Fueled by their in-your- face brand of basketball, the Eagles broke out to an early lead against their closest ri- vals to the east. After leading by as many as 18 points, how- ever, the Eagles had a lapse in focus and intensity in the third, while The Dalles found the inside lanes for easy buckets and converted ten of ten from the free-throw line that nixed HRV’s earlier lead. A 25-point fourth quarter for the Eagles sealed the vic- tory, and the team’s first playoff appearance in many years. “We are very excited to host a playoff game and are urging the community to come out and watch an excit- ing style of high school bas- ketball,” Noteboom added. T he Ea gles hosted Ridgeview Friday (7 p.m.) in a non-lea gue matchup against the Intermountain Conference’s No. 3 team. In Tuesday’s play-in game HRV is scheduled to host No. 20 ranked Parkrose, which fin- ished with a 9-6 record in the Northwest Oregon Confer- ence. Photos courtesy Rutger Bogard, HRV Eagle Army SENIORS (clockwise from top) Scottie Ziegner, Kam Walker, Dan Kuechmann, Austin Clarke and Colin Tegman were pivotal in Tuesday’s win against The Dalles. These five, along with seniors Caydin Gibbs and Brandon Cam- pos, will have one more home game on March 3. SPORTS BRIEFS New Hood River News sports contact Hood River News staff reporter and sports editor Adam Lapierre has taken another job in the commu- nity and will no longer be at the News. As of this weekend, please send all sports-related information to staff writer Ben Mitchell at ben- mitchell@hoodrivernews.c om or by calling 541-386- 1234. Middle school track coaches needed Hood River County Community Education is seeking volunteer coaches and helpers to run the spring middle school track season, which runs March 30 through May 19. Throw- ing and jumping coaches are in particular need, as is a data-entry person to manage results on the Athletic.net system. Miminum commitment is just two hours a week for the eight-week season. For info or to volunteer con- tact Community Educa- tion at 541-386-2055. Hawks host 7 p.m. playoff game Friday Horizon Christian School boys basketball team hosts Triangle Lake on Friday (Feb. 27) at 7 p.m. in an OSAA 1A play- off game. Fresh off a thrilling Big Sky Confer- ence championship win, the Hawks are gunning for a return trip to the state finals in Baker City. Jones wins Puerto Rico Tri USA Triathlon reports that Hood River native and elite triathlete Erin Jones (HRVHS class of 2009) earned the top spot on the podium earlier this month at the 2015 Punta Guilarte CAMTRI Triathlon Ameri- can Cup in Puerto Rico. It was the first career ITU win for Jones, who finished the 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilome- ter bike, 10-kilometer run course in 2:09:56. Jones and competitors Taylor Spivey and Melissa Rios comprised the lead group out of the water, and along with Julie Stupp (Austin, Texas) worked to separate themselves from the rest of the field. Once the leaders hit the second transi- tion, Jones sprinted ahead for the fastest run split of the day, nearly two minutes faster than any other com- petitor. Jones is currently living and training the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with the goal of qualifying for the 2016 sum- mer Olympic Games in Brazil. ERIN JONES CSRT standouts shine at modified Four-Way race The annual Mount Hood Four-Way took place at Timberline Resort last weekend, but due to lack of snow the event was actually a two-way. The cross country and jumping elements of the unique contest had to be cancelled due to low snow, but slalom and giant slalom races went off without a hitch. Cooper Spur Race Team brought home bragging rights on both days. The U14 girls claimed four of the top ten spots in slalom, with Josie Perter- son finishing third, Annika Howell sixth, Reed Bauer eighth and Katherine Kaimaktchiev 10th. In the giant slalom, U14 Francese Melby finished second, while Josh Nardone brought home first in the SL and second in the GS for the U14 boys. Nardone also earned the cov- eted Ski Meister trophy for his perfor- mance. CSRT’s U10 girls also earned podium finishes, with Sutton Bell Lefevre in first and Elena Kaimak- tchiev in third. In the slalom event, Kaimaktchiev claimed first. For the U10 boys, Tyler Howell brough home second place, Payton Wells was third and Soren Ulrich finished ninth. By JEFF OLSON Voyles rolls 299 Team of the Week Chris Voyles, +131 (785) Cory Van Sickle, +124 (724) Michael Ross, +111 (711) Jeff Chenier, +99 (753) Lynn Spellman, +96 (753) Eagles host home playoff game March 3 By ADAM LAPIERRE Kegler’s Corner Submitted photo COOPER SPUR RACE TEAM members posted several podium finishes at the recent Four-Way race held at Timberline. Included in the list of winners were Payton Wells (top, left), Tyler Howell (top, right) and Soren Ulrich (front, right). Time marches on. It seems like we just got this bowl- ing season started at Hood River’s Orchard Lanes, and here we are, with March looming just around the corner and a couple of our leagues are already drawing to a close. The regular season for the popu- lar Tuesday Nite Mixed league is done. The second round winners were Double A Orchards, Aaron Asai, Nina Kruckenberg, Nancy Asai and Gordon Sim. This league pits the first and second place teams in each round in their champi- onship roll off, which will be held on March 3. The first round winners were Take Ten, Dawnell Espersen, Slats Jeffries, Carl Casey, Sandy Holmes and Chris Bosse. The second place teams in the rounds that are in the roll off are the legendary Team Nishi and Got Sand quartets. We will definitely have fireworks for this roll off ! The Thursday afternoon County league also finished its regular sea- son schedule last week, with The Dudes winning the second round. Bowling for The Dudes are Matt Monbouquette, Patrick Hughes and Jeremy Ziegler. They will meet the first round winners, The Incredi- bowls in their championship roll off next week. Bowling for The Incredi- bowls are Rod Pratt, Ryan Pratt and Angie Welch. The Wednesday night Fraternal league has another round to go, but it did finish its second round last week and the perennial powerhouse Cardinal Glass emerged with the big win. Bowling for Cardinal Glass is Jeremy Bloom, Bryan Mason, Bran- don Kawachi and Mike Parke, four of the biggest names around in Hood River Bowling. The highlight of league action last week came in the Monday night Industrial session, where lanky youngster Chris Voyles mauled the maples to near perfection in his third game. When Chris hits the sticks, they usually explode off the deck because his power game involves big-time speed and revs. And, that’s how it went in his third game for his first 11 straight tosses, all ten pins crushed to smithereens. Then on that all important 12th and last ball, Chris packed the pocket just like you’re supposed to do but the bowler’s nemesis, the nasty, stub- born 10-pin stood up in defiance. So, Chris settled for a 299 game and he finished up with a nice 704 se- ries that was 131 pins over his aver- age. That was still a mighty fine per- formance, and it makes him the No. 1 bowler in town last week. This is the second time he’s made the fab five this season. Newcomer Cory Van Sickle sure had things his way in the fun Thurs- day County league, where he fash- ioned a beautiful scratch 222 game and finished his outing 124 pins over his average to grab the second spot on the Team of the Week. This is the first time Cory has made the big five, so it’s a really special day for him. Nice going Cory, it’s not easy to make this team; these numbers prove that you definitely have a rosy future in this great game! Michael Ross also had a great out- ing in the Thursday Lads & Lassies league, where he rolled a nice scratch 187 game and finished up 111 pins over his average. Michael has been diligently making the trip from The Dalles every week for many years now to bowl league and this is also his first appearance on the team of the week! Our final duo on the team of the week are local luminaries in the game, Jeff Chenier and Lynn Spell- man. Both are accomplished mem- bers of the upper echelon in Hood River bowling. Jeff gets Team of the Week honors for the second time this season after rolling a huge scratch 279 game and 657 series in the Monday night Industrial league, which was 99 pins over his average. The master carpenter has been a star in this great game since he was in junior bowling. Lynn takes the anchor spot on the classy crew after notching a scratch 696 set in the fast paced Wednesday night Fraternal league which was 96 pins over his average. This is the fourth time the steady right hander has made the team of the week this season. Great bowling everybody!
