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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2015)
East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald 7 MAC-HI/2A WRESTLING Mac-Hi Pioneers Wrestling Mac-Hi Pioneers Boys Basketball Wednesday, December 2, 2015 COACH: Chad Kilburg, 1st year 2014-15 POSTSEASON: The Pioneers won the Greater Oregon League title with six individual champions and quali¿ed 14 wrestlers for the state meet. Mac-Hi placed ¿fth at state led by individual champion Jeffery Jones at 160 pounds. KEY LOSSES: 160 Jeffery Jones*, 182 Jacob Chaney, 220 Jacob Podolski*, 170 Vince Roff*, 138 Gabe McAlester KEY RETURNERS: 106 Zac Crisman, soph.; 138 Riley Chester, jr.; 152 Cole Skramstad, sr.*; 160 Kaden Kilburg, jr.; 160 Alyxander Shaw, sr.*; 195 Justin Carlson, soph.; 195 Joshua Torres, soph.; 220 Spencer Wells, soph.; 285 Gregory Moreno, sr.* *-state placer SEASON OUTLOOK A football injury and a family move added to the Pioneers’ roster losses this season, but the team still returns nine wrestlers that competed at the state meet last year. Kilburg, who was the assistant coach last year, said that even more importantly the team ¿nally has a large senior class that is leading practices and motivating the younger athletes to improve on a daily basis. Added depth at every weight is also helping to prepare wrestlers for what Kilburg expects to be an improved Greater Oregon League. COACHSPEAK On expectations: “Initially kind of what I’d heard through the rumor mill was that we were going to have 40 (wrestlers) come out this season. We only got about 30 kids out, but the ones we’ve got I know are going to stay out. If we had everybody would have come out that I wanted out, we could have been a top three team in the state. I still think we could be a top ¿ve team, but those state quali¿ers from last year really need to step up and be state placers this year.” 2015-16 SCHEDULE Dec. 5 at Estacada Tour. TBD Dec. 11 at La Grande Tour. 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at La Grande Tour. 9 a.m. Dec. 19 vs. Christmas Tour. 11 a.m. Dec. 29 at Pendleton Tour. TBD Dec. 30 at Pendleton Tour. TBD Jan. 1 at Joseph Tournament TBD Jan. 2 at Joseph Tournament TBD Jan. 8 at Nampa Tournament TBD Jan. 9 at Nampa Tournament TBD Jan. 15 at Oregon Classic (Redmond) TBD Jan. 16 at Oregon Classic (Redmond) TBD Jan. 23 at Parma Tour. 5 p.m. Jan. 28 vs. Ontario* 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at Baker* 6 p.m. Feb. 11 vs. La Grande* 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at Districts (Ontario) TBD Feb. 20 at Districts (Ontario) TBD *-league dual Mac-Hi Pioneers Girls Basketball COACH: Brooke Garton, 1st year 2014-15 results: 3-17, 0-6 GOL (4th) POSTSEASON STORY: The Pioneers lost to Ontario 46-21 in the ¿rst round of their league playoffs. Mac-Hi hasn’t Tuali¿ed for the state postseason since 1987. LOSSES: F Amanda Rhoads, G Chelsea Figueroa, G Susana Romero, F Amber Wells RETURNERS: G Samantha Tveidt, sr.*; F Brittney Erb, sr.; F Abigail Biggs, sr.; ; G Jenny Fields, sr.; G Kylee Fite, sr.; F Sydney Richwine, jr.*; G Becca Jones, soph. *-all-league recognition SEASON OUTLOOK The Pioneers will be looking to use above average team speed and accurate outside shooting to work their way back into the state playoff picture. Coach Garton, who came on late last season as the ‘C’ team coach, said she believes the athletes are there, and the biggest challenge will be a tougher mental approach to the game. The team expects a boost from senior point guard Shannon Carter, who didn’t play as a junior, and will have seven seniors with the addition of guard Kitanya Crisman as well. Forward Sydney Richwine is the team’s tallest post player at 5-foot-10, but Garton said what the Pioneers lack in height is being made up in grit. COACHSPEAK On her key to the season and team goals: “I really think the biggest thing for the girls is to come out and play as a team. The girls have been working really hard in practice as coming together as a team and so I think we’re really starting to get a good camaraderie going. … I really think that the girls have come out and worked really hard this season and they have some pretty good goals for themselves. They want to make the playoffs this year.” On team strengths: “We’ve got a lot of girls that can shoot well, and we’ve gt a lot of girls that are quick. Overall we’re a pretty quick group so we’re looking to use our speed this year … and the couple of girls that I have playing post are tough so I think we’ll be able to have a quick game, and rely on our posts as well.” On senior point guard Shannon Carter: “She’ll be an asset for us on defense, and because she’s quick with the ball she’s quick on the drive too, and that should open some opportunities for other players to get open shots as well.” Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 8 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 15 Dec. 16 Dec. 18 Dec. 19 Dec. 22 Dec. 28 Jan. 2 Jan. 5 Jan. 12 Jan. 16 Jan. 19 Jan. 23 Jan. 26 Jan. 30 Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 2015-16 SCHEDULE at Sherman Tour. 3 p.m. at Sherman Tour. TBD at Helix 6 p.m. vs. Mac-Hi Tour. TBD vs. Mac-Hi Tour. TBD at Waitsburg 6 p.m. at Connell TBD at PR Tour. 3 p.m. at PR Tour. Noon vs. Irrigon 6 p.m. at Helix Tour. 10:30 a.m. vs. Riverside 6 p.m. at DeSales 6 p.m. vs. Waitsburg 6 p.m. at Ontario* 3 p.m. at Riverside 6 p.m. vs. Baker* 3 p.m. vs. Weston-Mc 6 p.m. vs. Ontario* 3 p.m. at La Grande* 6 p.m. at Baker* 6 p.m. vs. La Grande* 6 p.m. at GOL Playoff (TBD) TBD *-league game Irrigon Knights Wrestling COACH: Jason Dunten, 7th year 2014-15 POSTSEASON: The Knights were 10th at the 2A/1A Special District 4 meet and did not advance any wrestlers to the state meet for the second year in a row. KEY LOSSES: 195 Alex Zavala KEY RETURNERS: 132 Ammon Byers, jr.; 220 Gabino Ramirez, soph. SEASON OUTLOOK The Knights ¿nished the 2014-15 season with nine wrestlers. They’ll begin this year with 25, and Coach Dunten said that’s already led to a raise in expectations. The team is also looking to bene¿t from the school’s ¿rst playoff appear- ance in football, and increased leadership from the Knights’ upperclassmen and an expanded coaching staff are even more reasons Dunten is thinking a top-two team ¿nish at districts and at least a couple state quali¿ers are reachable goals this season. The largest challenge the Knights face this season is ¿nding smaller wrestlers to ¿ll out the lowest weight classes. COACHSPEAK On the nearly tripled roster size: “It’s going to make it tougher to become a varsity wrestler. They’re actually going to have to earn it this year instead of it being handed to them.” TEAMWORK...WE CAN HELP YOUR PROJECT BECOME A WINNING EFFORT! GO (541) 567-5005 14 SE Campbell Drive, Hermiston • Commercial • Ag • Industrial • Design/Build • Parking Lot Lighting CCB# 146995 On team strengths: “We don’t have a lot of big guys so everyone in our program is basically a guard. So it’s just ¿nding ways to put them in positions to be effective. … We’re not very big but we shoot the ball 2015-16 SCHEDULE Dec. 4 at Sherman Tour. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Sherman Tour. TBD Dec. 8 at Helix 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 vs. Mac-Hi Tour. TBD Dec. 12 vs. Mac-Hi Tour. TBD Dec. 15 at Waitsburg 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Connell TBD Dec. 18 at Pilot Rock Tourney 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Pilot Rock Tourney TBD Dec. 21 at The Dalles 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22 vs. Irrigon 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Helix Tourney 10:30 a.m. Jan. 2 vs. Riverside 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at DeSales 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Waitsburg 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Ontario* 4:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Riverside 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Baker* 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26 vs. Weston-Mc 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Ontario* 4:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at La Grande* 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Baker* 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 vs. La Grande* 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at GOL Playoff (TBD) TBD LOSSES: G Carlos Angel*, P Scott Ziterkopf, G Sterling Sandberg, F/P Alex Alvarez, G Allen Ng, P Daniel Flores RETURNERS: G/F Hunter Yensen, sr.*; G Adrian Zaragoza, sr.*; G Armando Garcia, sr.; F/P Miguel Perez, sr.; G Bailey DeBord, sr.; W Miguel Garcia, jr. *-all-league recognition SEASON OUTLOOK The Pioneers expect better results in Coach Poynor’s second season thanks to a productive offseason that brings back more depth to build around the team’s top two scorers — Yensen and Zaragoza. Poynor said the team will rely on creativity and accurate jump shots to counter what he expects to be a size disadvantage in Greater Oregon League play. The Pioneers play a preseason schedule that pits them against several smaller schools, so Poynor is setting more wins as their ¿rst goal this year. COACHSPEAK On the team’s improved depth: “Last year I felt like we had a pretty big talent gap from our three/four guys to our ¿ve/six guys. Those six/seven/ *-league game Heppner Mustangs Wrestling COACH: Mark Lemmon, 8th year 2014-15 POSTSEASON: Two Mustangs won district titles and earned state berths last season as Heppner placed eighth in the team standings at the 2A/1A Special District 4 meet. Despite taking just two wrestlers, the Mustangs were seventh at the state meet. Ryan Smith won his second title at 106 pounds, and John Propheter was third at 285. experienced guys, and then guys with no experience. It’s going to be a challenge.” On the tough tournament schedule lined up: “It’s a little hard to justify it for some of the younger kids. We go to tough tournaments so some of these guys will get a tough introduction to high school wrestling. But you’ve got to plan for the upperclassmen. You’ve got to compete against the best.” 2015-16 SCHEDULE Dec. 5 at Irrigon Invite 9 a.m. Dec. 11 at La Grande Invite 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at La Grande Invite 9 a.m. Dec. 17 vs. Heppner Duals 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Mac-Hi Invite 11 a.m. Dec. 30 at Pendleton Tourney 9 a.m. Jan. 1 at Joseph Tourney 10 a.m. Jan. 2 at Joseph Tourney 9 a.m. Jan. 8 at Riverside Tourney 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at Riverside Tourney 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at Ore. Classic (Redmond) TBD Jan. 16 at Ore. Classic (Redmond) TBD Jan. 22 at Grant Union Invite 10 a.m. Jan. 25 at Pendleton Invite 4:30 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. BEO Invitational 10 a.m. Feb. 6 at Pine Eagles Invite 10 a.m. Feb. 13 at Districts (Grant Union) 10 a.m. LOSSES: 285 John Propheter* RETURNERS: 113 Ryan Smith, sr.*; 152 Will Lutcher, sr.; 195 Cord Flynn, jr. *-state placer SEASON OUTLOOK The Mustangs will have very little time to prepare for the season after another deep football playoff run. With just about a dozen athletes expected to make up the ¿nal roster, the Mustangs will also have to get creative at prac- tice to make sure everybody is getting challenged at appropriate levels. That’s going to be tough with a mix of very experienced upperclassmen and very inexperienced freshmen making up the roster. Steady improvement will be the goal for the younger wrestlers, but state medals are the end game in mind for the juniors and seniors. COACHSPEAK 2n the dif¿culty of building a balanced roster at a small school: “That’s always the challenge, especially when you don’t have many guys. And then getting some that are close enough in weight class that they can compete — I don’t know who we’re going to have to wrestle Cord (Flynn). It’s going to be an interesting year. We’ll have really WAY TO GO MAC-HI! Do Your Best Mac-Hi! (541) 938-3331 725 S. Main Street Milton-Freewater, OR Go Pioneers! 613 N. Main Street Milton Freewater, OR 541-938-5162 www.saagershoeshop.com Proud of Our Athletes! Youth is our Future! Elmer’s Irrigation, Inc. “The Best Little Irrigation Company in the Northwest” 80527 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston • 541-567-5572 B ULLDOGS! General Contracting & Electrical Contracting Pump Stations & Excavation eight guys, I’m going to be expecting a lot more out of them this season.” On team goals: “Since we only get six league games we’re looking to establish an identity and treat our 14 preseason games as another season. We’re just looking to find ourselves and find an identity that we can thrive on.” COACH: Jordon Poynor, 2nd year 2014-15 results: 4-17, 1-5 GOL (3rd) POSTSEASON STORY: The Pioneers defeated Ontario in the league playoffs 61-50, but then fell short of a state playoff berth with a 60-43 loss to Baker. The Pioneers haven’t Tuali¿ed for the state playoffs since 1995. GOOD LUCK HERMISTON BULLDOGS! W HEN E VERY D ROP C OUNTS Irrigation Specialists has served the Oregon and Washington markets since 1970 - over 40 years of quality service and support. We are a full service irrigation dealership. Whether you are a farmer, landscaper, irrigation district or homeowner we have the right products and services for you. www.irrspec.com 541-567-6370 • 81156 N. Hwy 395 • Hermiston, OR
