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.”
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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!
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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!
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