B2
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Rodeo: ‘We are excited that our sponsors are on board’
Continued from Page B1
history and always found a
way to come back better,”
Miller said.
Miller said the EOLS
committee has been work-
ing closely with community
partners to share ideas and
create a plan that incorpo-
rates health and safety guide-
lines while promoting the
stock show experience people
enjoy.
“Every aspect of this
year’s plan has been devel-
oped with the safety and
well-being of our volun-
teers, fans and contestants in
mind,” Miller said.
Gregory Payan/Associated Press, File
Stipe Miocic, top, presses his elbow into the throat of Fran-
cis Ngannou during a heavyweight championship mixed
martial arts bout at UFC 220 in Boston on Jan. 21, 2018.
Continued from Page B1
Elgin Stampede set to
resume in 2021
ELGIN — Union Coun-
ty’s second-oldest active
rodeo is set to ride again.
The Elgin Stampede,
second only to the Eastern
Oregon Livestock Show’s
rodeo in terms of longevity
in Union County, will oper-
ate July 7-10, according to Ty
Hallgarth, president of the
Stampede. The COVID-19
pandemic led to cancellation
of the event in 2020.
Hallgarth said Elgin
Stampede representatives
consulted with the county’s
public health arm, the Center
for Human Development,
La Grande, plus other health
organizations in the commu-
nity before deciding to go
forward with the rodeo. He
Dawgs:
Continued from Page B1
Also chipping in top-fi ve
team times have been seniors
Ellie Ernst and Julianna
Joyce, and freshmen Megan
Joyce, Madeline Franke and
Hailey Melville.
“The crazy thing is, these
girls would be top five on
almost every team,” Black-
burn said. “We are deep —
it’s great.”
Blackburn said Sanchez,
thought to be the future of
the heavyweight division
before Miocic embarrassed
him. The Cameroonian chal-
lenger then appeared to be in
serious trouble when he lost
a lifeless decision to Derrick
Lewis six months later,
but Ngannou responded
with four consecutive fi rst-
round knockout victories to
jump back to the top of the
contenders list.
Ngannou’s memory of
his loss to Miocic fueled his
comeback.
“I hate to watch that
fi ght, because I don’t recog-
nize myself,” Ngannou said.
“That guy looked like me,
but I don’t recognize that
style. I made a lot of mistakes
leading up to that fight. I
wasn’t there myself. I didn’t
even have the emotion in that
fi ght. I don’t know how I had
that lack of emotion. But this
time, things will be diff erent.
I’ve had enough time with
my team, and everything is
going to be right.”
The heavyweights are the
main event in what might
be the UFC’s fi nal pay-per-
view show held in a mostly
empty gym on its corporate
campus.
The promotion hits the
road again next month to
fi ght in arenas where state
and local governments will
allow full-capacity crowds
amid the coronavirus
pandemic, which has caused
dozens of UFC fi ght cancel-
lations and alterations over
the past 10 months, includ-
ing several fights on this
card.
UFC:
the extraordinary athletes
dotting the UFC heavy-
weight roster.
Although they’ve met
before, this matchup with the
34-year-old Ngannou (15-3)
is a refreshing change for
Miocic, who hasn’t fought
anybody except Daniel
Cormier in three years.
Miocic won two of three and
reclaimed his belt from his
most daunting foe.
Miocic went i nto
that trilogy after easily
controlling all fi ve rounds
in 2018 against Ngannou,
the up-and-coming chal-
lenger widely expected to
take Miocic’s crown. The
heavyweights have watched
each other since then, and
Miocic has no doubt Ngan-
nou earned another shot.
“He’s gotten way better,”
Miocic said. “He’s got great
coaches and teammates. He’s
evolved, you can tell. I defi -
nitely know he’s prepared.
He has great coaches. He’s
got the hunger and he’s got
the drive. I can see that. I’m
here to extinguish it again.”
With a win, Miocic
would have the most heavy-
weight title fi ght victories in
UFC history.
But Ngannou has demon-
strated his own tenacity over
the past 2 1/2 years, reviv-
ing a career that collapsed
almost as quickly as it rose.
Ngannou was unbeaten
in UFC competition and
Ronald Bond/La Grande Observer, File
Jory Markiss rides July 6, 2017, during the Elgin Stampede. The coronavirus pandemic led to
the cancellation of the annual rodeo in 2020, but it is set to return July 7-10, 2021.
said the support local resi-
dents have expressed for the
Elgin Stampede is encourag-
ing.
“Everyone in the commu-
nity is coming on board,”
Hallgarth said.
The rodeo is making
changes to meet state social
distancing standards, Hall-
garth said, but those stan-
dards are a moving target.
He noted that the COVID-
19 infection rates in Union
County dictate the guide-
lines, making it diffi cult to
address questions in advance,
such as how many spectators
can be in the stands.
This will be the 74th Elgin
Stampede. Hallgarth said he
believes the rodeo has run
every year over the past seven
decades except in 2020.
Hallgarth noted other
rodeos in the region are set to
go on before the Elgin Stam-
pede, including the High
Desert Stampede on Friday,
March 26, in Redmond and
the Eastern Oregon Livestock
Show in Union, June 10-13.
He said he will be watching
how these and other rodeos
are run.
“We may get ideas from
each of them,” he said, on
how to operate a rodeo during
a pandemic.
The stock contractors and
venders the Elgin Stampede
has had in past years have
expressed strong interest in
again participating in the
rodeo, Hallgarth said, and
past sponsors are indicating
they will be supporting the
event.
“We are excited that our
sponsors are on board,” he
said.
who was one of the Bulldogs’
top two runners entering the
season, is scheduled to run
this weekend.
“She has been hurt and is
still hurt,” he said. “It’s noth-
ing horrible, just a nagging
injury with her IT band. It’s
tight and uncomfortable to
run. It will be nice to have
her back.”
The MCC Championships
will not be broken down into
3A and 4A divisions, as it
has been in the past. All nine
teams will be going after one
trophy.
Blackburn admits Rich-
land is the favorite going
into the race. The Bomb-
ers fi nished the season 8-0,
while Hermiston was 7-1, and
Hanford and Kennewick tied
for third at 5-3.
“Richland is a top four
team in 4A,” he said. “We
can’t quite keep up with them.
This is the strongest team
I have had since I’ve been
here (seven years). I think
this team could compete with
any team Hermiston has ever
had.”
Kamiakin is the favorite
in the boys race. The Braves
finished the season 8-0,
followed by Chiawana (7-1),
Hanford (6-2) and Southridge
(5-3).
Hermiston junior Logan
Springstead has been a
fixture in the top five of
conference races this spring,
followed by junior Grant
Anderson.
Junior Isaac Teeple, who
won the 2019 3A state title,
and led Kamiakin to its third
consecutive team title, leads
the Braves’ strong contingent,
along with Grayson Wilcott.
PREP STANDINGS
Through games played March 25
PREP FOOTBALL
5A Special District 1
Team
League Overall
Pendleton
3-0
3-0
Hood River Valley
2-1
2-1
The Dalles
1-0
1-1
Redmond
1-1
2-1
Ridgeview
1-2
1-2
LaSalle Prep
0-1
2-1
Parkrose
0-1
0-3
Putnam
0-2
1-2
Mid-Columbia Conference
Team
League Overall
Chiawana
5-0
5-0
Kennewick
5-0
5-0
Kamiakin
4-1
4-1
Richland
3-2
3-2
Walla Walla
2-2
2-2
Hermiston
1-3
1-3
Pasco
0-4
1-4
Hanford
0-4
1-4
Southridge
0-4
0-5
2A Blue Mountain Conference
Team
League Overall
Heppner
3-0
3-0
Weston-McEwen
2-0
3-0
Umatilla
2-2
2-2
Stanfi eld
1-2
1-2
Irrigon
0-1
0-2
Riverside
0-1
0-1
Grant Union
0-2
1-2
1A Special District 2
Team
League Overall
Dufur
3-0
3-0
Wallowa
2-0
2-0
Powder Valley
1-0
3-0
Enterprise
1-1
1-1
Imbler
1-1
1-1
Pilot Rock
1-2
1-2
Elgin
0-0
0-1
Union
0-1
0-1
Cove
0-2
0-2
Ione/Arlington
0-2
0-2
Crane
0-3
0-3
1A Special District 4 (6-man)
Team
League Overall
South Wasco County
3-0
3-0
Joseph
2-0
3-0
Dayville/Monument
1-0
1-2
Sherman/Condon
1-1
2-1
Mitchell/Spray/Wheeler 1-1
1-1
Harper Charter
0-1
0-1
Prairie City
0-2
0-3
Echo
0-3
0-3
PREP VOLLEYBALL
5A Intermountain Conference
Team
League Overall
Crook County
4-0
7-1
Ridgeview
4-1
6-3
Pendleton
4-2
3-3
Hood River Valley
3-2
3-4
Redmond
1-6
2-8
The Dalles
0-5
0-6
3A Eastern Oregon League
Team
League Overall
Burns
3-0
9-1
Vale
1-3
3-6
Irrigon
0-0
5-4
Umatilla
0-1
1-4
Nyssa
0-2
3-5
Riverside
0-2
1-6
2A Blue Mountain Conference
Team
League Overall
Heppner
4-0
5-1
Grant Union
3-1
4-3
Union
2-0
8-1
Weston McEwen
1-1
6-2
Stanfi eld
1-3
1-6
Enterprise
0-1
2-4
Pilot Rock
0-2
4-4
1A Big Sky League
Team
League Overall
Condon
5-1
5-1
Echo
5-1
5-1
Dufur
3-0
5-0
South Wasco County
3-1
3-5
Ione/Arlington
3-3
3-3
Sherman
3-3
3-3
Lyle/Wishram
2-1
2-1
Trout Lake
1-3
1-4
Mitchell/Spray
1-4
1-5
Glenwood/Klickitat
Bickleton
0-4
0-5
0-4
0-5
1A Old Oregon League
Team
League Overall
Imbler
3-0
3-2
Powder Valley
1-0
7-0
Nixyaawii
1-0
5-3
Wallowa
1-1
5-2
Cove
1-2
2-4
Joseph
0-0
1-4
Griswold
0-0
1-6
Elgin
0-1
0-1
Pine Eagle
0-2
0-5
We’ll make your first month’s lease payment on a Highlander.
NEW 2021 HIGHLANDER XLE
5A Intermountain Conference
Team
League Overall
Redmond
1-0-1
4-1-1
The Dalles/Dufur
2-0-0
4-2-0
Hood River Valley
0-0-1
1-4-2
Ridgeview
0-1-1
0-5-1
Crook County
0-1-0
0-2-0
Pendleton
0-2-0
0-6-0
SATURDAY, MARCH 27
Prep football
Weston-McEwen at Heppner, 7 p.m.
Prep volleyball
Ridgeview at Pendleton, 11 a.m.
Hermiston at Pendleton, 3 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
La Grande at Hermiston, noon
McLoughlin at Riverside, 1 p.m.
Umatilla at Stanfi eld/Echo, 1 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
McLoughlin at Riverside, 3 p.m.
Prep cross-country
Walla Walla, Southridge, Richland, Han-
ford, Kennewick, Kamiakin, Chiawana,
Pasco at Hermiston, 3 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 29
Prep volleyball
Stanfi eld at Echo, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 30
Prep volleyball
Pendleton at Crook County, 6:30 p.m.
Echo at Ione/Arlington, 5 p.m.
Griswold at Riverside, 5 p.m.
Umatilla at Nixyaawii, 4 p.m.
Pilot Rock at McLoughlin, 5 p.m.
Irrigon at Stanfi eld, 5 p.m.
Heppner at Weston-McEwen, 4 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
Riverside at Baker/Powder Valley, 5 p.m.
Irrigon at Umatilla, 4 p.m.
Pendleton at Hood River Valley, 4:30 p.m.
PER MONTH
THEREAFTER
5A Intermountain Conference
Team
League Overall
Hood River Valley
3-0-0
3-2-0
Ridgeview
2-1-0
4-3-0
The Dalles/Dufur
2-2-0
3-3-0
Pendleton
1-1-0
1-2-0
Redmond
0-2-0
1-5-0
Crook County
0-2-0
0-5-0
NEW 2021 CAMRY LE AWD
0
$
FIRST MONTH
PAYMENT
308 35
$
PER MONTH
THEREAFTER
$ 2,958 DUE AT
SIGNING, PLUS
TAXES AND FEES
MONTHS
McLoughlin at Weston-McEwen, 7 p.m.
Stanfi eld at Riverside, 7 p.m.
Umatilla at Grant Union, 6 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Union, 7 p.m.
Ione/Arlington at Imbler, 2 p.m.
Echo at Prairie City, 2 p.m.
Prep cross-county
McLoughlin at La Grande, TBD
THURSDAY, APRIL 1
SATURDAY, APRIL 3
Prep volleyball
Ione/Arlington at Condon, 5 p.m.
Griswold at McLoughlin JV, 5 p.m.
Riverside at Nixyaawii, 5 p.m.
Umatilla at Pilot Rock, 6:30 p.m.
Heppner at Grant Union, 5 p.m.
Weston-McEwen at Stanfi eld, 4 p.m.
Prep football
Heppner vs. Toledo at Redmond, 1 p.m.
Prep football
Putnam at Pendleton, 7 p.m.
MONTHS
Lease a Camry AWD and the first month’s payment is on us.
3A/2A/1A Special District 6
Team
League Overall
Nyssa
1-0-0
2-3-0
Riverside
0-0-0
2-2-1
Umatilla
0-0-0
2-2-0
Irrigon
0-0-0
0-5-0
Four Rivers
0-1-0
0-4-1
Prep volleyball
Pendleton at The Dalles, 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 2
AFTER $500
BONUS CASH
PREP BOYS SOCCER
Prep boys soccer
La Grande at McLoughlin, 4 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
Ridgeview at Pendleton, 4:30 p.m.
Riverside at Irrigon, 6 p.m.
Umatilla at McLoughlin, 6 p.m.
$ 2,999 DUE AT
SIGNING, PLUS
TAXES AND FEES
3A/2A/1A Special District 6
Team
League Overall
Riverside
2-0-0
5-1-0
Nyssa
1-0-0
3-1-0
Umatilla
0-1-0
1-2-1
Stanfi eld/Echo
0-1-0
0-3-1
Four Rivers
0-2-0
0-5-0
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31
Prep girls soccer
Pendleton at Ridgeview, 4:30 p.m.
Umatilla at McLoughlin, 4 p.m.
FIRST MONTH
PAYMENT
359 35
$
ON THE SLATE
Prep girls soccer
Hood River Valley at Pendleton, 6 p.m.
Stanfi eld/Echo at McLoughin, 4 p.m.
0
$
PREP GIRLS SOCCER
Prep volleyball
Hood River Valley at Pendleton, 11 a.m.
Mitchell/Spray at Echo, 1 p.m.
Umatilla at Griswold, 1 p.m.
McLoughlin at Nixyaawii, 11 a.m.
Riverside at Irrigon, 1 p.m.
Weston-McEwen at Heppner, 4 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
Crook County at Pendleton, noon
Stanfi eld/Echo at Riverside, 1 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
Pendleton at Crook County, noon
Women’s college soccer
Blue Mountain at Walla Walla, noon
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