FEBRUARY 15, 2003 SMOKE SIGNALS
Willamina Bulldogs Bi
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Watch And Learn My Son - Willamina Wrestling
Coach Ariah Fasana, a two time state champion for the
Bulldogs during his high school career and an NCAA All
American for Portland State University, watches from the
sidelines with his son, Justin, 3, and Assistant Coach Barry
Wilson.
Relentless Bulldog Senior Jake Harper, 150 pounds, works on pinning his opponent
from Corbett.
Willamina Wrestlers Have Their Work Cut Out For Them
Solid team has good balance throughout.
Style Points Willamina Junior Joel Warnicke, 160
pounds, is shown just seconds away from pinning his
opponent from Corbett.
By Ron Karten
Wrestling season started early in December for
the Bulldogs of Willamina, and the team's fourth
place finish among eight in the first tournament
held at Banks indicated the challenge still ahead
for this young team.
"Last year was the first time in five years that
we haven't been in the top four," said Coach
Ariah Fasana. That team had only three seniors,
so with five this year, Fasana sees the team do
ing "a tad better," for a team that is still pretty
young.
Tribal member Lee Wilson, who wrestles at 119
pounds, started the season at the 8-team Banks
tournament with three solid wins and no losses.
Tribal member Brett Leno, also weighs in under
119 pounds. Leno wrestled up to the 125-pound
class, at Banks and suffered at the higher weight
class. He turned in a 1-2 performance.
The team competed in many meets over the
season, including the Alsea Bay Classic in
Waldport, which fielded 16 teams, and the Or
egon Wrestling Classic in Redmond, featuring
16 2A squads, 32 3A squads, 32 4A squads, col
leges and pee-wee wrestling, too.
"We won a few small tournaments," said
Fasana, "and we've been among the top four at
all of the tournaments. That's a pretty good in
dication of where we stand at the state level."
Willamina, a 1A squad in the 14-school Dis
trict 1, wrestles against 3A squads like Banks
and 4A squads like St. Helens and Dallas dur
ing the season, and early in February, the team
had a 14-4 record.
Districts were set for February 14 and 15 in
Lady Hoopsters: Bulldogs Have To Beat The 4th Quarter Blues
Willamina Girls enter last games of the season against
top teams Amity and Santiam Christian.
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By Ron Karten
With four games left in the season as Smoke
Signals went to press, the Lady Bulldogs were
precariously tied for second place in the West
Valley League with tough games coming up
against Nestucca and the Delphians. Lose ei
ther one of them and they're back in third. At
times like this, it may be best to remember that
these are the same athletes that started out the
season with a 9-1 record.
In the last two games of the season, the Bull
dogs face Amity on February 18 and Santiam
Christian on the 20, two of the toughest teams
in the league. And then it's on to the playoffs
set for the end of February 25, 27 and 29
the first at Willamina and the last two at Cen
tral High in Independence.
"Overall," said coach Ron Caligure, "they're
doing great."
"Caitlin Zimbrick is consistently scoring in
double figures," he said, "and getting the re
bounds. She is playing head and shoulders
above everybody
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creann wuson,
Caitlyn Chewning,
Jessica White
they have been real
consistent for us."
And surprises for
the coach this year
0jTS? included Britney
Wilson, Megan Zimbrick, Crislyn Chewning and
Shalise Holsclaw. "When they're in the game,"
he said, "they're fundamentally sound."
"When the season started, I thought that we'd
probably play a little tougher against Santiam
Christian and Amity," said Caligure. "I thought
we'd be right in there. We played well for the
half, maybe three quarters, then, I don't know,
we kind of tired. That fourth quarter got to us."
But hope springs eternal. "We're definitely
going to be in the league playoffs," he said. "You
never know what can happen there."
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Team Sport The Willamina Lady Bulldogs Basketball Team is in 2nd place in their league with an eye on getting
into the post season. At press time, the team was heading into the most important games of the season against
Amity and Santiam Christian.
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