SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
H IGH
SCHOOL SPORTS PARTICIPATION NATIONWIDE TOPS
The number of participants
in high school sports increased
for the 26th consecutive year in
2014-15, topping the 7.8 mil-
lion mark for the first time,
according to the annual High
School Athletics Participation
Survey conducted by the
National Federation of State
High School Associations
(NFHS).
Based on figures from the 51
NFHS member state high
school associations, which
includes the District of
Columbia, the number of par-
ticipants in high school sports
reached an all-time high of
7,807,047, an increase of
11,389 from the previous year.
While boys participation
dipped 8,682 from the previous
year,
girls
participation
increased for the 26th consecu-
tive year with an additional
20,071 participants and set an
all-time high of 3,287,735. The
boys participation total of
4,519,312 is No. 2 all-time
behind the 2013-14 total of
4,527,994.
Six of the top 10 girls sports
registered increases in partici-
pation this past year, led by
competitive spirit squads
(5,170 additional participants)
and cross country (3,495).
While track and field remained
the No. 1 sport for girls with
478,726 participants, volleyball
(432,176) moved ahead of bas-
ketball (429,504) to secure the
No. 2 spot. Ten years ago, bas-
ketball was No. 1 for girls, fol-
lowed by track and field, and
volleyball.
Among the top 10 boys
sports, soccer registered the
largest gain with an additional
15,150 participants, while
wrestling (11,306) and 11-play-
er football (9,617) had the
largest declines in participa-
tion. Besides soccer, other top
10 boys sports that had increas-
es in the number of participants
were baseball (3,938) and bas-
ketball (425).
“Overall, we are pleased
with this year’s participation
report indicating an increase for
the 26th consecutive year,” said
Bob Gardner, NFHS executive
director. “And while football
participation dropped this past
year, the decrease is not that
significant when you consider
more than 1.1 million boys and
girls are involved in the sport at
the high school level.
“Despite other out-of-school
opportunities that exist in some
sports, this year’s survey is yet
another confirmation that our
model of education-based
sports within the high school
setting is the No. 1 choice for
boys and girls nationwide. We
applaud the more than 19,000
high schools across the country
for continuing to provide these
important programs despite the
funding challenges that exist in
some areas.”
Eleven-player
football
remains the runaway leader in
boys
participants
with
1,083,617, followed by outdoor
track and field (578,632), bas-
ketball (541,479), baseball
(486,567)
and
soccer
(432,569). The remainder of
the top 10 is wrestling
(258,208), cross country
(250,981), tennis (157,240),
golf (148,823) and swim-
ming/diving (137,087).
After outdoor track and field,
volleyball and basketball, the
remainder of the top 10 girls
sports are soccer (375,681),
fast-pitch softball (364,103),
cross country (221,616), tennis
(182,876), swimming/diving
(166,838), competitive spirit
squads (125,763) and lacrosse
(84,785).
Among some of the non-tra-
ditional high school sports on
this year’s survey, archery and
riflery registered significant
increases in participation. An
additional 2,877 participants
(boys and girls) in archery
brings the overall total to 7,744
with schools in eight states
sponsoring the sport. Riflery
was up 1,010 participants for a
total of 4,238 with competition
in 10 states.
Also, while boys wrestling
was down by more than 11,000
this past year, the number of
girls participating in the sport
3 B
7.8M
increased by 1,592 for a total of
11,496.
The top 10 states by partici-
pants remained in the same
order as last year, with Texas
and California topping the list
with 804,598 and 797,101,
respectively. The remainder of
the top 10 was New York
(389,475), Illinois (340,972),
Ohio (319,929), Pennsylvania
(319,562), Michigan (295,660),
New Jersey (279,377), Florida
(267,954) and Minnesota
(235,243).
The participation survey has
been compiled since 1971 by
the NFHS through numbers it
receives from its member asso-
ciations.
The complete 2014-15 High
School Athletics Participation
Survey is attached in PDF for-
mat and will be posted soon on
the
NFHS
website
at
www.nfhs.org.
County seeks public input on parks plan
Lane County invites public
comment on its draft of the 20-
year Parks Master Plan, which
will guide the management of
county parks from 2016 to
2036. This is the first compre-
hensive update to the original
1980 master plan.
The draft plan identifies
strategic investments in parks
and open space throughout
Lane County that is consistent
with identified recreation needs
and public input.
“We are excited to get citi-
zen feedback on how the coun-
ty should be investing in parks
and open space during the next
20 years,” said Mike Russell,
Lane County parks manager.
“Our parks are a valuable com-
munity resource and provide
wide-ranging opportunities to
enjoy the outdoors.”
The drafted master plan is
available online at www.bit.ly
/1h3GVtW. There are opportu-
nities to submit comments on
that webpage.
Copies of the draft master
plan are also available at the
Siuslaw Public Library, 1460
Ninth Street in Florence.
There are five open house
meetings scheduled this fall to
allow community members to
provide feedback and ask ques-
tions of parks staff.
All five meetings are open to
the public and scheduled from
6 to 8 p.m.
The first will be held
Thursday, Sept. 10, in the
Council Chambers at Florence
City Hall, 250 Highway 101.
Community members are
also welcome to share their
favorite photos of Lane County
parks that may be used in the
final master plan document.
Photos can be submitted to
laneparks@co.lane.or.us.
FLORENCE SOFTBALL LEAGUE TO END
SEASON WITH TOURNEY AUG. 22-23
DID YOU KNOW?
Abby Coday
Chicago Nationals
Representative from Siuslaw
High School Bowling Team
•250+ Colleges offer scholarships for
bowling
•The bowling industry provides more
than
$6 million in scholarships each year.
•48 states in the U.S. have established
high school bowling programs.
•54,000 kids bowl in high school varsity competition
Sign up for the the Siuslaw High School bowling team at
Holiday Bowl or at Siuslaw High School during registration .
HOLIDAY BOWL
Where E veryone is Welcome
27 th and Hwy. 101 • Florence • 541-997-3332
holidaybowlflorence@hotmail.com
Fri./Sat., 8/21-8/22,
9am-3pm,
659 Skookum,
Huge Sale, crafts, holiday
items, Priced below $10.
Sun. 8/23 all items FREE
10am-Noon.
ESTATE
Fri. 8/21 & Sat.8/22
9:30am.-5pm.
1722 Coosah Ct.
Power chair, lift, tools & other
guy stuff.
Sat.8/22 & Sun. 8/23
9am.-3pm.
5167 Hilltop Dr.
Boats, fishing, household,
couches, king bed, tread-mill,
garage items & more.
Garage Sale
Fri.8/21-Sat8/22
9am-4pm
1915 E. 36th Street
Furniture, household, decor,
lots of misc.
Fri. Only 8/21,
9am-3pm,
Summer Sale,
18th & Tamarack,
Household items, tool, garden
equipmet, yard art.
Thurs.-Sun.
8/20-8/23,
10am-4pm,
702 Skookum Dr.,
Estate/Yard Sale, porcelain,
pottery, crystal, corning, pyrex,
household misc., clothing,
new/gently worn, books,
collectibles, some furniture,
JAZZY motor chair excellent
condition, w/new batteries.
Major Moving Sale
Fri. 8/21/15, 9am-6pm & Sat.
8/22/15, 9am-2pm,
furniure & household goods!
89447 N Lane
(N. ofFlorence -
Follow signs)
Fri.-Sun.,
8/21-8/23,
7am-5pm,
10856 E. Mapleton Rd.,
Misc. items.
Garage sale
Fri.8/21-Sat.8/22
9am.-3pm.
60 Park Village Dr.
Garage all work bench & lots
more.
Tonight is the last day of
regular season play for the
Florence Softball League.
With the close of the season
is the much anticipated
Florence Softball League
Tournament at Miller Park.
This year’s tournament will
be played on Saturday, Aug.
22, and Sunday, Aug. 23.
Saturday will be a two-pool
round-robin play with seeding
for the tournament being based
off a team’s average run differ-
ential.
The first round of the tour-
nament will be played
Saturday evening just after
round-robin play finishes.
Sunday will be the second,
third and final round of the
tournament.
On Sunday, the Box Lunch
food truck will be at Miller
Park serving the league and the
spectators. This year the Box
Lunch truck has a special
Called the Grand Slam Burger
with a side that will be $10
with $2 of every sale of a
Grand Slam Burger going back
to the Florence Softball
League.
“This is very exciting,” said
Sean Campbell, who is with
the league. “We would like as
much support as we can. Tell
your friends and family to
come on down and get a burg-
er and help support the league.
Hope to see everyone out
there!”
The co-ed league scheduled
a total of 90 games in June,
July and August, playing two
games each Wednesday and
Thursday at Miller Park.
Spectators are welcome at
all games, which are family-
friendly and alcohol free.
Special Olympics forming local bowling team
In every corner of the state,
Special Olympics Oregon is
Visit us on
the web
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
S IUSLAW N EWS
Follow us on
Twitter
@S IUSLAW N EWS
NEW SEASON FUND-
RAISER YARD SALE
Fri. & Sat.
Aug. 21st & 22nd
7am.-7pm.
11521 Hwy 36
(2.5 miles from Mapleton
intersection)
Pampered Chef, new skeins of
yarn, fabric, game systems,
electronics, household
appliances, books, DVDs,
CDs, clothing & LOTS more.
541-991-0572.
changing the lives of people
with intellectual disabilities
and this includes Florence.
Special Olympics Florence
invites all interested athletes to
participate in the upcoming
bowling season. Practices will
be held Tuesdays, from 4 to
5:30 p.m., at Holiday Bowl,
beginning Aug. 25.
There will be 10 weekly
practices and a regional com-
petition in Bend in November.
There is no cost to join
Special Olympics, nor is there
a cost to train or compete.
Special Olympics raises funds
through sponsorships, private
donations and special events.
Anyone who has been iden-
tified as having an intellectual
(or cognitive) disability by a
medical professional is eligible
to be involved in Special
Olympics. Athletes must be at
least eight years old to compete
in regional or state games.
(Athletes may participate in
practices at age 6.) There is no
upper age limit.
Special Olympics Oregon
serves more than 8,000 partici-
pants with intellectual disabili-
ties through participation in 14
Olympic-type sports over three
sports seasons.
Through its signature sports
programs, athletes gain self-
confidence, social competency,
and other enhanced skills, in
addition to building implkrtant
ties with other families and
Special Olympics athletes
within the community.
For more information, con-
tact head coach Linda Stent at
541-991-3161 or email her at
lstent@charter.net.
NOW BUYING
USED
CARS & TRUCKS
Under 100,000 miles.
FREE
garage sale signs
541-997-3441
with your ad
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475