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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Mapleton freshman Trinity Peterson moves in to block the Lady Cruisers during Thursday night’s home game.
Mapleton
from 1B
However, coming back from
the break, the Lady Sailors’
defense put the pressure on
Powers, holding the Lady
Little
from 1B
athletes to wrestle.
Successful sports programs
are generally those with a con-
tinuity of coaching. For 38
years, Siuslaw High School has
had only two wrestling coach-
es: Pat Zahner from 1979 until
Neil Wartnik took over a little
more than 20 years ago.
There is no state champi-
onship team painted on the wall
Cruisers to just 3 points in the
third quarter — off of a freethrow
and a bucket all in the last minute
of the period.
Meanwhile, Michael and jun-
ior Heather McMaster-Wills
each scored, bringing Mapleton
within 19 points to start the
fourth quarter. Given the Lady
Sailors’ six-person roster, foul
trouble is always a concern.
Thursday night underscored that
concern when Michael and
Stevens fouled out at the end of
the third period, followed by the
departure of McMaster-Wills to
start the fourth quarter. That left
freshman Trinity Peterson, soph-
omore Daleena Bender and jun-
ior Alyssa West on the court for 7
of the game’s final 8 minutes.
With 4:44 remaining, West
drained a short jumper to score
the team’s first basket of the
quarter, followed by a freethrow
and fastbreak from Peterson for 3
points in the final seconds.
Despite the effort, it was well
short of overcoming the team’s
first-half deficit as the Lady
Cruisers won it, 42-12.
Mapleton will be back on the
hardwood on Friday, Dec. 29,
beginning at 3 p.m., at home
against Yoncalla.
but there have been several
individual state champions.
Knowing Coach Wartnik,
state titles are goals he hopes
occur. But equally as important
are his goals of assisting his
young men to have integrity,
industriousness and good char-
acter.
During the down time
between basketball and spring
sports in 1967, I took the time
to wrestle freestyle. A friend
needed a wrestling opponent to
practice with and I wrestled for
two weeks.
I entered two tournaments.
The first was divided by experi-
ence. I had one week of experi-
ence, so I wrestled in the novice
division. I was ahead in my first
match with only seconds left in
the match.
As my coach yelled to stay
away, my aggressive and com-
petitive instinct was to go on
the offensive. My takedown
attempt suddenly turned what I
knew would be certain victory
into the agony of defeat.
I went on to wrestle in four
matches in my career. And in
each case, my strength and
endurance lost out to superior
skill.
Though I was only pinned
once, it was by the 6A state
champion from David Douglas
High School, who made quick
work of me with a pin just 1
minute into the match.
To put it plainly, wrestling is
a tough sport. I attended Pacific
University, which was the
Northwest Conference champi-
ons for more than 10 consecu-
tive years.
Coach Clocks’ teams won
these with mostly freshmen and
sophomore wrestlers.
Many wrestlers stopped
wrestling after two years. They
also proudly displayed their
Northwest champion patches
on their letter jackets.
Our Siuslaw wrestlers
deserve your support. Coach
Wartnik and his assistants work
year round to put a competitive
team on the mat.
Their recent tournament
results are the product of their
hard work.
Mark your calendars for the
Nick Lutz Invitational tourna-
ment set for Jan. 13.
The Vikings will be at their
very best in memory of this for-
mer state champion.
Have a good time, this
holiday season. But, if you
know you’re going to drink,
choose a designated driver,
take a cab, or arrange to stay
over. Getting on the road
after even one drink can
impair your judgment and
reaction time, opening the
door to a holiday disaster.
Have a Happy and Safe Celebration!
This message brought to you by these sponsors:
Florence Pharmacy • Siuslaw School District • Western Lane Ambulance
Florence Police Department • Siuslaw Valley Fire & Rescue • River Cities Taxi
Oregon Coast Military Museum • Northwest Land Surveyor
Cross Road Assembly of God • Ron’s Paint & Supply