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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ YEAR IN REVIEW ❚ Review (cont) S AILORS LAND THREE TOP -10 MARKS AT STATE from 4 placed second in the 300-meter hurdles (42.80) for a chance to compete in both events at state. For the girls, defending state 800-meter champion Destinie Tatum won the event at district (2:25.76) and will race for a chance to retain her title. Tatum was also a member of the winning 4x400- meter relay team (4:21.67) with senior Celie Mans, junior Kaylee Graham and sophomore Kaeli Ramos. Mans went on two claim titles in both the 1,500-meter race (5:04.87) and 3,000 meters (11:08.64) to qualify for both events at state. Joining her in both events after finishing second in each at district will be freshman Hannah Rannow, who ran 5:08.89 and 11:21.94, respectively. In the hurdles, Graham ran sea- son-best times for second place in both the 100 meters (17.09) and 300 meters (50.79). She will run both races at state. Junior thrower Trent Reavis quali- fied for state in three events after claiming wins in both the shot put (52-00.5 for a PR) and discus (150- 11), and finishing second in the javelin with a personal record at 172- 06. Senior Carissa Oliver won the shot put and discus for the girls, throwing 41-05 and 136-05, respec- tively. Four Sailors were on hand for last week’s two-day 1A state track and field meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, May 18 and 19. Senior Tyler Packebush, junior Tanner Wilson and freshman Nathan Roane represented the Sailor boys while senior Josi Hays was the lone Lady Sailors repre- sentative, competing in three events. Hays, who sept the throws at the Mountain West District meet, com- peted in the discus, shot put and javelin. For the boys, Packebush com- peted in both the pole vault and 110 hurdles, with Wilson compet- ing in the discus and javelin. Roan joined Wilson in the javelin. Packebush ran the 110 hurdles with a personal best time of 18.30 for 11th place. He also cleared 11- 0 in the pole vault for eighth place overall. In the discus, Wilson threw 106- 02 for 12th place, then landed 11th in the javelin at 127-05. Roane was 12th with a mark of 123-05 for a personal record. Hays had a pair of top-10 finish- es at state, beginning with seventh place in the shot put at 31-01.5. She went on to finish ninth in the discus (86-05) and 11th in the javelin at 81-05. V IKS , S AILORS ‘E VENING The Far West Leagues for base- ball and softball announced the 2017 All-League rosters, and among those making the list were nine Siuslaw players. For FWL softball, senior Claire Waggoner received First-Team honors for her work at first base. Also getting recongition for the Lady Viks was senior Heidi Jones for her performance in the pitcher’s cirlce this season. Joining Jones on the Second- Team All-League roster was fresh- man outfielder Mia Collins. Receiving Honorable Mention from Far West League coaches was senior catcher Nikki Launius. For the boys, the Viking base- ball team received five All-League nods, beginning with senior infielder Brogan Cornish with First-Team recognition. Second- Team honors went to junior short- stop Jared Brandt, with Honorable Mentions for senior pitcher and outfielder Kelby White, senior catcher and outfielder Hunter Simington and sophomore pitcher and first baseman Gabe Simington, both of Mapleton. O LIVER CLAIMS SHOT PUT STATE CROWN At last weekend’s OSAA Class 4A state track and field meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Siuslaw senior thrower Carissa Oliver launched the shot put for a personal record and the state title with her mark of 41 feet, 7.75 inches. Oliver also threw a PR in the discus at 132-11 for the 4A’s second-best mark of the day. Meanwhile, junior Trent Reavis set a school record in the javelin with a throw of 181- 11, which earned Reavis a sec- ond-place medal at state. It also topped Siuslaw’s IAAF javelin record of 177-9 set by Kody Reavis in 2008. The Vikings girls finished 11th overall in team scoring with a tally of 23 points; Oliver accounted for 18 of those points. The Vikings boys team fin- ished 14th in team scoring with a total of 20 points. FOOTBALL SACKED AT B&G C LUB For nearly a decade, fifth- and sixth-graders have been slipping into their first set of shoulder pads and football helmets at the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County each fall, moving from flag football into the realm of full-con- tact tackle. And until recently, it was believed that the hits players often take to the head were less impactful on younger, developing brains. However, research now shows that the brains of children and teens are even more vulnerable than the adult brain to the long- term effects of repeated impacts to the head. It was this revelation that prompted B&G Club Athletic Director Tracy Aaron to recom- mend the suspension of the club’s tackle football program for fifth and sixth graders. “I was researching a program that was similar to our basketball program, where we teamed up with the Portland Trailblazers through the NBA’s community outreach program,” said Aaron. “That’s when I started finding research and articles on youth football.” AUGUST OF E XCELLENCE ’ Thirty-nine athletes from Siuslaw and Mapleton high schools will be honored Wednesday, May 31, during the sixth annual Athletic Recognition, Evening of Excellence at Siuslaw High School. Athletes being honored will be: Hunter Simington, Tyler Packebush, Jared Brandt, Celie Mans, Trent Reavis, Nick Steinman, Makenzie York, Elyssa Rose, Evan Moso, Brittany Long, Claire Waggoner, Josi Hays, Macie Wells, Jack Pickell, Kaeli Ramos, Emma Collins, Brogan Cornish, Michael Larson, Richard Huff, Jakob Hickson, Destinie Tatum, Jesus Sierra, Kainan Lane, Alyssa Richards, Kyle King, Abby Coday, Dominic Wells, Eyza Abbas, Riley Jennings, Sam Meyers, Carissa Oliver, Heidi Jones, Mia Collins, Clark Hooper, Ryan Rendon- Padilla, Gabe Simington, Hannah Rannow and Anne Wartnik. JUNE M ANS , R EAVIS NAMED A THLETES OF THE Y EAR At the close of Wednesday night’s awards ceremony, which included entertainment by Siuslaw’s cheerleading squad and an array of specialty desserts pre- pared by SHS culinary students and served by PRIDE members, Siuslaw senior Celie Mans and junior Trent Reavis were announced as the 2017 Athletes of the Year. R ED S OX DRAFT J AKE T HOMPSON The Boston Red Sox took their continued interest in Siuslaw High School alumni and Beavers pitcher Jake Thompson a step further Tuesday, when the Major League Baseball team drafted the red shirt junior during the fourth round with the No. 131 overall pick. Thompson, a 6-foot-2 right-han- der, has received national attention for his performance in Oregon State University’s pitching rotation this season, where he is 14-0 with a 1.52 ERA — with the Beavers headed to the College World Series. Thompson was recently named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. We look forward to your visits in 2018! Open Mon- Sat 9am - 5 pm 1751 12th Street, Florence 541-997-2726 IN THE SPOTLIGHT TO BE A nother year, another chance to show you how much we appreciate your business! 1 Voted # r e m o o r Pet G rs e d a e 2017 R Choice T ACKLE S PORTSMANSHIP RECOGNIZED DURING N INE V IKINGS NAMED A LL -L EAGUE JULY Last year, a survey of departing officials taken by the OSAA showed that “family” and “job demands” were among the top rea- sons many officials were either hanging up their whistles or decid- ing to not grab a whistle at all. To address the issue, the OSAA established a special committee last year that includes high school athletic directors and coaches who meet to discuss the problem and coming up with solutions to curb the trend. Siuslaw High School Athletic Director Chris Johnson says that he feels the issue is quickly approach- ing a crisis stage. The struggle to create and maintain a workable game schedule for sports like base- ball, football and volleyball are compounded when the availability of officials becomes a factor. As a result, athletic directors and principals from all schools in the Far West League, in conjunc- tion with the OSAA, have agreed to take steps to foster a safer, more respectful environment at athletic events. SEPTEMBER V IKS NAB T UGMAN TITLES Often referred to as the Far West League “preview” meet, the annual Tugman Invitational offers a first look at many of the league’s teams in direct competition. And if Thursday was any indication, Siuslaw fans have a lot to look for- ward to this season — and the sea- sons ahead. Though both Viking teams carry rosters dominated primarily by underclassmen, Siuslaw made it clear that its relative lack of expe- rience isn’t a detriment when cou- pled with talent and determination. Both teams claimed first place at Tugman, with the boys team nudging Bandon, 49-50, and the Lady Vikings finishing 4 points ahead of South Umpqua, 45-49. S IUSLAW FOOTBALL MAKES TOUGH CHOICE Concerns over potential dangers of fielding an underclassman-dom- inated Viking team against North Bend’s upperclassman powerhouse prompts administrators to forfeit Friday’s game. In the week before last Friday’s 43-point loss to Douglas during Siuslaw’s football league opener, Siuslaw High School officials were already discussing their concerns over the team’s upcoming game against undefeated North Bend (4- 0) — a team that is literally and figuratively twice the size as Siuslaw. It’s an equation that members of the Oregon School Activities Association Reclassification Board have been wrestling with for the past year in an attempt to level the playing field for schools within leagues where the disparity between school sizes has become more prevalent. “There’s always a certain level of risk when it comes to sports, but this was more like throwing our freshmen and sophomores to the wolves,” said Viking coach Jamin Pool. “Not acknowledging that and putting the safety of our kids first would be wrong, no matter how unpopular.” OCTOBER S AILOR HOMECOMING INCLUDES UPSET WIN Coming into last Friday’s home- coming game against North Douglas, the Sailors were the underdogs against a team that has been steamrolling opponents in the preseason. Before the night was over, the Sailors would rush for 532 yards, including 8 touchdowns and 4 con- versions. Senior Dominic Wells at quarter- back claimed 162 yards on 16 carries, including 3 touchdowns and a pair of conversions. Junior wide receiver Evan Moso had 290 yards on 16 car- ries for 3 TDs and a conversion, and freshman wide receiver JJ Neece had 80 yards, including 1 touchdown rushing and 1 TD receiving. It was also Mapleton’s homecom- ing night, with princesses and princes gathering at halftime for the crown- ing of king and queen. The Mapleton 2017 Homecoming Court included: • Freshmen: Princess Trinity Peterson and Prince Jeremy Bender • Sophomore: Princess Trinity Holmes and Prince Nathaniel Neece • Juniors: Princess Brittany Wilson and Prince Evan Moso • Seniors: Princess Erin Michael and Prince Tanner Wilson, Queen Alexis Gierke and King Dominic Wells. S IUSLAW BATTLES P IRATES , NAMES ROYALTY The Vikings, outnumbered near- ly 3-to-1 in terms of roster num- bers and experience, continued to battle through all four quarters, even after entering the half with a 42-0 deficit. The Viks managed to score twice in the second half while the Pirates posted a field goal to finsih with a 45-12 win on the Viks’ Homecoming Night. The loss puts Siuslaw at 0-3 in league (0-6 overall) heading into the Friday’s home game against South Umpqua during what will be the Vikings’ Senior Recognition Night. Siuslaw’s 32-play roster includes a total of five seniors: Jared Brandt, Patrick Hill, Ryan Lee, Trent Reavis and Salvador Sierra. During the game, the 2017 Homecoming Court was announced, along with the crowning of this year’s queen and king, seniors Nicole Alum and Evan Teter. The court included: • Freshmen: Princess Kya Blake and Prince Jacob Foskett • Sophomores: Princess Elizabeth Lewis and Cai Fleming • Juniors: Alex Paasch and Heaven Job-Lewis. S IUSLAW FINISHES WITH 31-26 VICTORY It was a long-time coming, at the very end of what was almost winless season for the Vikings football team last Friday at Brookings-Harbor. With both teams coming into the matchup at 0-4 in the Far West League and 0-7 overall, it was an opportunity to end the season on a high note — and Viking seniors Jared Brandt and Trent Reavis served as composer and conductor for an upbeat swan song. Not only did the game mark the final contest of the regular season and the Viks’ only win, it also rep- resented the final football game of the Far West League, which will dissolve next year following the Oregon Schools Activities Association’s (OSAA) final approval of the new 6-classifica- tion system — along with 4A Sky- Em and 3A Umpqua River Conferences, with Siuslaw moving to the Sky-Em in 2018. So the Vikings’ win was a par- ticularly sweet note, in a game that was hard-fought. V IKS CLAIM DUAL XC CROWNS As Siuslaw cross country coach Chris Johnson explained it, “When it all comes down to it, we train all season for one day — the district meet. That’s a lot of pressure. If you don’t do well that day, you’re done.” For Siuslaw, that one day was last Thursday, when both the varsi- ty girls and boys teams not only did well, they came home with matching Far West League crowns. The No. 1 finishes made good on predictions of a title sweep that had been circulating for most of the season. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018 To top it off, they day also included the very first individual boys’ title for senior Isaac Griffes, who clocked in at 16:57.12, which was just 10 seconds short of his PR set little more than a week ago. It was a particularly satisfying finish considering Griffes hadn’t even made the top 12 at last season’s district meet after getting ill just days before. In the girls’ race, sophomore Hannah Rannow led the Lady Vikings with a second-place finish individually in a time of 20:08.33. Freshman Brea Blankenship was the second Siuslaw runner and sixth individually to cross the fin- ish (20:23.96), followed by sopho- more Anne Wartnik with PR time of 20:30.85 for 7th place. The girls team took the title with a 27-point advantage over second- place South Umpqua, 38-55. North Bend was a close third place (58), followed by Marshfield (70). In the boys’ division, the Vikings came in with 28 points, followed by Marshfield (49), North Bend (86), South Umpqua (99) and Brookings-Harbor (116). N INE V IKINGS RECEIVE ALL - LEAGUE HONORS The Far West League announced its all-league rosters for football and volleyball earlier this week, and nine Siuslaw athletes were among those honored by dis- trict coaches in those sports. Receiving First Team nods were Viking senior football tight end Trent Reavis, and junior Makenzie York at middle blocker in volley- ball. Reavis was also named Second Team on defense for his contribu- tions as a linebacker, and on spe- cial teams as a punter. Other members of the football team named to the all-league Honorable Mention roster were senior quarterback Jared Brandt, senior wide receiver Patrick Hill, sophomore lineman Matt Horillo and junior lineman Tim Lowder, who also received HM accolades at linebacker. On the volleyball court, Lady Vikings’ senior outside hitter Emma Collins and junior outside hitter Jordan Long each received Second Team honors, with sopho- more middle blocker Mia Collins making the Honorable Mention list. NOVEMBER S AILORS ’ STATE RUN ENDS M APLETON : 32 L OWELL : 66 The Sailors went into last Friday’s league play-off game at home against Lowell hoping to secure a seed to state for the first time since 2002. And early in the first half, it looked as though Mapleton had the momentum to make it happen. Though the Red Devils were the first to score with a little over 3 minutes remaining in the first quar- ter, the Sailors were able to strike back a little over a minute later on a 38-yard bomb from senior quar- terback Dominic Wells to freshman wide receiver JJ Neece. While the conversion was denied, it put Mapleton within an easy 2-point striking distance of Lowell, 8-6. Then, on the ensuing kick-off, an onside kick by Mapleton ended up in the hands of Wells, who recovered the ball on Lowell’s 46- yard line to end the quarter. Finding themselves with 7 yards to go on the third down, Mapleton was able to advance to the 25-yard line for a first down. From there, Wells found Neece on a 25-yard pass into the end zone, followed by a QB keeper for a 2-point conver- sion — and a 14-8 lead just 48 sec- onds into the quarter. On its next possession, Lowell put together a 7-play drive to tie things up at 14-14 after being denied a conversion attempt. Then, just as quickly as the wind had caught Mapleton’s sails, it shifted in favor of Lowell and never really came back. Mapleton (4-5) finished 5th after one of its strongest seasons in 15 years. V IKS FIFTH , SEVENTH AT STATE Beneath cloudy skies with occa- sional sun bursts, members of the Viking girls and boys cross country teams competed in last Saturday’s 4A state meet along with the other top 14 high school teams in Oregon. The 5,000-meter course at Lane Community College in Eugene is a combination of soft 5 terrain and narrow, winding paths that end on the flat track leading to the finish line. When the final scores were tal- lied, Siuslaw’s girls team claimed fifth overall, with the boys placing seventh in their race. S EVEN S AILORS NAMED TO FOOTBALL A LL -L EAGUE ROSTER After its most successful foot- ball season in more than a decade, Mapleton received seven All- League nods from coaches in Special District 3. The Sailors’ eight-man team, which finished fifth and advanced to the league playoffs, was driven primarily by the efforts of three seniors, one junior, two sopho- mores and a freshman. Seniors Dominic Wells, Tanner Wilson and Cole Spencer each received First-Team honors — Wells at quarterback and defensive end, Wilson as a punter and offen- sive lineman, and Spencer at defensive back. Freshman JJ Neece was named First-Team All-Offensive Utility, with sophomore Nate Neece mak- ing First-Team on defense and jun- ior Evan Moso named First-Team at runningback. Second-Team honors also went to Nate Neece as an offensive line- man, along with Second-Team recognition for fellow sophomore Dylan Rogers at center, and Second-Team to JJ Neece as Defensive Utility. In addition, Wells has been selected to play in the 8-Man All- Star game, with Wilson selected as an alternate. SHS, MHS football may join new special districts After being moved to the new Sky-Em League by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) during the most recent round of reclassifi- cations and redistricting, Siuslaw was set to join power- houses Marist, Cottage Grove and Marshfield, along with Elmira and Junction City beginning next fall. At a public meeting held Dec. 18, the committee submit- ted its recommendations to the OSAA Executive Board for review. Among the committee’s sug- gestions was to include Siuslaw among 30 schools playing down a classification in new Class 3A special districts. The proposal would put the Viking football program in the 12- school Special District-2 with Harrisburg, Brookings-Harbor, Cascade Christian, Hidden Valley, La Pine, Pleasant Hill, Santiam Christian, South Umpqua, St. Mary’s (Medford) and Sutherlin. The committee used a 22 percent or less Colley winning percentage formula, based on the last two seasons rather than four years, to determine which schools would qualify to drop into a lower classification for football for the 2018-2022 sea- sons. While the changes won’t have a big impact on Mapleton’s 8-man football pro- gram, it will mean a shift in competition as teams from Alsea, Eddyville, McKenzie, Powers and Triangle Lake — all of whom have been part of the Mountain West — have expressed interest in 6-man programs. That would mean The Sailors would join the 1A Special District-1, with Crow, Elkton, Mohawk, Myrtle Point, North Douglas, Siletz, Waldport and Yoncalla. The changes would only apply to football; all other sports would continue to com- pete within each school’s pri- mary classification and district. For more information, visit www.osaa.org/governance/com mittees. And now, On to 2018...
