Cottage Grove Sentinel
Sports & Recreation
B1
THURSDAY | JULY 29, 2021
Triathlon at the Grove returns
virtually for its 10th year
By Daniel Friis &
Damien Sherwood
ODFW R ECREATION AND F ISHING
R EPORT
myodfw.com/recreation-report
Updated July 22, 2021
Warm weather fishing
updates and guidance
Temperatures have moderated in
many areas of the state. However,
drought and low water levels persist
and we can expect water tempera-
tures to spike again later in the
summer.
Best bets for weekend fishing
Despite the low water levels
and high water temperatures in
much of the state, there are still
lots of opportunities to have a
little fishing fun:
• On the north coast, sea-run
cutthroat trout are moving from
the estuaries into the rivers.
Upper Tillamook Bay and the
Nestucca estuary are great places
to target these aggressive trout.
• Anglers are catching a few
“summer” Chinook – an early
arriving variant of a fall Chinook
– in the Nehalem Bay.
• In the SW Zone, Fish, Apple-
gate, Willow and Selmac lake are
all offering good shots at trout
and/or warmwater species.
• Fishing should be excellent in
the Upper Rogue River between
Prospect and Minnehaha Creek.
This section of river is stocked
with 3,500 trout per week
through Labor Day.
• Spearfish anglers have been
reporting some success harvest-
ing smallmouth bass in the South
Fork Coquille River.
• Striped bass are biting in the
Coquille River.
• Foster and Green Peter
reservoirs have been stocked sev-
eral times this year, and fishing
should be good for both trout
and warmwater species.
• There are some big large-
mouth bass lurking in the waters
of Taylor Lake in the Gorge.
• Summer steelhead fishing
on the lower Deschutes has been
slow, but there are fish around in
the lower river downstream of
Macks Canyon.
• Fishing for trout should be
good at Miller Lake. The lake is
getting additional stocked trout
originally intended for Fourmile
Lake.
Wildfire closures and
restrictions updates
Anglers and hunters should
confirm access.
Fire danger in many parts of
the state remains extreme. The
Forest Service has closed the
Umatilla National Forest to the
public, and the Oregon depart-
ments of parks and forestry have
banned all campfires on their
lands east of I-5.
Athlete of
the Week
The annual Rolf Prima Tri-
athlon in Cottage Grove has
been often regarded as one of
the best triathlons in the na-
tion by Triathletes Magazine.
The event was back in the
Grove for the 10th time from
July 16-26 with a different
twist. The competitors were
forced to record and document
their times meaning that there
was no actual live race. On top
of this, they were responsible
for finding their own locations
to do each event.
The reason why the event
was forced to go virtual? 2021
in a nutshell.
Even though COVID-19 re-
strictions were lifted well over
a month ago in Oregon, it still
wasn’t enough time for the tri-
athlon to secure a permit.
see TRIATHLON on B2
NICK SNYDER/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
A cyclist participates in the Rolf Prima Tri at the Grove in 2019, which was the last time the event
saw competitors swim, run, bike and row at Cottage Grove Lake.
Bridgens returns to SLSD as new AD
By Kendrick Murphy
for the sentinel
Cottage Grove High School
(CGHS) has announced its new
athletic director as former CGHS
educator Garrett Bridgens.
“The opportunity to apply for
the position came about and I
thought it was an opportunity to
come back and serve my com-
munity, a place where I grew up
and a community that has really
done a lot for me and my family,”
said Bridgens. “So I saw it as an
opportunity to come back and
work in the place that I live in.”
Bridgens, a former Cottage
Grove Lion, brings a tremendous
amount of coaching experience,
knowledge, and community
connections to this new role. He
got involved in coaching in Cot-
tage Grove, right out of high
school, starting with coaching
middle school basketball then
moving to various positions in
Garrett Bridgens has been
named the school district’s
new athletic director.
high school basketball, football,
youth sports, and 17 years on the
track and field coaching staff.
The longevity of coaching and
community involvement lays a
strong foundation for Bridgens’
fresh outlook on athletic pro-
gramming and shows the com-
mitment to the students and
their families.
Bridgens understands the im-
portance of success in the class-
room and has experience in both
teaching and administration
roles.
Previously, Bridgens taught
at CGHS from 2007-2019 and
in 2014, transitioned half of his
time as the district communica-
tions coordinator and held that
role for five years. Most recently
serving as a school administra-
tor for the past two years in the
4J school district.
“I’m grateful for the opportu-
nity to come back and work here.
One thing I am most excited
about is the long history I have
with Cottage Grove,” he said.
“I’ve made so many connections,
lifelong connections, with peo-
ple in this community, the staff
at Cottage Grove High School;
so I’m excited about coming
back and working with the com-
munity and staff at CGHS to do
Final archery elk proposal released
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
has released the final proposal for
commission consideration regarding
changes to how archery elk season is
managed for portions of eastern Ore-
gon within the Blue Mountain region.
This final proposal includes two
major modifications from the origi-
nal draft proposal released in March:
Five units would be combined into a
single Eagle Cap Zone hunt and there
would be a single general season hunt
for any part of the state not proposed
for controlled hunting.
A map is available on the ODFW
big game review page for more infor-
mation.
The original proposal was for a
general Western Oregon and general
Eastern Oregon tag for any units not
managed as controlled hunts.
These changes are needed to help
wildlife managers meet elk plan ob-
jectives in areas with low bull ratios
and in areas with a high percentage
of branch antlered bull harvest oc-
This week’s athlete
of the week is Horst
Hittenberger, one of the
most dedicated members
at the Health Hub. He
has been physically
active his whole life,
and now in his 80s, is
a great role model and
inspiration for all ages.
curring within the general archery
season.
Current management strategy
only allows managers to alter harvest
during any legal weapon hunts, re-
sulting in significant changes to the
season structure and tag numbers for
rifle hunting over the last 30 years.
This proposal will be presented at
the Aug. 6 commission meeting for
potential adoption. To see the full
proposal, see Exhibit B at www.dfw.
state.or.us/agency/commission/min-
utes/21/08_Aug/index.asp.
Additional information about the
big game review process can be found
at myodfw.com/articles/big-game-
hunting-season-review.
The Aug. 6 commission meeting
will be online via Zoom. To testify
about the proposal, register at www.
zoomgov.com/webinar/register/
WN_5F152fCyTdyidRFGazlDRw no
later than 48 hours before the meet-
ing (by Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 8 a.m.).
see ARCHERY on B2
Hittenberger
rides the Xe-
bex air bike
as part of a
HIIT circuit
in a “Tone &
Sculpt” class.
COURTESY OF
SAMANTHA DUNCAN
some great work and serve our
students.”
Being a part of the Cottage
Grove athletic program as a
coach for a long time, Bridgens
was able to see actions and de-
cisions by previous athletic di-
rectors that were both successful
and unsuccessful that are serving
as guidance for what he could do
to lead a better student-athlete
experience in Cottage Grove.
“Before I left Cottage Grove,
I was really fortunate to be part
of a change we had in 2011, un-
der the leadership of Dave Pres-
ley, as we revamped the athletic
program,” explained Bridgens.
“I want to look at things we had
done in the past like our athlete’s
council, which was a group of
athletes that helped lead our ath-
letics department and get back
to that.
“I want to make sure that ev-
ery student at Cottage Grove
see BRIDGENS on B2
OSAA recognizes
Lane County football
official
EUGENE,
officials
Ore. — The
over
the
O r e g o n
years and I
School Ac-
would not
tivities As-
have contin-
sociation
ued offici-
(OSAA)
ating had it
has select-
not been for
ed
Andy
the friend-
Vobora
as
ship
of
the
2020-
these men
21 Football
and wom-
State Official
en and the
Andy Vobora (right) was opportunity
of the Year.
Vobora, a recently recognized as to stay con-
four-year let- Football State Official of nected to the
the Year
terman
on
game,
the
the University
kids and the
of Oregon Football team coaches.”
(1978-82) was inducted in
High school football
the Medford Senior High begins with jamborees in
School Wall of Fame in just five weeks. The Lane
2019. Vobora was recent- County Football Officials
ly recognized at the Lane Association (LCFOA) be-
County Football Officials gins training sessions in
annual barbeque and was early August and there are
joined by former UO foot- opportunities for new offi-
ball coach Rich Brooks, cials get involved, learn the
who was the keynote speak- game, meet new people, get
er at the event.
some exercise and get paid.
“I just completed my 31st
Anyone interested in be-
season officiating football coming a high school foot-
and being selected for this ball official is encouraged to
honor never crossed my connect with LCFOA com-
mind,” said Vobora. “I’ve missioner Mike Whitty at
had the privilege of being WhittyM@comcast.net.
mentored by a host of great