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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2015)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 5, 2015 12A QUICK HITS Esquivel steps up to head Panthers on the pitch Local team moves to state Central High alumni hired to lead soccer team into 2016-17 season INDEPENDENCE — The CYS Senior Junior Baseball team won the Valley League tournament July 23. The team went 4-0 to clinch the championship. The squad advanced to the JBO State Tournament and placed fourth. By Lukas Eggen Registration for DHS fall sports DALLAS — Fall sports registration for Dallas High will take place Aug. 10-13. Fall practices begin Aug. 17. Those not registered by Aug. 13 will be unable to practice on Aug. 17. Cost is $150 for all sports except cheer, which costs $75. Those qualifying for free lunch must provide the letter received from the District Office for a re- duced fee of $35. Paperwork is available o n l i n e a t w w w. s i t e s . google.com/a/dsd2.org/da llas-high-school-athletics/. Forms will also be avail- able outside the athletic office beginning Aug. 10. I ncoming freshmen must have a sports physi- cal. CHS fall sports sign-ups to open INDEPENDENCE — Fall sports registration for Cen- tral High School will open Aug. 10-13 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the main office. Fall sports practices begin Aug. 17. All athletic registration paperwork must be com- pleted before practice be- gins. Central High will offer a sports physical clinic on Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the main gym. Sports physicals are re- quired for incoming fresh- men and are due every two years. For more information: 503-606-2228. Central to host football camp INDEPENDENCE — Cen- tral High School will host a non-contact football camp Aug. 10-14. Cost is $15 and is open to students in grades 3-12. Th e c a m p fo r 9 t h - through 12th-grade stu- dents will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The 3rd- through 7th- grade camp will go from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration will take place 30 minutes prior to the start of camp. For more information: Shane Hedrick, 503-606- 2227. Central volleyball camp coming INDEPENDENCE — Cen- tral High School will host a volleyball camp for stu- dents in grades 4-12 Aug. 10-13. Cost is $30 and registra- tion will be taken 30 min- utes before the camp be- gins. The camp for partici- pants in grades 4-8 will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with players in grades 9-12 fol- lowing from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information: Claudine Mendazona, 503- 838-2709. www.polkio.com The Itemizer-Observer I NDEPENDENCE — Carlos Es- quivel always thought he’d be a high school soccer coach one day. Turns out, that day has come sooner than he thought. Central Athletic Director Shane Hedrick announced the hiring of Es- quivel, a 2009 Central High gradu- ate, as the Panthers’ boys soccer coach. “Carlos will add to the already up- and-coming soccer program at Cen- tral High School,” Hedrick said. “We are very excited to have him return home to CHS and guide our boys soccer program on and off the field of play.” For Esquivel, this opportunity is a chance to help leave an even bigger mark on the high school than when he played. Esquivel was among the Panthers’ top varsity soccer players during his high school career, but he had his eyes set on the coach’s job. “I’ve honestly al- ways felt the want to coach at the high-school level,” Esquivel said. “There are a lot of things I feel I can bring to the soccer field that I can in- Esquivel corporate. Rather than things like getting into shape, adding things like getting into the weight room, things we didn’t do as much (when I was in high school) but that will make them better soccer players and better athletes.” His plan was to try and become an assistant coach and work his way toward head coach — that is until former coach Mike Lynch stepped down. “Originally, I just wanted to see if I could get my foot in the door,” Es- quivel said. “When this opportunity came up, I thought I’d give it a shot.” Esquivel has volunteered as a middle school coach, but this fall will mark his first high school coach- ing experience. If one thing is clear, it’s that Es- quivel isn’t afraid of the moment. “I’m up for the challenge,” Esquiv- el said. “It’s important for me to un- derstand all the players. I need to make sure that every player is treat- ed equally and that I get to know my players on and off the field.” Esquivel will get to know his play- ers’ abilities over the coming weeks, and he’s not shy about his long-term goals for the Panthers. “I’m excited to push my team to be a team that can not only com- pete, but be a threat to really any- body in the state,” Esquivel said. He knows the Mid-Willamette Conference is a challenging soccer league to compete in. He’s viewing his first season with modest expectations, but he’s confi- dent that he can lead the Panthers to be a perennial contender. “I’m a new coach and I’m young,” Esquivel said. “I’m aware I’m going to get a lot of criticism because of that aspect. I’m going to ask some- thing not only from my team, but from my coaching staff and my community as well. “I am asking for patience. This is a learning year for me and it’s a process. Patience is the one thing I ask for. We’ll get there.” Rodeo makes a comeback to county fair Hell on Hooves promises nonstop, fast-paced action on Thursday at fairgrounds By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — It’s been more than 15 years in the making, but it’s finally happening: the rodeo is re- turning to the Polk County Fair. The Hell on Hooves Roughstock Rodeo will hit the fairgrounds Thursday at 7 p.m. “Wayne White from Wild West Events has been bug- ging us to put on a rodeo for a long time,” Fair Manager Tina Andersen said. “But we just couldn’t afford it in the past.” That all changed in 2015, when White sponsored about $8,000 to help make the rodeo a reality. “I got together with the fair board and we talked about it,” White said. “I told them we would come in and help them and put on a rodeo to help increase atten- dance. We haven’t had a real rodeo here in forever.” The rodeo promises to be one of the fair’s highlights with bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing and mutton bustin’. “Instead of roping events, we have bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull Rough and ready What: Hell on Hooves Roughstock Rodeo. When: Thursday, 7 p.m. Cost: Free with paid fair admission. Of note: The rodeo will feature bareback rid- ing, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing and mutton bustin’. riding,” White said. “We added barrel racing because everyone likes barrel rac- ing.” The rodeo is for one night only, so don’t miss your chance to see the cowboys competing, though Ander- sen hopes this leads to a big- ger rodeo in future years. “It depends on the cow- boys,” Andersen said. “The reason we have it on Thurs- day night is because it’s hard to get on that (rodeo cir- cuit).” It’s been more than a decade and a half since the rodeo last came to the Polk County Fair. But this year’s fair hopes that the triumphant return of the rodeo will lead to HELL ON HOOVES ROUGHSTOCK RODEO/for the Itemizer-Observer The Roughstock Rodeo Hell on Hooves is free with fair admission Thursday night. smiles and fun for people of all ages. “Historically, the first day of the fair is the weakest day,” Andersen said. “We’re trying to increase atten- dance there. “People should come and watch and see what this is all about. It’s fast paced and has nonstop action the whole time.” Dallas serves up friendly game of tennis By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — When the city of Dallas ap- proached Jordan Soll- man about running a tennis tournament, he didn’t take long to an- swer. “I told (David Brautigam) that I would make it a tradi- tion and that I would hold it for him as long as I’m still here in Dal- las,” Sollman said. Dallas will host its first tennis tournament Saturday and Sunday at the high school courts. This year is Soll- man’s first experience running a tournament, but the Dallas High girls tennis coach didn’t have to far too look for inspiration. Sollman talked to Ron Warkentin, the longtime organizer of the Monmouth-Inde- pendence Tennis Tour- nament, for tips. “They had good ad- vice for future advertis- ing and finding out what tournaments are on what days so we aren’t trying to double dip,” Sollman said. Sign-ups for the tournament are avail- able through Thursday. There are multiple brackets available based on skill level. “We want to have players taking part in evenly matched con- tests,” Sollman said. “We want to get people playing locally and have a good time while they play.” The tennis tourna- ment is part of the city of Dallas’ plans to ex- pand its adult recre- ation offerings. “Tournaments like tennis and things along the lines of dodgeball tournaments are things you will begin to see more of,” Brautigam said. Sollman said he will be happy with 30 to 40 entrants. He hopes to see a Ball’s in your court What: Dallas Tennis Tournament. When: Saturday and Sunday. Cost: $15 for singles, $25 for doubles. Regis- tration deadline is Thursday. Of note: Playing times will be emailed after 7 p.m. on Thursday. Forms are available online at /www.dallasor.gov/DocumentCenter/View/393 9. For more information: Jordan Sollman, 503- 686-8120; email to jordansollman@dsd2.org. large contingent of high school players from Dallas and Cen- tral. “My goal for this year is to be extremely happy walking away with the way the tour- nament is run and start www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 to get the word out about the tour na- ment,” Sollman said. “I’m not expecting a whole lot in terms of large numbers.” More importantly, Sollman said he hopes this tournament helps introduce tennis to as many new players in the community as it can. If this tournament can become the com- munity tradition that Sollman desires, he’ll be more than satisfied. “Tennis has never really been a huge deal,” Sollman said. “… This is a good way to get the sport out there and help tennis grow. “We hope encourag- ing younger players might influence them to take part in a camp or get involved in the sport when they’re older. Tennis is a great sport that you can play for many years.” www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports Mon -Fri 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 5pm www.LesSchwab.com DALLAS 121 Main St • 503-623-8155 • INDEPENDENCE 1710 Monmouth St • 503-838-6340