Polk County
Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 22, 2016 8A
QUICK HITS
BASKETBALL
WOU basketball
signs Drayton
Never down and out
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon men’s basketball
coach Jim Shaw announced
the signing of Christian
Drayton on Friday.
Drayton, a 6-foot-8, 240-
pound post from Luftin,
Texas, played one season
at Barstow Community
College in California.
He averaged 16.8 points,
14.3 rebounds and 2.1
blocks per game last sea-
son. Drayton will join the
team for the 2016-17 sea-
son.
Nichols out to prove doubters wrong
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Turning professional in any sport is difficult. Former
Western Oregon men’s basketball player Julian Nichols knows all the num-
bers and the odds.
He’s not worried.
“My whole life, I’ve had people say you can’t play this position or you
can’t play there,” Nichols said. “You hear those types of things and it moti-
vates you. To be where I’m at now, I’m grateful and I’m blessed, but I’m def-
initely ready for the next chapter.”
Tai Chi offered
at Dallas Yoga
DALLAS — Dallas Yoga
Studio, 115 Court St., Dal-
las, will host Gentle Tai Chi
every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday at 2 p.m.
Gentle Tai Chi will focus
on slow body movements
to improve balance, agility,
flexibility and meditation
— no kicks or squats.
Drop-ins are welcome.
There is no cost to attend.
Donations are accepted.
For more information:
Luke Robinson, 503-999-
8583.
Walking Club to
meet Saturday
DALLAS — The city of
Dallas’ walking club will
meet Saturday at 10 a.m. at
the southeast corner of
Court and Jefferson streets.
The club will go on the
“Dallas historic walk.”
There is no cost to at-
tend, and it is open to
walkers of all ages.
For more information:
David Brautigam,
david.brautigam@dalla-
sor.gov.
Sign-up open for
mini-marathon
MONMOUTH/INDEPEN-
DENCE — Registration is
open for the Monmouth-
Independence Mini-
Marathon.
The 2.6-mile run will
take place July 4 at 11:30
a.m. The course begins at
City Hall in Monmouth and
ends at the Independence
Library.
Cost is $15 for adults
and $5 for children ages 9
and younger if preregis-
tered. Day of race sign-ups
will be available beginning
at 8 a.m. Cost will be $20
for adults and $10 for chil-
dren (9 and younger).
Forms are available on-
line at www.wvroadrun-
ners.org. Online registra-
tion must be completed by
noon on June 30.
Fo r m s c a n a l s o b e
dropped off at Anytime Fit-
ness in Independence,
Brooks and Terry’s Espresso
stands and Monmouth Fit-
ness Club, or mailed to Mini
Marathon, 833 N. High St.,
Monmouth, 97361.
—
From his time playing at Upland High School in Fontana, Calif., to help-
ing the Wolves reach the NCAA Division II Final Four, there has been one
thing on his mind.
“I knew back in high school that I wanted to play professionally,” Nichols
said. “I never wanted to do anything else really. I looked at it as a reality that
I’m a basketball player.”
The path to this point has been anything but smooth.
Coming out of high school, Nichols, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard,
planned on playing at Irvine Valley, but was told he wouldn’t receive any
playing time. He left for California State, Dominguez Hills the following year.
See NICHOLS, Page 9A
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Former Western Oregon University men’s basketball player Julian Nichols hopes to play professional basketball.
43rd MONMOUTH-INDEPENDENCE FOURTH OF JULY TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Tennis tourney set for July 2-3
Part of proceeds go toward Central’s boys and girls tennis teams
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDEPEN-
DENCE — Patty Youngren
has been a part of an annual
tradition for more than three
decades — the Monmouth-
Independence Fourth of July
tennis tournament.
“I moved here in 1985. I
played against Mary Chris-
tensen in my first competi-
tion,” Youngren said. “She
and Phil Schroeder, who ran
the tournament at the time,
crushed my partner and I.
Mary has become a lifelong
friend.”
Now entering its 43rd
year, Youngren, who will
help run the tournament
with Paul Hirt and Ron
Warkentin, are hoping oth-
ers experience what Youn-
gren discovered about tennis
— that playing the sport can
lead to relationships that
span decades.
This year’s tournament
will take place July 2 and 3 at
Central High School and
Western Oregon University.
See TENNIS, Page 9A
Tennis Time
What: Monmouth-Independence Fourth of July Tennis Tour-
nament.
When: July 2 and 3.
Where: Matches will take place at Western Oregon University
and Central High School.
Cost: $15 singles, $25 doubles.
How to register: Registration is available through noon on
June 29 at www.oregontennis.com.
LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file
The Monmouth-Independence Fourth of July tennis tournament attracted a large
turnout in 2015. Organizers hope for a big turnout in 2016.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Williams eyes bigger role on the Chargers
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
Oak Knoll to
host golf tourney
INDEPENDENCE — Oak
Knoll Golf Course, 6335
Highway 22, Independ-
ence, will hold the Jim
Va n d e r fe e n M e m o r i a l
Tournament Saturday at
11 a.m. Cost is $240 per
team for the four-man
scramble. A portion of the
proceeds will be donated
to Shriner’s Hospital.
For more information:
503-378-0344.
www.polkio.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS/for the Itemizer-Observer
Tyrell Williams caught his first NFL touchdown pass last season.
SAN DIEGO — Western Oregon
alumni Tyrell Williams made sure his
first NFL catch was a memorable
one — hauling in an 80-yard touch-
down for the San Diego Chargers
against the Denver Broncos in the
Chargers’ final regular season game.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Williams said
at the time. “It was like an out-of-
body experience. It was awesome.”
That football now sits on display
at his home. For some players, it
would be a sign of finally making it.
For Williams, it’s a sign of better
things to come.
“I’m coming in with more confi-
dence,” he said. “I’m more comfort-
www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209
able out there and more relaxed
while playing.”
A familiarity with the offense al-
lowed Williams to work on the finer
details of the game and allowed him
to transform from just a deep threat
to an every-down receiver.
“My route running, being precise
and crisp and being able to get sepa-
ration from the defender, not just on
deep balls, but on short, intermedi-
ate routes, has improved,” Williams
said.
The second-year pro also added
upper body strength.
“I wanted to make sure I didn’t
have any problem with getting off
the press,” Williams said. “I definitely
feel the difference.”
See WILLIAMS, Page 9A
www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports
*$0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 36 months on purchases of new Kubota equipment (excluding VS Series) is available to
qualified purchasers from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory through 6/30/2016. Example: A 36-month monthly installment
repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 36 payments of $27.78 per $1,000 financed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers
if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with
state laws. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be
available with customer instant rebate offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo
Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 6/30/2016. See us for details
on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown.
SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY & OUR
LOCAL SPORTS
130 Main St., Rickreall • 503-623-2365 • www.rickfarm.com
