Polk County
Sports
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WOU unveils
2016 football
schedule
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon’s football team un-
veiled its 2016 schedule on
June 22.
The Wolves have road
games against Sacramento
State (Sept. 3), Montana
State (Sept. 17), Humboldt
State (Sept. 24), Central
Washington (Oct. 15),
Azusa Pacific (Nov. 5) and
Simon Fraser (Nov. 12).
W O U h o s t s Ce n t r a l
Washington (Sept. 10),
Azusa Pacific (Oct. 1),
Simon Fraser (Oct. 8) and
Humboldt State (Oct. 22).
The Wolves’ game
against Humboldt State on
Oct. 22 will be televised on
the American Sports Net-
work.
Western Oregon went 7-
4 overall and 5-1 in Great
Northwest Athletic Confer-
ence play in 2015, finishing
in a tie for second in the
conference standings.
Wolves take part in
summer leagues
MONMOUTH — Several
of Western Oregon’s base-
ball players are taking part
i n s u m m e r co l l e gi ate
leagues.
Brady Miller has thrown
10 innings for the Bourne
Braves of the Cape Cod
Baseball League. He has six
strikeouts and has not
given up a single earned
run.
Jacob Fricke is 1-0 with a
2.70 ERA for the Corvallis
Knights of the West Coast
League.
Joey Crunkilton (Kelow-
na Falcons), Justin Wakem
(Cowletz Black Bears) and
Nick Snyder (Gresham Grey
Wolves) are also compet-
ing in the WCL.
Outfielder Brock Pradere
has played 11 games for
the Medford Rogues of the
Great West League.
Boog Leach and Jay Lev-
erett are playing for the
San Diego Mavericks, and
Koty Fallon joined the Col-
orado Cyclones in the Mile
High Collegiate Baseball
League.
Jordan Schiefer is also in
Colorado, playing for the
Arvada Colts.
Registration
open for camps
DALLAS — Registration
is open for Dallas’ youth
boys and girls basketball
camps.
All camps will run July
13-15.
Girls coach David
Brautigam and boys coach
Trent Schwartz and their
staff will teach fundamen-
tal basketball skills, includ-
ing ball handling, shooting,
post and guard breakdown
moves and defensive posi-
tioning.
The youth camp, for stu-
dents in kindergar ten
through third grade, will
run from noon to 1 p.m. at
Lyle Elementary School.
Cost is $25.
A second camp will be
from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Dal-
las High School gym. Cost
is $50.
Both gyms will open at
11:30 a.m. for parents
who must drop off their
kids during their lunch
break.
For more information:
David Brautigam,
david.brautigam@dalla-
sor.gov or Trent Schwartz,
trent.schwartz@dsd2.org.
www.polkio.com
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 29, 2016 11A
Watson dies in swim accident
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
SPRAY — Cody Watson,
16, of Monmouth, died Sun-
day while swimming with
friends at the John Day River
near Spray.
Wheeler County Sheriff’s
Office said they received re-
ports at noon Sunday of a
16-year-old male who disap-
peared be-
neath the
surface of
the river.
Multiple
agencies
began a
s e a r c h
throughout
Watson
the day.
Watson’s body was recov-
ered on Monday morning.
Initial investigations
pointed to an accidental
drowning.
Watson, a football and
basketball player at Central
High School, left an indeli-
ble mark on all who he
met.
“Cody was just like so
many other young people
that I know in my life,”
Central athletics director
and football coach Shane
Hedrick said. “He lived life
every day. He was in his
Sunday mode and finishing
up a small swim excursion
they had gone on at the
John Day River. He wanted
to get the most out of it and
somehow fell into an area
he couldn’t handle, and it
took his life.
“He was a very nice kid.
When he made a mistake,
he owned it. He didn’t try
to blame anyone else. He
was a good kid in the class-
room and a good team-
mate.”
A vigil was scheduled for
Tuesday after press time.
The Watson family re-
leased the following state-
ment:
See WATSON, Page 12A
‘Special’ moments
Special Olympics trains, empowers its athletes to succeed
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNT Y — If
there’s one thing Shirley
Wimer didn’t like it was
sports.
“The truth of the matter is
I’m not a sports fan at all,”
Wimer said. “I couldn’t care
less.”
It may seem strange then
to see Wimer helping to co-
ordinate and coach a bocce
ball team. But this is no ordi-
nary team and, for Wimer,
like many of the volunteers,
this is no ordinary calling.
—
Wimer is one of several
volunteer coaches for Polk
County’s Special Olympics
Oregon — an organization
that provides year-round
sports training and athletic
competition for children
and adults living with devel-
opmental and intellectual
disabilities.
“My daughter, Sabrina,
turned 30 on Sunday,”
Wimer said. “She’s been par-
ticipating since she was 7.
That’s where I got started
was as a spectator.”
She transitioned from the
stands to the field when Spe-
cial Olympics Oregon need-
ed more volunteers. She
soon found out that seeing
the joy on the athletes’ faces
when they competed made
volunteering worth it.
“I wanted to make sure
everyone was able to go to
competitions,” Wimer said.
“I love watching these guys.
They get so excited about
being able to compete.”
Gary Kluver, local pro-
gram coordinator and co-
sports manager, joined Spe-
cial Olympics Oregon about
five years ago.
For him, the chance to af-
fect people’s lives in a posi-
tive way was too good of an
opportunity to pass up.
“Honestly it’s fun to see
them improve and make a
LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer
Polk County’s Special Olympics program fields two softball teams that compete in tournaments.
Special Olympics
• Special Olympics Oregon provides year round sports train-
ing and athletic competition for children and adults living with
developmental and intellectual disabilities.
• The summer season of Special Olympics Oregon is coming
to a close, but the fall season begins in September. Sign ups will
be in early August.
• The organization is also looking for volunteers in a variety of
roles from coaches to fundraisers.
• For more information: www.lsoor.org; or 971-388-6431.
difference,” Kluver said.
“You see them passing on
information and skills that
I’ve learned over the years
myself.”
Kluver helps coach soft-
ball in the summer, which
has around 25 players split
into two teams.
Bocce ball and track and
field each has a handful of
athletes competing. Athletes
will compete at the summer
state games July 9-10 in
Newberg.
The fall season, which fea-
tures swimming, soccer, vol-
leyball and bowling, begins
in September. Sign-ups will
be held in early August, Klu-
ver said.
See OLYMPICS, Page 12A
LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer
Michael Douglas throws a ball during bocce ball practice
at Central High School on Saturday afternoon.
44th MONMOUTH-INDEPENDENCE MINI-MARATHON
Mini race offers big time fun
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE
— The Monmouth-Independence
Mini-Marathon has been a staple on
the Fourth of July for more than four
decades.
Terry Cable has seen firsthand
how the event has evolved through
the years.
“As a 10 year old in 1972, I ran the
first race,” Cable said. “I ran it most
years thereafter. It’s always been a
part of my Fourth of July.”
Cable, who took over as race di-
rector in 2003, is excited to see the
run set for another strong year.
“I think the spirit of Western Days
and the Monmouth and Independ-
ence Fourth of July celebration
makes a run like this attractive with
all crowds,” Cable said.
See MINI, Page 12A
On your mark...
What: 44th annual Monmouth-Independence Mini-Marathon, a 2.6-mile,
mostly downhill race that begins in front of Monmouth’s City Hall and ends at
the Old City Hall building in Independence. The race follows the Grand Parade
route.
When: Monday, July 4, 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $15 for adults and $5 for children 10 and younger in advance; $20
and $10 on day of race until 10:30 a.m.
For more information: Terry Cable, 503-930-2360; www.eclecticedgerac-
ing.com.
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www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports
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