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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2016)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 6, 2016 10A WESTERN OREGON QUICK HITS Rotary clubs host golf tournament DALLAS — The Rotary Clubs of Salem, Keizer and Stayton will host a golf tour- nament on July 22 at Cross Creek Golf Club, 11875 Orrs Corner Rd. ,Dallas. The four-person scram- ble begins at 1 p.m. with registration beginning at noon. Advanced registration is available before July 11. Cost is $125 per person and $500 per foursome in advance and $150 per per- son and $600 per foursome the day of the event. Tickets include 18 holes of golf with a cart, a raffle ticket and a buffet dinner following the tournament. Dinner-only tickets are available for $20. For more information: Natalie Dunn, 503-584- 1665. Avgi trades hardwood for gridiron By Lukas Eggen So long, basketball The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Of all the players on Western Oregon’s men’s basketball team, none received more accolades than Andy Avgi. The senior forward was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Players of the Year — for the second in a row — and earned a spot on numerous preseason and postsea- son All-American lists. Avgi, like his team- mates Julian Nichols and Devon Alexander, is looking to turn pro. Unlike his teammates, if Avgi has his way, it won’t be on the hardwood. Avgi is taking aim at the NFL. — Prior to playing basketball at WOU, Avgi appeared headed for a college football ca- reer. He was a walk-on to Oregon State, a Di- • Andy Avgi was named the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year. The second season he earned the honor. • Avgi led the Wolves in points per game (19.4). • He also ranked first on the team in blocks, second in rebounds and field goal percent- age and third in steals and assists during the 2015-16 season. vision I program, but something didn’t sit right. “It was a hard decision,” Avgi said. “I didn’t want to give up basketball and I think I al- ways knew that, but getting to play (Division I) football is hard to pass up. I knew what I wanted, though.” See AVGI, Page 11A LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Andy Avgi led Western Oregon to the NCAA Division II Final Four, but will pursue a pro football career. Hitting the pavement BDST competes in Eugene EUGENE — The Blue Dolphins Swim Team com- peted at a meet in Eugene June 24-26. Elizabeth Dressel placed sixth in the girls 100-yard backstroke (15 and older) with a time of 1 minute, 16.89 seconds. She took seventh in the 800 freestyle (15 and older), fin- ishing with a time of 10: 52.56 seconds. Dressel also took 15th in the 400 indi- vidual medley (15 and older) in 6:06.71. Kaitlyn Landis took 21st in the 200 individual med- ley (10 and younger) in 3:37.28. Isaiah Dressel led the boys with a 16th-place fin- ish in the 200 breaststroke (13-14) with a time of 3:46.90. For full results, see www.polkio.com. Kings Valley seeks interest in hunter program POLK COUNTY — Kings Valley Charter School is gauging interest in a po- tential hunter education program. The instructor would be available in mid-September. The course would be either over three days in the after- noons or an independent study program followed by a one-day class. If interested, contact Jamon Ellingson, jelling- son@kvschool.org. Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for June 28: Two man scramble low gross/low net. Gross: 1, Paul Disney-Lee Taylor, 32; 2, Rocky Kygar- Wayne Weathers, 33. Net: 1, Larry Hatcher- Denny Klassen, 28.5; 2, Bob Sprinkle-Jim Schroeder, 29; 3, Don Seth/Eldon Rivers, 29.5. STAT SHEET 335 The total number of partici- pants in the Monmouth-Indepen- dence Mini-Marathon. www.polkio.com EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Runners take off at the start of the Monmouth-Independence Mini-Marathon on Monday morning. More than 300 participants ran the 2.6-mile race. Results were not available as of press time, but check out www.polkio.com for full results. Central athletes volunteer at Monmouth Public Library Going out in a blaze of glory By Lukas Eggen L UKAS E GGEN The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Central High School freshman Bailey Padilla paused for the briefest of moments — then she tackled a difficult chal- lenge. The girls basketball player wasn’t trying to burn a de- fender. She was reading some long dinosaur names. Padilla, along with a few of her teammates, was part of Monmouth Public Library’s Fun Thursdays. See CENTRAL, Page 11A Commentary LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Central freshman Bailey Padilla reads to kids at Mon- mouth Public Library on Thursday morning. The moment had finally arrived. All the training (well … at least a couple days of training) was about to come to fruition at the Mon- mouth-Independence Fourth of July tennis tourna- ment on Saturday. I was ready to show off my www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 newly developed skills and make Novak Djokovic proud — not that he was watching or anything. All I knew was my first op- ponent in the 3.0 bracket (the lowest available) was Justin Toews. I didn’t know if he was young or old. Skilled or new. Secretly I hoped for a young child who was new to the game. Boy was I disappointed when I saw who I was going against. A man who looked to be in his 30s or 40s intro- duced himself as Justin. See TENNIS, Page 11A www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports BG 50 Handheld Blower NEW! $139.95 MS 170 Chain Saw with 16” bar MS 250 Chain Saw FS 38 String Trimmer $129.95 $159.95 with 18” bar $359.95 SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY & OUR LOCAL SPORTS 130 Main St., Rickreall • 503-623-2365 • www.rickfarm.com