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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2016)
Polk County Sports QUICK HITS WOU earns votes for Div. II top 25 Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 17, 2016 10A Rough Stock Rodeo MONMOUTH — Western Oregon’s football team earned nine votes for the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll on Monday. The Wolves finished 7-4 overall and 5-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Confer- ence play in 2015. Western Oregon opens the 2016 season at Sacra- mento State on Sept. 3. The Wolves’ home opener is Sept. 10 against Central Washington at 1 p.m. The Hell on Hooves Rough Stock Rodeo returned to the Polk County Fair on Thursday evening. Featuring bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding and mutton busting, the rodeo proved to be one of the fair’s most popular attractions once again. Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for Aug. 9: Low gross/low net Gross: 1 (tie), Brian Halin-Rocky Kygar-Bob Sprinkle and John Mangi- ni-Wayne Weathers-Joe Johnson, 33. Net: 1 (tie), Lee Gamaney-Denny Klassen- Lynn Hurt; Randy Wiley- Ken Dankenbring-Ed Johnson; and Derrill Weav- er-Steve Albin-Darrel Smedstad, 29. Registration for golf tourney open DALLAS — Registration is open for the Dallas Quar- terback Club’s 22nd annual golf tournament on Satur- day. The 18-hole, four-person scramble begins at 9 a.m. at Dallas Golf Club. Check- in begins at 8 a.m. Cost is $55 per player for Dallas Golf Club members and $60 for nonmembers. The price includes green fees, lunch, starter pack and prizes. Mulligans will be available for purchase (limit two per person). Space is limited to the first 13 teams. Contests for longest drive, most accurate drive and putting will also be available. Money raised from the event benefits Dallas foot- ball programs. For more information: Dallas Golf Club, 503-623- 6832. Football picked third in GNAC MONMOUTH — Western Oregon’s football team was picked third in the Great Northwest Athletic Confer- ence preseason poll on Monday. WOU received 17 points, one behind Azusa Pacific. Defending champion Humboldt State was cho- sen to repeat as champi- ons. Western Oregon fin- ished second in the confer- ence in 2015 behind Hum- boldt State. For more information: www.wouwolves.com. Grand Ronde to host Pow Wow GRAND RONDE — The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s annual Con- test Powwow set for Friday, through Sunday, at Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 Highway 22. The annual event is one of the largest powwows in the Pacific Northwest. Registration begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by the first Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Grand Ronde Royalty coronation also will be held Friday evening. On Saturday, a parade between the powwow grounds and Fort Yamhill State Park will be held at 10 a.m. Grand entries will be held at 1 and 7 p.m. with the deadline for dancer registration set for 2 p.m. On Sunday, the lone Grand Entry will occur at 1 p.m. Camping at Uyxat Pow- wow Grounds is available for $5, which includes a parking pass. Parking is $1 per day or a donation of canned food. Weekend passes are available for $3. A shuttle also will run from Spirit Mountain Casino to the powwow grounds. www.polkio.com LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Thursday’s rodeo included saddle bronc riding, bull riding and more. LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer A competitor falls during his bull ride at the Hell on Hooves Rough Stock Rodeo at the Polk County Fair on Thursday evening. The Hell on Hooves Rough Stock Rodeo featured a variety of events for fair-goers to enjoy at the fairgrounds on Thursday night. FLOAT ON Great Willamette Raft Race attracts veterans, newcomers alike By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — At 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, James Robinson and Nathan Litke were hard at work. The duo was putting the finish- ing touches on its boat, the Phillip Rivers boat, for the Great Willamette Raft Race — which began at Riverview Park in Inde- pendence. Their goal was decidedly simple. “We’re not going to finish last,” Robinson said. This was the fifth year Robinson and Litke have taken part in the race with a single level, cross- shaped craft. It wasn’t long before they started thinking bigger. “We heard rumors of a two-story boat back in the ’70s,” Litke said. “That inspired our design.” The next year, they debuted their two-story boat. Since then, they’ve made tweaks and additions – in- cluding a water slide and basket- ball hoop — that makes their craft a fan favorite every year. The group also planned to serve free hot dogs during the trek, which traveled from Independence to Wallace Marine Park in Salem with a focus on enjoying an August af- ternoon under the sun. “You get all these people going out, meeting up with friends and making new ones,” Robinson said. “It’s a good excuse to see people you don’t get to see all the time.” While the main goal was to have a good time, there was still a little competitive fire lit, Litke said. This LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer The Philip Rivers boat, right, takes off at the start of the Great Willamette Raft Race on Saturday. was, after all, a race. “We’ve never finished last be- fore,” Litke said. “We’re going to fin- ish at least second to last. It’ll be close, but we’ll work hard.” While Robinson and Litke are raft race veterans, Thomas Woolsey and Michael Stilligan, of Dallas, were about to embark for the first time. See FLOAT, Page 11A Great Willamette Raft Race • The Great Willamette Raft Race began at Riverview Park in Independence and traveled almost 12 miles to West Salem. • The annual event featured hand-built boats to inflatables. Different boats began at different times depending on estimated speeds. • Awards were given for different categories. • Results were not available as of press time. www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports