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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2016)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 31, 2016 11A SCHEDULE THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 Boys Soccer: Central at Sprague, 4 p.m. Eagle Point at Dallas, 4 p.m. Girls Soccer: Nor th Salem at Central, 4 p.m. Dallas at Franklin, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Willamette Valley Christian at Perry- dale, 5:30 p.m. Western Oregon vs. Florida South- ern at Concordia Labor Day Tournament, noon. W o m e n ’s S o c c e r : George Fox at Western Oregon, 3:30 p.m. Glow run comes to Dallas FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 Football: Bend at Cen- tral, 7 p.m. Parkrose at Dal- las, 7 p.m. Falls City at Per- rydale, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Western Oregon vs. Embry-Riddle at Concordia Labor Day Tour- nament, 2:30 p.m. By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 Cross-country: Central, Dallas at Nike Ultimook Race, all day. Football: Western Ore- gon at Sacramento State, 6 p.m. Volleyball: Western Oregon vs. Metro State at Concordia Labor Day Tour- nament, 5 p.m. Quarterback Phillip Fenumiai is locked in a battle for the starting job this fall. TUESDAY, SEPT. 6 Boys Soccer: McNary at Central, 6 p.m. Dallas at St. Helens, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer: Central at McNary, 7 p.m. St. Helens at Dallas, 4 p.m. Volleyball: Silverton at Central, 6 p.m. Lebanon at Dallas, 6 p.m. Falls City at C.S. Lewis, 6 p.m. Living- stone Adventist at Perry- dale, 7 p.m. Wolves open season Saturday at Sacramento State WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7 Women’s Soccer: West- ern Oregon at Academy of Art, noon. QUICK HITS WOU XC picked fourth, sixth MONMOUTH — Western O r e g o n ’s m e n ’s a n d women’s cross-country teams were picked fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Great Northwest Ath- letic Conference Preseason Coaches’ poll released on Friday. Alaska Anchorage was chosen to take the top spot in both polls. WOU’s men’s team re- turns 11 runners from last year, including junior David Ribich, an NCAA national qualifier in 2015. The women bring back five runners who compet- ed in the GNAC title race last season. The Wolves’ campaign begins Sept. 9, when West- ern Oregon hosts the Ash Creek Invitational at 5 p.m. at the Ash Creek Preserve. Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for Aug. 20-21: Club Championship (36 holes, low gross/low net) Gross: Flight one: Kevin Moen, 154 (club champi- on); 2, Joe Johnson, 157. Flight two: 1, Darrell John- son, 168; 2, Brian Halin, 174. Net: Flight one: Bob Bennett, 134; 2, Lee Taylor, 143. Flight two: Larry Hatcher, 133 (net club champion); 2, Greg Fritz, 147. Aug. 23 Modified stableford Gross: 1, Wayne Weath- ers, 21 points; 2 (tie), Joe Johnson and Jim Schroed- er, 18; 4, Rocky Kygar, 17. Net: 1 (tie), Brian Reed and Don Seth, 30; 3 (tie), Eldon Rivers, Larry Hatch- ers and Rich Dominick, 29; 6, Vern Smith, 26. Fall Sports Guide coming Sept. 7 POLK COUNTY — Look for the 2016 Fall Sports Guide in the Sept. 7 issue of the Itemizer-Observer. Follow the I-O on twit- ter @PolkIOSports, like us on Facebook and check out www.polkio.com for scores and updates. www.polkio.com LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer file WESTERN OREGON FOOTBALL On the hunt By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer WOU football MONMOUTH — Western Oregon’s football team boasts one of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s most talented — and deepest — rosters. But if WOU wants to claim a conference crown, coach Arne Ferguson and his team must find the answer at a key position. — The Wolves finished second in the GNAC after going 5-1 in league play. The team’s lone loss in the conference came against de- fending champions Humboldt State in WOU’s final game of the 2015 season. The Wolves see a return of a wealth of weapons in skill po- sitions. Senior tight end Avgi Andy Avgi, the 2016 GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, hopes to find success on the grid- iron. He returned to football in 2015 for the first time since high school. He had 12 catches for 192 yards and four touchdowns last season. Head coach: Arne Ferguson, 12th season. 2015 record: 7-4 overall, 5-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Key returners: Paul Revis, jr., re- ceiver, returner; Andy Avgi, sr., tight end; Malik Braxton, soph., running back; Tyler Johnson, jr., linebacker; George Swartzlender, sr., defensive lineman. Newcomers to watch: Nick Duck- worth, jr., quarterback; Hudson Kennedy, jr., offensive lineman. Since then, he’s worked on improv- ing every aspect of his game. “Andy is such a detailed player,” Ferguson said. “He’s so explosive. Last year, he was still learning the position. It’s hard to jump in a sport four years later and be really good at it, but he’s picking up pretty fast. He’s increased his ability to accelerate, his timing and knowing where the defense is.” At 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, Avgi may be the Wolves’ biggest target. Just as dangerous is the team’s smallest receiver, junior Paul Revis. The 2015 first team all-conference se- DALLAS — Dallas’ adult recreation program is ready to get in the Halloween spirit with the Glow Run, set for Oct. 15 at 7:15 p.m. The 5-kilometer run will begin and end in downtown Dallas. All runners will receive a T-shirt, head lamp, glow stick and glow paint (register by Oct. 7 to receive a T-shirt). The cost is $25 and proceeds will go to Christmas Cheer, a nonprofit that provides holi- day meals for families in need in the Dallas area. “We’re excited to do this event,” Brautigam said. “We saw that we have people who leave town to do running events all the time. If you look on Facebook you see 25 friends going to Portland or Salem or Corvallis to do this run.” See RUN, Page 12A Glow Run LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Running back Malik Braxton led the Wolves in rushing yards in 2015. lection is an all-around threat, record- ing 710 receiving yards and six touch- downs, and 243 return yards and two touchdowns. “Both Andy and Paul have amazing ball skills,” Ferguson said. “Paul’s foot- work is extremely good. He’s worked harder at his speed. He’s a player you get the ball to and you’ll see positive outcomes.” See WOLVES, Page 12A • The Dallas Glow Run will take place Oct. 15 at 7:15 p.m. • The 5-kilometer race begins and ends in down- town Dallas. • The cost is $25 and in- cludes a T-shirt, head lamp, glow stick and glow paint • Must register by Oct. 7 to receive T-shirt. • Registration forms are available online at www.dallasor.gov/adult- sports. • Proceeds from the run will go to Dallas Christmas Cheer, a nonprofit that pro- vides holiday meals to fam- ilies in need. • The city hopes to offer more unique runs in 2017, including a mud run and warrior dashes. CENTRAL HIGH ATHLETICS Panther Club hopes for a comeback Athletics department ready to recruit new volunteers for fundraising group By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — The Panther Club has long played an integral role behind the scenes for Central athlet- ics. But the club disappeared during the 2015-16 school year — some- thing that Central’s athletic depart- ment knows can’t continue. — The Panther Club’s primary role is to raise money for the high school’s athletics program for athletic im- provements or equipment when needed. Athletics Director Shane Hedrick said in recent years the school has been in a good budg- et position — lessening the need for outside fundraising. That may change over the next few years thanks to things like PERS requirements, Hedrick said. This school year, the athletics de- partment wants to build up the club to be ready to put on the Panther Club auction in 2017. “What will happen, just like when it first started, is it will be driven by the coaches,” Hedrick said. “Newer volunteers, they’re pretty raw and we need to let them know what the Pan- ther Club does.” The Panther Club relies on parent volunteers to put on fundraising events — including the Panther Auc- PETE STRONG/ Itemizer-Observer file The Panther Club raises money to help Central High School’s athletic programs. tion — and to distribute funds for various athletic needs. As seniors graduate, parents who are involved move on, Hedrick said and more emphasis needs to be on bringing in new volunteers to the or- ganization. In previous years, mem- bership has ranged from eight to 50 couples, Hedrick said. See CLUB, Page 12A Panther Club • The Panther Club raises money for Central High School’s athletic programs for athletic improvements or equipment when needed. • The Panther Club did not operate during the 2015-16 school year. • Athletics director Shane Hedrick said he and other coaches will get the word out to parents to recruit new volunteers to join the Panther Club. • The school hopes to see the Panther Club Auction, the group’s largest fundraiser, return in 2017. www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports
