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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 28, 2016 10A PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE THURSDAY, SEPT. 29 Volleyball: Silverton at Central, 6 p.m. Dallas at Lebanon, 6 p.m. C.S. Lewis at Falls City, 5:30 p.m. Simon Fraser at Western Oregon, 7 p.m. Women’s Soccer: West- ern Oregon at Central Washington, 3 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPT. 30 Fo o t b a l l : D a l l a s at Central, 7 p.m. Lowell at Falls City, 7 p.m. South Wasco County at Perry- dale, 7 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPT. OCT. 1 Cross-country: Central, Dallas at Harrier Classic, 12:40 p.m. Western Oregon at Charles Bowles Invita- tional, 9:30 a.m. Football: Azusa Pacific at Western Oregon, 1 p.m. Volleyball: Western Washington at Western Oregon, 7 p.m. Women’s Soccer: West- ern Oregon at Simon Fras- er, noon. TUESDAY, OCT. 4 Boys Soccer: Central at Silverton, 6 p.m. Lebanon at Dallas, 4 p.m. Girls Soccer: Silverton at Central, 6 p.m. Dallas at Lebanon, 4 p.m. Volleyball: Central at South Albany, 6 p.m. Cres- cent Valley at Dallas, 6 p.m. Crosshill Christian at Perry- dale, 5:30 p.m. — Schedules Subject to Change QUICK HITS Tickets available for auction DALLAS — Tickets are available for the Dallas Booster Club Auction on Oct. 22. The auction will take place at the Col. James Ne- smith Readiness Center, 730 Oak Villa Road, Dallas. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25. The evening will include a silent and live auction. At- tendees are encouraged to bring food to share at their table. Water, coffee, tea and soft drinks will be pro- vided. D o n a t i o n s a re a l s o being accepted for the event. For more information: Heidi Classen, heidi.- classen@salemhealth.org. Peter to Peter a dangerous combination By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Cen- tral’s football team went on an air raid against South Al- bany on Friday — and the team’s two Peters led the charge. Quarterback Peter Men- dazona threw for 294 yards and five touchdowns, while receiver Peter Mason had five catches for 119 yards Central football game to feature fireworks INDEPENDENCE — Cen- t r a l ’s f o o t b a l l g a m e against Dallas on Friday will feature fireworks. The fireworks will begin at 6:50 p.m. and continue at vari- ous points throughout the game until approximately 9:30 p.m. Revis, Braxton earn GNAC honors MONMOUTH — West- ern Oregon football play- ers Malik Braxton and Paul Revis earned Great North- west Athletic Conference honors on Monday. Braxton was named GNAC Co-Offensive Player of the week, while Revis earned Co-Special Teams Player of the week recog- nition. Braxton ran for 191 yards and three touch- downs during Western Oregon’s 48-42 win over Humboldt State on Satur- day. Revis accounted for 216 all-purpose yards for the Wolves, including four kickoff returns for 94 yards. www.polkio.com offense. — Mendazona, a junior, is off to a strong start in 2016. Showdown • Central will host Dallas Friday at 7 p.m. in the team’s homecoming game. • Dallas enters the game with a 4-0 mark overall and 1-0 in Mid-Willamette Con- ference play. He has thrown for 929 yards, 13 touchdowns and no in- terceptions and has hit six different receivers for touch- weapons, one has emerged as his favorite: Mason. The senior receiver has 26 catches for 504 yards and six touchdowns. “He’s just really reliable,” Mendazona said. “I know if I throw a 50-50 ball, he’s going to get it almost 100 percent of the time. He has great speed. He’s the most reliable receiver I’ve ever had, real- ly.” See CENTRAL, Page 11A downs. “It’s defi- nitely fun,” Menda- zona said. “ P e t e r Mason is one of t h o s e Mason w e a p o n s. Isaiah Abraham is on the other side. They make my job really easy.” But among his numerous CROSS-COUNTRY SPEED DEMON Ribich running away from competition By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — David Ribich has competed on big stages before. But Ribich, a junior cross-country runner at Western Oregon, hasn’t quite found a challenge like the one he had in high school. “Our high school choir took seventh at state my senior year,” Ribich said. “I had a solo. It was the most terrifying competitive thing I’ve ever done. … I’d definitely choose run- ning over singing competitively.” WOU has been reaping the benefits of that choice. Through the Wolves’ first three meets, he has finished first at the John Frank Oregon State Invitational and the Ash Creek Invitational and second at the Sundodger Invitational. He’s not concerned with early season finishes, however. He’s got his eyes set on much bigger goals. — Ribich’s cross-country career began with a bang. “I won the first race I ever ran in seventh grade,” Ribich said. “I told my coach, I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. I think that’s when my coach knew that this would be a good thing for me to invest time on.” That same year, Krista Stangel won a state title while run- ning for his high school, Enterprise. See SPEED, Page 11A By The Numbers 67th 2 1 The place David Ribich took at the Division II Cross- Country champi- onships last year. The number of first-place finishes Ribich has in Western Oregon’s first three races. The number of state cross-coun- try titles Ribich won at Enterprise High School. Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for Sept. 20: Low gross/low net Gross: 1 (tie), Lee Taylor and Wayne Weathers, 38; 3, Joe Johnson, 39. Net: 1, Randy Wiley, 32; 2 (tie), Eldon Rivers, Brian Halin and Larry Hatcher, 35; 5, Greg Fisher, 36. Mendazona and two t o u c h - downs – the latest success in what has become a dynamic duo for the Panthers LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Western Oregon junior cross-country runner David Ribich has two first-place finishes and one second-place so far this season. WOU has competed in three events so far. PREP VOLLEYBALL PREP VOLLEYBALL Lammers learns how to Dallas earns key become a team leader win over Bulldogs By Lukas Eggen By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — When Anna Lammers stepped onto the volleyball court for the first time as a freshman, she was looking for a way to be more involved in school. The only problem? Lam- mers was reserved — not two attributes for a success- ful volleyball player. “The hardest part was ac- tually keeping up with it even though I didn’t know anybody,” Lammers said. “I’m generally pretty shy, es- pecially around people I don’t know and it was hard sticking with it not knowing anyone.” Lammers is no longer the shy player on the court. As Falls City’s lone senior, Mountaineers coach Roxi Barnhart called on Lam- mers to become a team leader — one who was more vocal on the court. That required a big change in personality. “It’s something that is new to me,” Lammers said. “I’m usually timid and shy. I’ve had to really step up to lead these girls. That has been a big improvement for me and will serve me well. I’ve been really enjoy- ing it.” DALLAS — As Dallas’ vol- leyball team scored the clinching point in a 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 win over Wood- burn on Thursday, coach Shana Lavier knew the victo- ry was important. T h e Dragons opened M i d - Willamette Conference play losing four of five matches, including a Ronco 25-15, 25- 13, 25-19 loss to Central on Sept. 20. “We needed this one,” Lavier said. “We want them to start strong and stay strong. The girls did a good job of that tonight.” Dallas played Thursday without Tristin Savage, who missed the game due to an illness. Among the team’s high- lights, Megan Ronco has es- tablished herself as one of Dallas’ most consistent lead- ers. “I think my defense has improved,” Ronco said. “When they serve at us, I’m better at being able to hit the RACHEL BEST/ Itemizer-Observer Falls City senior Anna Lammers has become a vocal leader for the Mountaineers’ volleyball team. Lammers credits co-cap- tain Amara Houghtaling for helping her develop into a true team leader. Now, she’s more outgoing and willing to speak up. “It’s a fun switch,” Lam- mers said. “I like being able to share what I know with them.” Falls City, which hosts C.S. Lewis Thursday at 5:30 p.m. hopes to break a three- match losing streak. “Coach keeps telling us we’re right on the brink of being really competitive,” Lammers said. “…We have to pick up the intensity. We’re working through these little kinks. I think as soon as we get that winning mindset we’ll be able to break through.” www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 Volleyball • Dallas’ volleyball team entered the week with a 4- 8 record overall and a 2-4 mark in Mid-Willamette Conference play, good for sixth place. • The top six teams from the MWC advance to the postseason. ball where it’s supposed to go.” But Ronco provides so much more to the Dragons. “Megan is that steady player,” Lavier said. “Every single match, every single practice we always know she is going to be cool and calm.” Ronco also provides a ver- satile player that Lavier can use almost anywhere on the court. “She’s played every posi- tion except libero and center in a match,” Lavier said. “She always brings a positive atti- tude and a big smile. She’s one of the most coachable players I’ve ever gotten to coach. She never falters with whatever challenges she faces.” Dallas will need her lead- ership if the Dragons want to move up the league stand- ings. See DALLAS, Page 11A www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports