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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 28, 2017 11A Pickleball a popular summer sport in Dallas By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer Want to play? DALLAS — The impro- vised courts set up in the parking lot of the Polk County Sheriff ’s Office were busy for much of the first of Dallas’ Tuesday on the Square events on June 13. The sport? Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country, according to those who belong to the increas- ingly popular Dallas Pickle- ball Club. Karen Freeman, a mem- ber of the club, said the sport developed 51 years ago. It’s a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It played on smaller courts and with lower nets than tennis, What: Pickleball. Where: Tennis courts at Roger Jordan Community Park, 1005 SE LaCreole Drive. When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon; Sunday and Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. until dark. For more information: www.usapa.org. making it accessible to a wide variety of athletes. While there’s strategy to the game, most players can pick it up quickly, she said. Freeman said that doesn’t mean it’s not chal- lenging or competitive. “Your mind has to be fo- cused on the ball,” she said. “It can come back at you so fast.” Currently, the club meets at the tennis courts in Roger Jordan Community Park Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 to noon, and Sunday and Tuesday evenings from 6:30 until dark. “In the mornings, we have four courts full and people waiting out (for their next game),” Freeman said. “That’s not everyone. If everybody came, we would have quite a few people waiting out.” By the end of this sum- mer, club members — and anyone who wishes to try Pickleball — will have courts designed for the sport. Thanks to a grant and money from city park sys- tem development charges, the city is building courts across the street from the Dallas Aquatic Center. Work is slated to begin by mid-summer, granted that the ground is dry enough. Freeman said Dallas isn’t the only place seeing a surge in the sport. She said the city of Bend just opened a 16-court complex and hosts tourna- ments. The sport has a website that lists all the places in the country to play. “In the last 10 years, it’s really taken off,” Freeman said. “It’s pretty amazing.” LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Dallas offers chances to play pickleball five days a week at Roger Jordan Community Park. Race: Race follows parade route to Independence Continued from Page 10A The cost is $15 (10 and older) and $5 (9 and younger) until Friday. Day-of registration will be available from 8 to 10:30 a.m. for $20 and $10. The race is a one-way course, and participants will have to make their own post-race travel arrange- ments. Also, be prepared to han- dle the weather. “Make sure you are hy- drated,” Cable said. “We will also have plenty of hydra- tion and refreshments.” The mini-marathon has been a long-standing com- On your mark... What: 47th 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: Tuesday, July 4, 11:30 a.m. Cost: $15 for adults and $5 for children 9 and younger in advance; $20 and $10 day-of until 10:30 a.m. For more information: Terry Cable, 503-930-2360. munity tradition. Cable said he’s excited to see what 2017’s version brings. “We have plenty of tradi- tion with people running the race,” Cable said. “We have people who run and now their kids run with them. We have a lot of local people coming out and give great support.” Cable said he expects 400 or more participants in this year’s event. LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Race organizer Terry Cable said he hopes to see upwards of 400 participants. Ribich: Won two national titles in track and field GENEVA REINHEARDT/for the Itemizer-Observer Western Oregon junior David Ribich won a national title in the men’s 1,500-meter run. Continued from Page 10A Ribich ran the anchor leg in a thrilling race that saw WOU edge out West- ern State at the finish line with the fastest time in Di- vision II history. At the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ribich won a national title in the men’s 1,500-meter run. Most recently, he com- peted at the USATF Cham- pionships in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday where he took ninth. Ribich was the only Division II athlete in the race. Once there, he had some surprise visitors come to cheer him on. “I traveled with our as- sistant coach, Brady Bea- gle, and Johnson drove down,” Ribich said. “Then, when I get there, my room- m a t e , Z a c h Ho l l ow a y, walks through the door. Once I made the final, my mom drove like 17 or 18 hours down from Sacra- mento and surprised me by picking up Zach’s mom because she wanted to go. I didn’t know it, but my girlfriend Olivia came as well. It just surprised me to see people support me like that and dedicate their weekend just to watch me compete. The words I re- ceived from other Division II athletes whom I’ve never met before were incredi- ble.” With the 2016-17 school year officially be- hind him, Ribich has had a little time to truly take in all that he — and the track and field team as a whole — accomplished, but it won’t be long before he resumes his training for the upcoming cross- country season. He hopes to make his final year with the Wolves his best one yet. And when the going gets tough, it will be those who have supported him and given him encourage- ment that will keep him driven and motivated to succeed. “That’s the driving force that makes me stay confi- dent in my abilities and working hard, because I want more,” Ribich said. Fundraising begins for turf field Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — The drive to raise funds for a turf field at Dallas High School is un- derway. An official kickoff event will happen during the Sept. 29 home football game, but the project has already raised money to- ward its goal. “We have about $193,000 raised in pledged money and in-kind work,” Bill Mc- Nutt said. McNutt is work- ing with the Dallas Booster Club to raise funds. Project organizers hope to raise $850,000 in money and in-kind work by the end of April 2018 to install the turf in time for the 2018-19 school year. The project is focused on in- stalling a turf field, leveling Covering Your World For Only $ 35 * a year Subscribe Today! 503-623-2373 * In county the football field and ad- dressing any drainage is- sues. “The project is focused on everything within the track,” McNutt said. That would include deal- ing with a drop from the north end of the field to the south end. Engineer Greg Locke said during a school board meeting on June 19 that the south end of the field would be lifted to allow that side to drain by gravity. Solution on Page 8A Once the field is in- stalled, maintenance would be performed twice a year with a cost of roughly $5,500. The field would have a lifespan of about 10 years before needing to be replaced, McNutt said.
