Polk County News
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 25, 2017
WOU: Wolves place five in the top 15 spots
Continued from Page 12A
“It’s incredible,” Ribich
said. “Everyone is feeling ec-
static and relieved that all the
anticipation, all the build up
to this point paid off.”
Ribich navigated the
8,000-meter course in 24
minutes, 54.82 seconds after
pulling away from the lead
pack.
“About 3.5 kilometers in, I
was running with the lead
group,” Ribich said. “I heard
the announcer say it's a tight
battle between Alaska An-
chorage and Western Ore-
gon with all their runners
within striking distance of
each other. That gave me a
burst of energy and I made
the decisive mood.”
Ribich also had a little
extra motivation.
Ribich saw an interview
prior to the race with a run-
ner from a different school.
That runner talked about
Ribich’s kick at the end of a
race.
The senior wanted to
show there was more to him
than a fast finish — and ac-
complished his goal.
“It just shows that no mat-
ter what you think, races can
go unpredictably some-
times,” Ribich said.
Moments after finishing,
Ribich was watching the fin-
ish line, counting the places
as his teammates rolled in.
He didn't have to wait long.
Dustin Nading placed
eighth in 25:32.76 and the
trio of Tyler Jones, Parker
Pirates
Continued from Page 12A
Now, the Pirates’ attention
turns toward the state play-
offs.
Perrydale defeated Dam-
ascus Christian 25-17, 25-20,
25-10 on Sept. 9, but Dickey
is expecting the match to be
much more challenging this
time around.
“We beat them in three
sets earlier this season and
I think mentally that will
help give the girls confi-
dence,” Dickey said. “But
I’m not expecting the other
team to just roll over. We
know how important this
game is for us, but it’s just
as important for the other
team as well. They’ve got
to play with fire all the
time.”
The Pirates enter the state
tournament with a 22-6
record overall and 11-1 in
league play.
Damascus Christian en-
ters with a 17-6 mark overall
and 10-2 in The Valley 10
League play.
The winner advances to
the second round against a
to-be-determined opponent
on Saturday.
“The road is a little bit
harder for us, but I gave
the girls a little rest on
Monday and then got them
ready to play some volley-
ball,” Dickey said. “What’s
really helped us is they’re
starting to play as a team.
The communication is a
lot better and I think
they’re ready.”
Class 1A State Volleyball
Who: Damascus Christian (17-6 overall, 10-2 The Valley 10)
vs. Perrydale (22-6 overall, 11-1 Casco League).
What: Class 1A state volleyball, first round.
When: Wednesday (today), 6 p.m.
Where: Perrydale High School.
Admission: Adults, $6; students (ages 5 and up), $4.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the second
round on Saturday.
The loser is eliminated.
Marson and Justin Cross-
white finished 13th-15th to
round out the Wolves' scor-
ing runners.
WOU's women's team
p l a c e d s i x t h . Ke n n e d y
Rufener took seventh over-
all, finishing the 6,000-meter
course in 22:07.73.
Western Oregon will host
the NCAA Division II West
Region race on Nov. 4. at 10
a.m.
“This is the first trophy
our new athletic director has
gotten,” Ribich said. “We're
confident in each other. The
school believes in us. With
our ranking, it seems Divi-
sion II is starting to believe
in us. For us seniors, this will
be our last race in Oregon
and we want to do well.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE/Itemizer-Observer
Western Oregon celebrates winning the men’s team championship on Saturday.
PERRYDALE FOOTBALL
Pirates downed by Oakridge
Itemizer-Observer staff report
PERRYDALE — Perry-
dale’s football team lost to
Oakridge 64-20 on Friday.
Stats were not available
as of press time.
The Pirates (4-4 overall,
0-2 Special District 4) closes
out the season by hosting
Sherman Friday at 7 p.m.
Sherman enters the game
with a 4-3 record overall.
FALLS CITY ROUNDUP
Falls City hosts league playoff game
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MAPLETON — Falls City’s
football team closed out its
regular season by defeating
Mapleton 66-6 on Friday.
The Mountaineers (6-1
overall, 3-0 Special District
3) will host North Douglas
(6-2 overall, 4-0 Special Dis-
trict 3) Friday at 7 p.m. in a
league playoff game.
Both teams have
clinched a spot to the state
playoffs, but the winner will
get a higher seed in the first
round of state, which be-
League bowling results
First Place: Cherry Pick-
ers
High Scratch Series Men:
Dennis Fritz 586
High Scratch Ser ies
Women: Pat Ghormley 520
High Handicap Series
Men: Steve Clapper 720
High Handicap Series
Women: Linda Levine 681
High Scratch Game Men:
terry Casper 233
Hi g h S c ra t c h Ga m e
Women: Pat Ghormley 212
High Handicap Game
Men: Ed Trask 269
High Handicap Game
Women: Vivian Leeders 246
gins Nov. 3-4. For a longer
version of this story, see
www.polkio.com.
VOLLEYBALL’S SEASON
COMES TO AN END: Falls
City’s volleyball team saw its
season come to a close on Sat-
urday.
The Mountaineers lost to
Willamette Valley Christian 25-
15, 24-26, 25-20, 25-15 on Sat-
urday in the first round of the
Casco League Tournament.
Falls City finished the sea-
son with a 6-11 record overall
and a 4-8 mark in league play.