A18
Blue Mountain Eagle
WEDNESDAY
November 11, 2015
Local cyclists IN GEAR for new trails
SPORTS
SCHEDULE
Nonprofit clears,
repairs forest path
College
football
By Angel Carpenter
JOHN DAY – Opportunities are
opening up for mountain bikers to en-
joy the scenery of Grant County.
John Day area mountain biking
enthusiasts recently formed their own
chapter with the Central Oregon Trail
Alliance (COTA).
Andrea Mesple is the Grant County
COTA chapter president and serves on
the COTA’s board.
Local members hosted a work party
last month to spruce up and repair areas
of the North Fork Malheur Trail located
Oregon St.
Oregon @
Stanford at
7:30 p.m.
Oregon State
@ California
at 7:30 p.m.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Oregon
Saturday,
Nov. 17
southeast of John Day.
The 12.4-mile trail travels through a
canyon and along the North Fork Mal-
heur Wild and Scenic River.
The area is remote and gives riders
an opportunity to enjoy the solitude of
the forest.
The trail is not only used for moun-
tain biking, but also hikers and horse-
back riders.
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works to design, construct and main-
tain non-motorized trails to enhance
the mountain bike riding experience
through safety, education and trail
stewardship.
The Grant County trail builders are
working on other long-term projects
as well, including a proposal for 42
miles of trails which would be part of
the Summit Creek Restoration Project
and a series of trails near Magone Lake
– both are under analysis by the U.S.
Forest Service. Another project, repur-
posing multiple old forest roads which
were already closed, Camp Lick is in
early development.
Russ Comer of Canyon City, who
helped at last month’s work event, said
he enjoys the serenity of the biking
trails in Grant County.
“You can ride all day and not en-
counter another person – it has a differ-
ent vibe,” he said.
Comer and his business partner Joe
Hittle own Fossil Shift, a bicycle repair
and accessories shop in John Day at
301 W. Main St.
Hittle said progress on local moun-
tain biking trails should be good for the
community, and not just from a busi-
ness perspective.
“I think it’s a positive thing for the
citizens of the community, giving them
one more opportunity to go out and ex-
perience the mountains and forest in a
different way,” he said.
Directions to North Fork Malheur
Trail from Prairie City: Turn onto
South Main and follow to the junc-
tion with Bridge Street. Turn left onto
Bridge and continue past the cemetery,
the road then becomes County Road
62. Follow CR 62 approximately 19
miles to the junction with Forest Road
16, then turn east onto FR 16 and fol-
low for approximately 11 miles to the
junction with Forest Road 1675. Fol-
low FR1675 for approximately two
miles to the campground.
Grant Union
spikers take
third place at
state tourney
ter that. It was great to see them
come out and just have some
fun today. We were a little dis-
REDMOND – Being one appointed that we didn’t get to
of the elite eight teams in the play in the championship game
OSAA/U.S. Bank/Les Schwab again like we did last year, but
Tires Class 2A volleyball for the we had a great season.”
second straight season and third
The Prospectors certainly
time in the last four years, the saved their best performance
Grant Union lady Prospectors IRUWKHLU¿QDOFRQWHVWRIWKHWZR
were focused on bringing home day tournament. The Prospec-
more shiny hardware.
tors had a fabulous start against
That’s exactly what the Lady Kennedy, while jumping out
Prospectors (26-5) did, as they WR DQ ¿UVW VHW DGYDQWDJH
earned the third place trophy Grant Union junior libero Chel-
with a 25-17, 25-11, 25-18 win sie Kodesh fueled the strong ral-
over the Kennedy Trojans (24- ly by serving 11 straight service
7) Saturday at Ridgeview High points, including two aces. Se-
School in Redmond.
niors Samantha Brock, Kenzie
The Prospectors, guided by Wilson and sophomore outside
coach Shae Speth, notched a hitter Kori Pentzer (19 kills,
TXDUWHU¿QDOZLQ1RYRYHU nine digs, two blocks) contrib-
the Bonanza Antlers (25-4), fol- uted kills to help build the lead.
lowed by a 3-1 loss in Friday’s
“It’s exciting to be in the
VHPL¿QDOV WR WKH &XOYHU %XOO tournament again and it’s just
dogs (30-4). The Prospectors, great to get third place, so we
ZKRORVWLQWKH¿QDOVWRWKH really had a fun season,” said
Burns Hilanders, came back to Wilson. “It was our last chance
redeem themselves by getting and we just wanted to give ev-
a big victory over Kennedy to erything we had out on the court
conclude the season on a posi- WRGD\:HGH¿QLWHO\KDGKRSHG
tive note.
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“We didn’t really play our it’s nice to end the season with
best on Friday, so I was very a win.”
proud of the way the kids came
The Prospectors then just
back and played so hard to get traded points with the Trojans as
third place,” said Speth. “We they continued leading by dou-
weren’t really quite sure how ble digits with a 24-14 advan-
well we would feel after a pick- tage. Pentzer, a unanimous All
up truck hit our bus after the Tournament First Team recip-
game Friday night. Four of the ient, pounded a game-winning
girls went to the hospital to get kill in the 25-17 win.
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In the second set, Kenne-
By Mike Weber
Special to the Eagle
the
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School: Grant Union
Grade: 11
Parents: Kielee and Mark Mosley
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Middle Blocker/Hitter
What I like best about my sport: “I enjoy competing as a team
and playing with this group of girls. Blocking is my favorite aspect of
the game. I’m excited to return to the state tournament.”
Coach’s Comment: “Heather is one of our most improved athletes
this season, and has become a force at the net in both her hitting and
blocking. Heather is a team-first athlete who always has a positive
attitude in practices and games.”
– Coach Shae Speth
Proud sponsor of Grant County athletes
100 E. Main ¬6WRSOiJKW in -RKn 'a\ 10 02947
Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography Studio
The Grant Union Prospectors volleyball team with their third-place trophy after the state tournament.
From left, front: assistant coaches Shanna Northway, Rhonda McCumber, players Hailie Wright, Chelsie
Kodesh, Natalie Stearns, Cody Jo Madden, Heather Mosley, Mariah Moulton, Kori Pentzer, Whitney
McClellan, head coach Shae Speth, assistant coach Steve Speth. Front row: Taylor McCluskey, Jocelynn
Smith, Rheanna Cartner, Kenzie Wilson and Samantha Brock.
dy took the initial lead at 2-0.
Grant Union quickly came back
and after a sideout made it 2-1,
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service points to give the Pros-
pectors a 6-2 lead. Pentzer’s kill
later extended the margin to 8-3.
The teams then traded points as
Grant Union continued leading
13-8. The Prospectors offense
was unstoppable from that point
on as they outscored the Trojans
12-3 the remainder of the set
for a 25-11 win. Brock served
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the set, which concluded with
Pentzer’s game-winning kill.
Grant Union’s momen-
tum continued in the third set.
Pentzer, junior middle blocker
Heather Mosley, senior Joce-
lynn Smith and sophomore Ma-
riah Moulton (nine digs) each
pounded kills to give the Pros-
pectors a 12-6 lead. The teams
traded points with the Prospec-
tors remaining on top 20-13 on
a Pentzer kill. The squads traded
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ley delivered the game-winning
kill in a 25-18 win. Senior setter
Rheanna Cartner had 35 assists.
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Culver, the Prospectors pulled
out a close 28-26 win. Culver,
the Columbia Basin Conference
champions and nearby local
favorites, regained the momen-
tum by winning three straight
sets for the 26-28, 25-20, 25-
23, 25-19 win. Culver then ad-
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lost 3-0 to the Burns Hilanders,
who captured a second straight
title.
Pentzer had 22 kills, Cartner
had 40 assists and Moulton had
14 digs.
In their opening 10 a.m.
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Mountain View Conference
champion Antlers, the Prospec-
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Grant Union responded by win-
ning three straight sets. Kodesh
served six straight service points
to help the Prospectors build
an 8-1 second set lead. Grant
Union continued leading 21-16
when Pentzer (21 kills, 15 digs,
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aces. A game-winning service
ace by senior Taylor McClus-
key provided Grant Union with
a 25-18 win.
Grant Union’s momentum
continued in a close 25-22 third
set win in which Mosley tipped
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ning point. In the fourth set,
Grant Union trailed 7-1. The
Prospectors had big 17-4 rally
to go on top 18-11 and they con-
cluded the match with a 25-17
win to capture the 19-25, 25-18,
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ry. Cartner had 44 assists and 18
digs.
“We struggled early and had
somewhat of a slow start, but I
was proud of the way the girls
fought back hard to win three
straight sets,” said Speth. “It’s
just been a really incredible sea-
son for us.”
This postseason appearance
marked the sixth straight year
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state playoffs. Moulton joined
Pentzer on the All Tournament
Team as she earned a Sec-
ond Team Award. For seniors
Brock, Wilson, Cartner, Smith
and McCluskey, it marked the
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High School volleyball career.
“Our seniors have had a
great career with us and they
provided leadership and played
strong out on the court the last
four years,” said Speth. “They
played with a lot of desire and
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game of their career. Not many
seniors get to end their career
with a win, so I’m really proud
of them for doing that.”
Taking teaching and learning outdoors
Dayville students
get hands-on
science lessons at
Camp Hancock
Blue Mountain Eagle
FOSSIL – Teaching and learn-
ing made fun.
Carrie Sullivan, who teaches
grades 4-6 at Dayville School,
said that was the experience for
her students who recently attend-
ed Outdoor Science School at
Camp Hancock Field Station near
Fossil.
“Students are having so much
fun that they hardly know they are
learning,” Sullivan said. “I believe
that is how teaching should be
done whenever possible.”
Laughing and smiling while
learning dance moves to accom-
pany a chant were evidence of the
students’ fun, Sullivan said.
The school, hosted by Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry,
offers a rich, hands-on, custom-
ized outdoor learning experience
for students in grades 1-12.
The 15 students enjoyed activ-
ities such as drawing up maps of
“In the past, the school was
attended only in the fall, but the
schedule switched up a bit to al-
low some of the students to expe-
rience spring in the desert,” Sulli-
van said.
They were able to explore the
full range of extremes in the des-
ert environment – from the cool,
wet spring to the extreme, dry fall
– allowing them the opportunity
to compare and contrast seasonal
changes, she said.
Seven new students at Day-
ville School who had never been
to Camp Hancock were able to
enjoy the experience at experi-
Contributed photos
ence this trip.
During a recent trip to Camp Hancock Field
Sullivan said her class draws
Station, Dayville School teacher Carrie Sullivan
upon the team building skills and
(upper left) and her grade 4-5-6 students, Jessie
strategies learned in the team
Douglass, Thomas LeQuieu, Rowdy Israel, Autumn
challenges course to strengthen
Walker, Katelyn Chouinard Barker, Hallie Rhoda,
the unity within the classroom.
Riley Walker, Majik Leigh, Alyssa Merkord, Gabby
According to Sullivan, the
Boehlke, Ethan Thompson, Cash Moore, Gauge
overnight school was fund-
Jenks, Ethan Walker Sofia Pinkal, with Sarah, (top,
ed in the spring in part by the
center) one of the OMSI instructors.
Grey Family Foundation for
$1,012.50, which covered half
the area, a hike to a celestial ob- LQWUDLQLQJFDPS¿UHVDQGPXFK of the amount for the students’
servation area, a lesson on how to more.
experience. The Clark Founda-
use a star chart, a hike up Horse
Sullivan believes making tion’s substantial contribution
Tail Canyon to a paleontological Camp Hancock a part of the cur- helped the class attend again in
VLWHWRVWXG\IRVVLOVE\ÀDVKOLJKW riculum is a huge factor in her the fall.
“It has become a key part of
under overhanging rocks, a close- students’ success on state science
our classroom culture,” she said.
up encounter with Stew, an owl tests.