Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
A9
WEDNESDAY
August 24, 2016
GU team ready to net wins
Three varsity
starters return
this year
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
There’s been a shake up for
the 2A Grant Union volleyball
team and Wapiti League this
year.
One of the Prospector varsi-
ty starters transferred schools,
and fi ve seniors graduated.
Adding to the changes, the
Burns Hilanders, one of Grant
Union’s toughest opponents,
have moved from the 2A class
to 3A.
Kori Pentzer, who was an
offensive force for the Pros-
pectors the past two years,
transferred to an Idaho school.
Without her and the fi ve grad-
uates, the team will have three
returning varsity starters: se-
niors Chelsie Kodesh and
Heather Mosley and junior
Mariah Moulton, each with
three to four years of experi-
ence on varsity.
“They bring a lot of leader-
ship to the team,” Speth said.
Senior Natalie Stearns also
has varsity experience.
Speth said varsity starters
and team positions haven’t
been fi lled yet, but expected to
have the fi nal roster complete
next week.
“It may change throughout
the season as there is a lot of
strong competition for a few
positions,” she said. “I gen-
erally like fewer on varsity to
help develop team chemistry.
We have so many athletes that
can play all six rotations, so we
usually have smaller numbers
on varsity in the rotation.”
Kodesh was libero, or de-
fensive specialist, for the past
two seasons, but she’ll return
as an outside hitter, which she
played as a freshman.
“She is a strong passer and
defender, and a smart hitter,”
Speth said. “She’ll be consis-
tent for us at this position.”
During last year’s fi nal
game at state, Kodesh fueled
a rally with 11 straight service
points, including two aces,
contributing to Grant Union’s
win over the Kennedy Trojans
for third at the state tourna-
ment.
Moulton also brings out-
side hitting energy to the team.
“She has worked hard over
the past year to develop her
strength, and that is show-
Chelsie Kodesh
Natalie Stearns
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union volleyball team members give high-fives after drills at Monday’s practice.
“
I’m excited to see how far we’ll
go. I believe we can be league
champions. We work well together
with good attitudes, and we’re
shooting for first this year.”
Heather Mosley
senior starter for Grant Union’s volleyball team
ing already in her attacking,”
Speth said.
Moulton was selected for
the Oregon All State third team
last season. She led the team in
serving percentage and was
second, after Pentzer, in all at-
tack and serve-receive catego-
ries for Grant Union.
Mosley returns as a middle
hitter.
“We look for her to con-
tinue developing as an offen-
sive force for us to go along
with her strong blocking,” the
coach said.
Stearns will play a defen-
sive role as libero.
Speth said Stearns has
worked on her passing skills
and shows great control while
moving the ball defensively.
Other team positions will
be ready to announce next
week, Speth said.
“A few of the players have
been asked to switch positions,
so we’re in the process of see-
ing what works best for the
team overall,” she said, adding
they have a lot of strong play-
ers to choose from.
The Wapiti League mix of
teams presents another change
for Grant Union.
With Burns moving to 3A
and Cove to 1A, Grant Union
will face Enterprise, Elgin, Im-
bler and Union this season.
Two teams will advance to
the state playoffs.
“Imbler will be our stron-
gest league and state compe-
tition this year,” Speth said.
“They have a strong senior
class that played a lot during
the club and summer seasons.”
Last year, Grant Union
beat Imbler 3-0 at the Wapi-
ti League Tournament with
scores of 25-14, 25-17 and
25-22. Grant Union took sec-
ond place, and Burns won the
tournament.
Grant Union volleyball 2016
Aug. 26: V/JV @ Crane, 2 p.m.
Aug. 27: GU Tournament, 8 a.m.
Sept. 3: V/JV @ Heppner Tournament, 9 a.m.
Sept. 6: V/JV @ Culver, 5 p.m.
Sept. 10: V @ North Marion Tournament, TBA
Sept. 16: V @ Baker Tournament, 9 a.m.
Sept. 20: V/JV vs. Crane, 4 p.m.
Sept. 24: V/JV @ Enterprise, 12 p.m.
Sept. 24: V/JV @ Elgin, 5 p.m.
Sept. 27: V/JV/JVII @ Burns, 4 p.m.
Sept. 29: V/JV/JVII vs. Imbler, 4 p.m.
Sept. 30: V/JV vs. Union, 4 p.m.
Oct. 7: V/JV vs. Elgin (homecoming), 3 p.m.
Oct. 8: V/JV vs. Enterprise, 1 p.m.
Oct. 14: V/JV/JVII @ Imbler, 5 p.m.
Oct. 15: V/JV vs. Union (Dig Pink), 1 p.m.
Oct. 18: V/JV/JVII vs. Burns (senior night), 4 p.m.
Oct. 21: Wapiti District Tournament @ EOU, TBA
Oct. 29: 1st round state playoffs, TBA
Nov. 4-5: state championships, Redmond, TBA
In 2014, the Prospectors
were third place in league and
took second to Burns in the
state championship game.
Speth said she’s positive
about her team’s outlook this
year.
“We will be competitive in
league and at the state level,”
she said.
The three Prospector se-
niors expressed their optimism
for the season, and all agreed
winning districts would be a
great way to cap off their se-
nior year.
Kodesh said the team has
already shown their competi-
tive edge in practice.
“I’m looking forward to
stepping up and being more
of a leader this year,” she said.
“We have a good chance to
win districts.”
Stearns said she especially
appreciates the way the players
support one another, realizing
none are perfect.
Heather Mosley
“We’re all aiming for the
same goal,” she said. “We all
have good sportsmanship —
we help each other and pick
each other up.”
All the seniors have played
volleyball since grade school,
including Mosley, who’s
played since fi rst grade.
“I’m excited to see how
far we’ll go,” she said. “I be-
lieve we can be league cham-
pions. We work well togeth-
er with good attitudes, and
we’re shooting for fi rst this
year.”
Grant Union will host a
tournament beginning at 8
a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.
Teams competing include
Grant Union varsity and ju-
nior varsity, Burns, Crane, En-
terprise, Heppner, Pilot Rock,
Powder Valley, Jordan Valley,
Prairie City, Monument/Day-
ville and Weston-McEwen.
Cowkids rustle up fun Volleyball youth get
a handle on the sport
Results from the Aug. 14
Cowkids Rodeo at the Grant
County Fairgrounds.
Peewee Division
Wooly bullies: Nolan Mo-
bley, fi rst; Paxton Waggoner,
second; Trevor Sasser, third.
Dummy roping: Paxton
Waggoner, fi rst; Cruz Trevino,
second; Kodee Kimball, third.
Pole bending: Kodee Kim-
ball, fi rst; Jadon Snow, second;
Paisley Jennings, third.
Barrels: Kodee Kimball,
fi rst; Cash Coleman, second;
Jadon Snow, third.
Goat tail untying: Kodee
Kimball, fi rst; Cash Coleman,
second; Jadon Snow, third.
Youth Division
Calf riding: Taylor Parsons,
fi rst; Tayton Harper, second;
Jace Waggoner, third.
Dummy roping: Colton
Clark, fi rst; Denni Coleman,
second; Savannah Watterson,
third.
Pole bending: Denni Cole-
man, fi rst; Hayden Churchfi eld,
second; Colton Clark, third.
Barrels: Denni Coleman,
fi rst; Hayden Churchfi eld, sec-
ond; Taylor Churchfi eld, third.
Goat tail untying: Taylor
Churchfi eld, fi rst; Denni Cole-
man, second; Colton Clark,
third.
(Breakaway roping had
Day camps
review basic,
advanced skills
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo/LindseyWyllie.com
Young Nolan Mobley competes with a wild ride in the
wooly bullies at the Sunday, Aug. 14, Cowkids Rodeo.
four competitors, no time.)
four competitors, no time.)
Junior Division
Steer riding: Riley Robert-
son, fi rst; Kase Schaffeld, sec-
ond; Callie Arriola, third.
Dummy roping: Lacy
Churchfi eld, fi rst; Rowdy Is-
rael, second; Riley Robertson,
third.
Pole
bending:
Lacy
Churchfi eld, fi rst; Bailey Mc-
Cracken, second; Sam Mc-
Cracken, third.
Barrels: Lacy Churchfi eld,
fi rst; Bailey McCracken, sec-
ond; Sam McCracken, third.
Goat tying: Lacy Church-
fi eld, fi rst; Quinton Johnson,
second; Kase Schaffeld.
(Breakaway roping had
Senior Division
Steer riding: Opie McDan-
iel, fi rst; Warner Robertson,
second; Ben Combs, third.
Dummy roping: Trini-
ty Hutchison, fi rst; Jackson
Schaffeld, second; Opie Mc-
Daniel, third.
Pole bending: Regan John-
son, fi rst; Cinch Anderson,
second; Denali Twehues, third.
Barrels: Denali Twehues,
fi rst; Regan Johnson, second;
Trinity Hutchison, third.
Goat tying: Trinity Hutchi-
son, fi rst; Denali Twehues,
second; Cinch Anderson, third.
(Breakaway roping had two
competitors, no time)
Volleyball
players
learned the basics of the
sport, as well as advanced
techniques, during the Aug.
4-5 day camps held at Grant
Union Junior-Senior High
School.
Head coach Shae Speth
said they had 14 attending
the third- through fifth-
grade camp and 14 at the
sixth- through eighth-grade
camp.
“It’s one of the best
camps I’ve had,” Speth said.
She had several of her
team members help with
the camps, working one on
one with the athletes.
“We reviewed all the ba-
sic skills of passing, serving,
setting and hitting,” Speth
said, adding they would
also cover defense, blocking
and playing the game. “This
group (grades 6-8 camp) is
ready for advanced skills.”
Volleyball athletes get
jump on season with camp
Camp led by
USA volleyball
coach
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Prairie City
School volleyball
hosted a camp with
Volleyball coach Jake
High
team
USA
Con-
rad teaching skills of the
sport.
Prairie City head coach
Louanne Zweygardt said
14 participants came from
Prairie City, John Day,
Dayville and Monument for
the Aug. 2-5 camp.
Coach Conrad is a for-
mer Junior National team
player and has been coach
USA Volleyball for 10
years. He was also a libero
for Lewis University and
a setter for Carthage Col-
lege.
He currently coaches at
Sky High Volleyball club in
Chicago, Illinois.
“We were very happy
with the progress made
by all the players at camp
and learned a great deal
from Jake about volley-
ball and about coaching,”
Zweygardt said.