A10
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
GU athlete plans to throw javelin down under
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union High School sopho-
more Kaylee Wright broke the state
record for girls javelin last May, and
now she’ll step up her game even
more with a trip down under next July.
Wright received an invitation letter
to join the Down Under Sports track
and fi eld competition in Queensland,
Australia, to compete in javelin and
possibly the 100-meter dash, at an in-
ternational level.
The nine-day trip will include an
excursion to Hawaii on her way home.
“I was very happy and talked with
my parents,” she said. “I told them that
I would do anything it takes to be able
to go, including fundraising.”
That’s just what Wright will be doing.
She started with the Mt. Vernon
Volunteer Fire Department’s Bake
Sale and Holiday Bazaar at Mt. Ver-
non’s Community Center last Satur-
day, where she sold baked goods and
Down Under Sports T-shirts.
Plans are also in the works to
hold raffl es for cords of fi rewood and
items donated by local businesses,
and taco and spaghetti feeds are other
possibilities.
Kaylee’s dad, Kelsy Wright, who is
also her track and fi eld coach, encour-
aged her to try javelin.
“I’ve been doing javelin since sev-
enth grade,” she said. “My dad said I
would be really good, and I’ve been
doing it ever since, and it’s one of my
better sports.”
Kelsy also competed as a state
champion in high school javelin.
Kaylee, who was on Grant Union’s
volleyball team that recently won third
at the state level, will be a member of
the Oregon Pacifi c Conference track
and fi eld team.
Athletes from Australia, New Zea-
land, Papua New Guinea and Pacifi c
Island countries combine to make a
“world team” and compete against the
USA team at the three-day event.
The Down Under Sports compe-
tition is the qualifi er for Australia’s
Olympic track and fi eld team, and
gives high school students a chance to
learn from expert trainers.
Wright is hoping the experience
will help her break her 131-03 throw, a
personal record that won her the 2015
state record.
“It’s going to be cool competing ...
and seeing what you can accomplish,”
Wright said.
Kaylee Wright
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union quarterback Zack Deiter, filling in for Wade Reimers, throws a pass as teammates make their blocks.
Grant Union loses quarterfi nal battle to Heppner
Coach Jason Miller reflects
on teams’ successes
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant Union football team ended its
postseason Saturday in Heppner.
It was a tough battle, but the Heppner Mus-
tangs halted the Prospectors’ rise to the top
when they nabbed a 46-0 shutout win at Satur-
day’s quarterfi nal contest.
Back in August, during daily doubles, Grant
Union head coach Jason Miller said their team
objectives were to establish themselves as a
contender in the state playoff race and to play
with “true grit.”
The Prospectors can refl ect on their success
in meeting those challenges: They became the
2A Wapiti league champions and won their
fi rst-round state playoff game.
“The kids had a great season,” Miller said.
“The last few weeks, injuries hurt us quite a
bit. I’m proud of these kids for their effort all
season long. They are truly ironmen the way
they had to go both sides of the ball all the
time.”
Injuries to Prospector quarterback Wade
Reimers and running back Cameron Hallgarth
kept the two sidelined during most of the Nov.
5 fi rst-round playoff, but Grant Union pushed
on to win that game 30-12.
In Saturday’s game, Reimers was back as
quarterback, and Hallgarth remained on the in-
jured list. Zack Deiter relieved Reimers, and
at times, Reimers played Deiter’s running back
position.
Cauy Weaver, a leader on defense during
the season, also fi lled in as running back.
“This season we had our goals, and we ful-
fi lled them to the best of our ability,” Weaver
said. “I wouldn’t have chosen another team to
play football with. We’re looking forward to
next year.”
Heppner advances to next week’s semifi -
nals against Regis, which had a 50-0 win over
St. Paul. Stanfi eld will face Kennedy — both
teams had shutout wins over their opponents
last weekend.
Grant
Union
Prospector
Zack
Deiter (3)
makes his
move past
Heppner’s
defense
with help
from
teammate
Wade
Reimers
(12).
The Eagle
Angel Carpenter
See PROS, Page A11
Dancers to fi ll stage Dec. 1-2 in Holiday Showcase
Blue Mountain Eagle
Dancers from ages 4 to 18
will grace the Grant Union
stage for the 20th annual Hol-
iday Showcase.
The seasonal event will
be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and
Friday, Dec. 1 and 2, at Grant
Union Junior-Senior High
School. Santa is even expect-
ed to pay a visit during the
show.
Admission is one canned-
food item, plus $5 with a pre-
sale ticket or $7 at the door.
The canned goods will be
donated to a local food bank.
This is the Grant Union
Gold varsity dance team’s
kickoff event. The Grant
Union Gold are led by new
coach Kattie Piazza, who was
also once a member of the
team.
The team will be joined by
the Grant Union Gemstones
junior high team, coached by
Rebecca Batease, as well as
younger dancers in the Level I,
II, and III dance groups which
train at Body, Fitness, Dance.
Level I with 4- to 6-year-
old dancers is led by Trista
Collins. Level II with grades
1-2 is led by Elena Allen, and
Level III with grades 3-5 is
led by Kattie Piazza.
The groups traditionally
perform to songs of the sea-
son, presenting the various
styles of dance they’ve been
learning.
For more information, call
the Grant Union offi ce at 541-
575-1799.
Level I
dancers
Haven
Giffin, left,
Harmony
Harper and
Audrey
Colson
brighten
the stage
at last
year’s
Holiday
Showcase.
The Eagle
Angel Carpenter
New Lady Panther head
coach ready to lead team
Character, hard
work carry over
to everyday life
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Bo Workman is the new
Prairie City Panther
girls coach. The Lady
Panthers will host
Adrian at 6 p.m. Friday,
Dec. 2, followed by the
boys team.
New Prairie City girls bas-
ketball head coach Bo Work-
man is picking up where for-
mer coach Penny Black left
off.
Workman has two years of
coaching experience, leading
the Burnt River boys and girls
basketball teams fi ve years
ago.
See COACH, Page A11
OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday 11am to 9pm • 541-575-1387 • 417 W. Main • John Day
04701