A10
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
WEDNESDAY
January 4, 2017
G RANT C OUNTY
Youth wrestlers wrap up
successful season
Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography Studio
The Grant County Wrestling Club had a successful season, led by head coach Terry Harper, right, and assistant
coach Tye Parsons, left.
Taylor Parsons
wins first place at
regional tourney
SPORTS ROUNDUP
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union boys beat
Baker in overtime
The 2A Grant Union Prospector teams com-
peted at the Dec. 21-23 Nyssa Tournament.
The Prospector boys started things off on
a positive note with a 64-58 overtime win
against the 3A Baker Bulldogs.
Grant Union jumped to a 17-1 lead in the
fi rst quarter.
The Bulldogs changed up their defense and
started cutting away at the Prospectors’ lead.
The fourth quarter ended with a 58-58 tie,
and Grant Union kept Baker at bay.
“They did not score in overtime,” said Pros-
pector head coach Kelsy Wright. “We played
great defense. It was a great win for us. The
boys played their hearts out.”
Grant Union followed up the next day with
64-24 loss to the 4A La Grande Tigers, up
against some tall competition.
“That was a tough matchup for us,” Wright
said. “They had 6-foot-8 and a couple 6-foot-
6 players, and a phenomenal guard which was
hard to stop.”
Grant Union outshot La Grande in the fi rst
quarter, but the game went downhill from there
for the Prospectors.
“We had a game plan of stopping their best
guard,” the coach said. “I don’t believe he
scored as much as usual. I think we did good
against their best defensive players.”
Friday morning brought 6 inches of fresh
snow, and their game scheduled with Ontario,
set to go into the night, was canceled.
Lady Prospectors take
16-point win over 4A Ontario
Ten Grant County youth wrestlers com-
peted at the Oregon Wrestling Association
for Youth regional tournament held Dec. 17
in Hermiston.
The local wrestlers took 10th out of 17
teams.
Taylor Parsons placed fi rst for the 61
weight class in the 7- to 8-year-old division.
Owen Parsons placed second in the 61
weight class for the 5- to 6-year-old divi-
sion.
Jack Knowles placed second, wrestling
at 55 pounds, and Beau VanCleave (49) and
Talon VanCleave (110) each placed second.
Placing third were Zeke Rookstool (67)
and Mason Benge (80).
Also competing in the tournament were
Tatyn Harper, Tristan Clarry and Charley
Knowles.
Contributed photo
The Grant Union Lady Prospectors, com-
peting at the Dec. 21-23 Nyssa Tournament,
took a win and a loss at the competition.
Their fi rst game was a 52-36 victory over
4A Ontario, followed by a 27-16 loss to 3A
Nyssa.
“In the fi rst game against Ontario, we
played a great fi rst half, both offensively and
defensively,” said Grant Union head coach
Mark Mosley. “In the second half, Ontario
came out with more intensity on defense, and
at times we did not handle it well, but we made
the adjustments to get the win.”
Grant Union’s game plan against Nyssa
included putting the brakes on their two post
players.
“We held them to a total of fi ve points,”
Mosley said. “But offensively we struggled
scoring and the game became a defensive bat-
tle.
“Overall, I was proud of our efforts against
3A and 4A competition.” he said. “Now we
know the things we can improve on and focus
on getting better in the next couple weeks.”
Friday’s game against 1A Adrian was can-
celed due to weather.
The Grant Union boys and girls teams are
scheduled to host Irrigon Friday, Jan. 6, for a
See SEASON, Page A11
Taylor Parsons wrestles his way to first place in his weight division at the Dec.
17 Oregon Wrestling Association for Youth regional tournament in Hermiston.
See ROUNDUP, Page A11
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Parks and Rec activities
are running on schedule
Blue Mountain Eagle
The John Day-Canyon
City Parks and Recreation is
abuzz with activity this month.
Seven co-ed adult teams
will start league volleyball
competition at 2-6 p.m. Sun-
day, Jan. 8, at Grant Union Ju-
nior-Senior High School.
Games will be held each
Sunday through Feb. 26.
Parks and Rec program
coordinator Jeff Meyerholz
said open gym practices held
in December drew 40-45 adult
vollebyall players.
Rookie co-ed basketball
for kids in grades 1-3 begins
at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9,
at the Humbolt Elementary
School gym.
Registration applications
are still being accepted, and
may be turned in online, at
their school or at the Parks and
Rec offi ce, at 845 1/2 Bridge
St. in John Day.
Ski and snowboard bus
trips to Anthony Lakes are
starting up this month with
four trips scheduled for Jan.
14, Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and Feb.
25. Registration forms are
available online or at the Parks
and Rec offi ce. For more in-
formation call Greg Whipple
at 541-620-4043 or the Parks
21 enjoy Christmas
Trap Shoot in Seneca
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
A little snow didn’t scare away the
avid clay-bird shooters at this year’s Sen-
eca Range Christmas Trap Shoot.
There were 17 adult and four youth
shootists.
Organizer Nancy Chase said just
about everyone went home with a prize,
including hams, bacon, sausages and piz-
za.
“It was a very cold day, but we had a
warming fi re in the clubhouse and a pot
of homemade chili to warm our insides,”
she said. “A good time was had by all.”
Contributed photo
A total of 21 clay-bird shooters braved cold temperatures for the Dec.
11 Seneca Range Christmas Trap Shoot.
Contributed photo
Adults take part in a recent open gym practice,
preparing for league competitions which start up
Sunday, January 8. So far, seven teams have formed.
and Rec offi ce.
The popular Daddy/
Daughter Dance is set for
Saturday, Feb. 11, for girls in
grades kindergarten through
eighth and their dads or father
fi gures at the pavilion at the
Grant County Fairgrounds in
John Day.
The Parks and Rec boys
and girls basketball pro-
gram for grades 4 through 6
wrapped up a fun season in
December.
There were 26 girls and 38
boys who competed during
the season.
“Our volunteer coaches
made the season a great learn-
ing experience for the kids,”
Meyerholz said.
For more information, call
the Parks and Rec offi ce at
541-575-0110 or visit their
website at jdccparksandrec.
weebly.com.