Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2017)
A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 14, 2017 WEDNESDAY June 14, 2017 Clark wrestles his way to the top Steer wrestler finishes third at state finals By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle GW Clark of Long Creek earned his ticket to the Nation- al High School Rodeo Finals after placing third in the steer wrestling average at the June 8-10 State Finals in Prineville. Clark, who recently grad- uated from Monument High School, rides for the Harney County High School Rodeo Club. “I came into the fi nals tied for fi fth-sixth,” he said. “The top seven kids were only sep- arated by like 25 points, so I knew I needed to throw every steer to make nationals.” Eleven steer wrestlers competed at the Oregon High School Rodeo Association event. In Prineville, Clark fi nished in fi fth place on day one and two with times of 55.00 and 17.52, respectively. He won second place on the fi nal day with a time of 11.95. “We had a good pen of steers, so all the doggers had an even chance at them,” he said. “My goal was to get all three down, and I did.” Clark was the only cowboy to obtain a time on all three days and won the average for the weekend. By winning the average, he advanced to third in the state on points for the year and will move on to the national fi nals. The National High School Rodeo Finals will take place July 16-22 in Gillette, Wyo- ming. When he’s not working on the ranch, fencing and riding, Clark said he’ll practice for the big event and exercise his horse. “I’m excited for nationals,” he said. “There’s a really good bunch of contestants going from Oregon, so it will be a lot of fun.” GW Clark of Long Creek steer wrestles for third place at the Oregon High School Rodeo Association State Finals Rodeo in Prineville. Clark, who is a recent graduate of Monument High School, rides for the Harney County High School Rodeo Club. Clark will compete at the July 16-22 National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming. Contributed photo LindsayWyllie.com After the Gold Rush S OFTBALL HONORS Brianna Zweygardt Mariah Moulton Whitney McClellan Cody Jo Madden Ravyn Walker Hailie Wright Marissa Smith Natalie Stearns Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Runners take their start in Saturday morning’s Gold Rush Run in Canyon City, including front runners, from left, Brent Labhart, Mark Kerstens and Tanner Elliott. R UNNERS RACE THROUGH HISTORIC MINING TOWN By Angel Carpenter Gold Rush Run and Walk 5K Blue Mountain Eagle R unner Brent Labhart of Portland posted a time of 18:01 for the win in Sat- urday’s Gold Rush Run and Walk 5K in Canyon City. It was just 2 seconds shy of the 17:59 record he set a few years ago. The event, which is a part of the ’62 Days celebration commemorating the discovery of gold in Canyon City, had 24 runners and walkers partici- pating. The athletes took a route through the historic town, including up the steep incline of Rebel Hill Road and past the old schoolhouse, which is now a private home, ending at the starting point in front of Sels Brewery. “The elevation is diffi cult,” said Labhart, who grew up in the area. “It was a bit of a brutal run for me, but I’ll take the time.” Four-year-old Noxi Long and Kelsey Long of Seneca take their start. Mark Kerstens of Massachusetts, who worked in the area last summer, returned for the race, fi nishing 16 sec- onds behind Labhart. “It was a good race,” he said. “(Brent) was really pushing the pace. I couldn’t miss this race.” “This is a tradition,” Labhart said. “It’s a fun race.” 1. Brent Labhart, 18:01 2. Mark Kerstens, 18:17 3. Tanner Elliott, 20:10 4. Kevin Nelson, 22:02 5. Grant Hall, 22:20 6. “Pre” McDonald, 22:44 7. Austin Cates, 22:54 8. David Hall, 22:55 9. Brandon Sickler, 23:55 9. Levi Manitsas, 23:55 11. Janessa Sickler, 24:33 Eleven-year-old Grant Hall of John Day, who fi nished fi fth, also ran a half marathon the weekend before in Newport. “It was pretty fun,” he said of the Gold Rush Run. “I passed up a teen- ager.” The fi rst-place fi nisher in the women’s division was Dr. Janessa Youth golf lessons offer intro to sport Sickler of Canyon City, posting a time of 24:33. The youngest competitor, 3-year- old Sam Bailey, fi nished the race in 28:22, and he had a grin on his face as he reached the fi nish line with his father, Dr. Zac Bailey. “I can run so fast because I’m this many years old,” he said, holding up three fi ngers. Hardly out of breath, the young- ster ran back up Washington Street to meet his mom, then ran with her to the fi nish line as she pushed his baby sister in a jogging stroller. Hugh Snook, who has organized the race for 18 years, said it was a big- ger race in the ’70s and ’80s, but he was happy with the turnout on what was a rainy weekend. He said he tries to keep the tra- ditions going, including dropping a “golden nugget” into a gold pan to give runners their start. “I have a soft spot in my heart for this race,” he said. B ASEBALL HONORS Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County Junior Golf will teach youth the basics of the sport with instruction from coach Ron Lundbom. The lessons will be held 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 26-30, at the John Day Golf Course Boys and girls ages 8 to 18 in all areas of Grant County are invited to sign up. Golf clubs are available to borrow through the program. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter The camp ends with a golf scramble and ice cream party Madelyn, left, and Max Bailey warm up for a golf on Friday, June 30. The cost scramble during last year’s Grant County Junior Golf Club. This year’s week of lessons begin June 26. is $30 per person. To sign up, or for more information, call the John 0170 or Ron Lundbom at 575-2692 (evenings) or 541- Day Golf Club at 541-575- 541-575-1850 (days), 541- 620-0427. Zack Deiter Wade Reimers Jesse Paulsen Cauy Weaver Special District 6 All-League selections • Zack Deiter, pitcher, second team, Grant Union • Wade Reimers, infi eld, honorable mention, Grant Union • Jesse Paulson, infi eld, honorable mention, Grant Union • Cauy Weaver, outfi eld, honorable mention, Grant Union Contributed photos Tanni Wenger Photography Tressa Ranft 3A All-Oregon Teams • Brianna Zweygardt, catch- er, Prairie City junior, First Team • Mariah Moulton, infi eld, Grant Union junior, honorable mention 3A-Special District 2 honors CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR • Brianna Zweygardt, catch- er, junior (Grant Union/Prairie City) • Hannah Mizuta, infi elder, senior (Vale) FIRST TEAM • Brianna Zweygardt, catch- er, junior (Grant Union/Prairie City) • Mariah Moulton, infi elder, junior (Grant Union) • Whitney McClellan, out- fi elder, junior (Grant Union) • Marissa Smith, designat- ed player, sophomore (Grant Union) SECOND TEAM • Cody Jo Madden, pitcher, junior (Grant Union) • Ravyn Walker, infi elder, senior (Grant Union/Dayville) • Hailie Wright, outfi elder, sophomore (Grant Union) HONORABLE MENTION • Natalie Stearns, infi elder, senior (Grant Union) • Tressa Ranft, outfi elder, junior (Grant Union)
