Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
A9
WEDNESDAY
August 30, 2017
Grant Union claims home tournament title
Lady Pros host
Culver Bulldogs
at 5 p.m. Sept. 5
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union battled up the
bracket to victory Saturday at
their home invitational vol-
leyball tournament.
The 2A Lady Prospec-
tors beat 3A Burns 2-0 in
the championship game with
scores of 25-12 and 25-21.
Pilot Rock fi nished in third
place over Heppner.
The championship match
was a hard-fought win for
Grant Union.
The Hilanders stayed
ahead early on in the fi nal set,
and the teams tied the score a
few times. At 20-19, the Pros-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospector Kaylee Wright moves the ball over the reach of Burns
Hilanders.
pectors held the lead for the
25-21 win.
“It was a good matchup
with quite a few long rallies
and strong defensive plays,”
said Grant Union head coach
Shae Speth. “It was good to be
challenged and have to come
from behind.”
Prospector Reagan Shelley
said she was happy with the
outcome.
“It was good to see all of
See TOURNEY, Page A10
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Prairie City Panther Samantha Workman passes the ball,
with her teammates Emily Ennis (foreground), Haley
Pfefferkorn and Cassie Hire (23) in the action.
Prairie City Panthers return with strong volleyball team
Panthers host home
invitational at
8 a.m. Saturday
2017 Prairie
City Panther
volleyball
schedule
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Prairie City Panthers are ready
to take the volleyball season by storm.
The team of 19 is led by co-coach-
es Lance and Louanne Zweygardt,
though Lance has the offi cial “head
coach” title.
He’s in his fi fth year as head coach,
and Louanne has 10 years of coaching
experience.
Prairie City, in the 1A High Desert
League, fi nished in fourth place at the
district tournament last year. The top
three advance in district competition
to the fi rst of two state playoff games
before the state championship tourna-
ment.
With fi ve seniors and other players
who’ve had some varsity experience,
the team is confi dent about the upcom-
ing season.
Louanne said senior Brianna
Zweygardt is returning as a strong set-
ter, and senior Cassie Hire is returning
as an excellent blocker.
“Middle attack is something we’re
looking forward to seeing lots out of
her (Hire),” Louanne said.
“They all have something to of-
fer,” she added. “We are making some
adjustments from last year to make a
difference in the top end of our play,
but it will take some time to develop.”
Brianna was recognized as Set-
ter of the Year in the league the past
two seasons. She also received an All
State volleyball honorable mention as
a sophomore, and led the team stats in
serving, setting, hit/tipping and block-
ing.
“We have a really good team dy-
namic this year,” Brianna said. “We
work really well together, and there’s
no drama, so it makes the playing en-
vironment fun, and I’m very excited
for the season.”
Hire was named to the All League
second team last year.
She said her goal this year is to
work on her middle hitting skills, and
work with the setter, Brianna.
“I think we have a strong team this
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Prairie City sophomore Hailee Wall, right, passes the ball to sophomore Aleah Johns in a recent practice.
Seniors
Cassie
Hire
Mariah
McClung
Brianna
Zweygardt
year,” Hire said. “I think it will be
good as we progress more. I’m look-
ing forward to playing with my team.”
The other three seniors, Mariah
McClung, Megan Camarena and Sier-
ra Dahlen, also have a good outlook
on the season.
“We have a lot of positive com-
munication,” McClung said. “I think
what’s exciting is a lot of the girls are
here to learn and are committed.”
Camarena said being a senior role
model is a big responsibility, and so
far, she said, they are doing well.
“I’m looking forward to being very
Megan
Camarena
family-like this year,” she said.
Dahlen said she’s been impressed
at the work ethic of the fi ve freshmen.
“It makes us happy as seniors to
see that because they are the future
leaders,” she said. “Defi nitely, every-
one is working really hard this year. I
don’t see anyone giving up or not try-
ing their best.”
Three juniors and six sophomores
round out the varsity and junior var-
sity teams.
See VOLLEYBALL, Page A10
New head coach leads
Panther varsity football
Panthers host
Spray/Mitchell at
7 p.m. Sept. 1
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
A new head coach is lead-
ing the Prairie City Panther
football team as they move up
the ranks this season, from ju-
nior varsity to varsity.
Nate Barber, who was as-
sistant coach last year, is lead-
ing the team of 16 players.
He said the athletes on this
year’s roster are bringing size
and speed they were lacking
last year.
Barber has 15 years of over-
all coaching experience, includ-
ing three as a head coach and
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Assistant coach David Packard, left, and head coach
Nate Barber instruct the Prairie City Panther team during
last Wednesday’s practice.
12 as an assistant. He trained
his two now-grown sons in
the sport.
Recalling his time as a
high school football player,
Sierra
Dahlen
Barber said, “My dream was
to play at Ricks College.”
He grew up in Rexburg,
See COACH, Page A10
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
The Prairie City Panthers will host
Burns at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug.
30, beginning with junior varsity
and followed by varsity. In the
photo, sophomore Rilee Emmel
passes to sophomore Mariah
McClung in practice.
Aug. 30: JV/V vs. Burns,
4 p.m.
Sept. 1: V vs. Spray/
Mitchell, 5 p.m.
Sept. 2: Prairie City
Tournament, JV/V, 8:30
a.m.
Sept. 8: JV/V vs. Pine
Eagle, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15: V @ Burnt
River in Unity. 4 p.m.
Sept. 16: V at Interleague
Jamboree in North Powder,
TBD
Sept. 21: JV/V vs. Grant
Union, 5 p.m.
Sept. 22: JV/V vs. Harper
(homecoming), 4 p.m.
Sept. 23: V @ Crane
Tournament, TBD
Sept. 27: JV/V @ Burns,
4 p.m.
Sept. 28: JV vs. Long
Creek/Ukiah, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: JV/V @ Hun-
tington, 2 p.m.
Sept. 30: JV/V @ Monu-
ment/Dayville in Monu-
ment, 2 p.m.
Oct. 6: JV/V vs. Jordan
Valley (senior night), 4
p.m.
Oct. 12: JV/V @ Grant
Union, 5 p.m.
Oct. 13: JV/V @ Crane,
2 p.m.
Oct. 14: JV/V @ Adrian,
3 p.m.
Oct. 21: District tourna-
ment in John Day
Oct. 25: First round state
playoffs
Oct. 28: Second round
state playoffs
Nov. 3-4: State Volleyball
Championship Tournament
at Ridgeview High School
in Redmond
Youth compete at fair Rodeo
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Saturday’s Grant Coun-
ty Kids/Junior Rodeo
brought out many youth
competitors for their own
fair rodeo.
Fair rodeo board mem-
ber Jim Hamsher spear-
headed the event with
other volunteers, includ-
ing Trever Hamsher, Car-
ol Waggoner, Bryan Mar-
tin and Tanner Way.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Hamsher said the kids
seemed “elated” to com- Kase Schaffeld is successful in breakaway at Saturday’s
pete, and the winners Grant County Kids/Junior Rodeo.
were happy with their belt
Jim Hamsher said he was
buckle awards.
See rodeo results
especially glad to hear pos-
“I’d like to thank the
and more photos
itive comments about the
volunteers who helped out
on Page A10
event.
and those who donated the
“It was really nice, and
stock,” he said.
it makes it all worthwhile
Among those donating
stock were Monte Legg, Cracken, Abby Winegar, when you get to see the
Larry Finley, Trevor Faulk- Brandon Culley, Tyler Wag- smiles on the kids’ faces,”
ner, Didgette and Joe Mc- goner and Simmie Waddel.
he said.