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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 2018)
A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Wednesday December 26, 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW EO Media Group file photo EO Media Group file photo Eagle file photo Grant Union’s Mariah Moulton drives toward the basket against Clarissa Traeger (14) of Kennedy during a OSAA 2A state basketball championship quarterfinal game at the Pendleton Convention Center. Kaylee Wright of Grant Union clears the bar to win 2A girls high jump at the OSAA state track and field meet in Eugene. Grant Union’s Duane Stokes takes a shot for the hole at an invitational at the John Day Golf Course early in the season. 18 S P O RT S HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2018 By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The past year brought plenty of stellar moments from Grant County’s individual athletes and teams to look back on, includ- ing several for the record books. Highlights from some of the most thrilling moments are listed here in chronological order. 1. Grant Union wrestling Grant Union Prospector Drew Lusco, then a sophomore, claimed the 2A/1A state championship wrestling title in the 285-pound bracket Feb. 17 in Portland. Other Prospectors com- peting at state were Elijah Humbird (fifth place-220), Toby Boatwright (285), Russell Hodge (182), Ethan Moore (106) and Eli Sheedy (113). It was also the second consecutive year Grant Union, led by head coach Andy Lusco, brought home the 2A/1A Spe- cial District 4 title. 2. Prairie City boys basketball The Prairie City Panther boys basketball team clawed their way to second March 3 at the 1A state championships in Baker City. The Panthers, led by head coach Sam Workman, defeated Jordan Val- ley 61-53 in the semifinals and lost 73-50 to the Pacific Pirates of Port Orford. Prairie City also claimed the High Desert league title. 3. Grant Union girls basketball In their third consecutive trip to state, the Grant Union Prospector girls basketball team had a fourth- place finish at the 2A state champi- onships on March 3 in Pendleton. Grant Union, led by head coach Casey Hallgarth, lost the quarter- final round to the Faith Bible Fal- cons 53-49, defeated the Heppner Mustangs 62-46 in the consola- tion semifinals, then claimed a 54-44 win over the Oakland Oak- ers for fourth place. Grant Union also captured the Wapiti league title. Eagle file photo Rhea Mead leaps as the Grant Union Gold dancers perform their state competition routine for the local crowd at their March 9 Spring Showcase, dancing to Katy Perry’s song titled ‘Rise.’ 4. Grant Union boys basketball 5. Grant Union dance The Grant Union Prospec- tor boys basketball team placed sixth at state March 3 in Pend- leton. Grant Union lost in the quarterfinals 60-38 to the No. 1 Mennonite Pioneers, then beat the Toledo Boomers 60-49 in the semifinal consolation round before falling to the Kennedy Trojans 54-45. The Prospectors, led by Kelsy Wright, won the Wapiti league title for the first time in 28 years. The Grant Union Gold dance team, led by head coach Kattie Piazza, com- peted at the 4A/3A/2A/1A OSAA Dance & Drill State Championships March 17 in Portland. 6. Grant Union golf The Grant Union Prospector boys golf team, led by head coach Ron Lundbom, earned a trip to the May 14-15 3A/2A/1A state champion- ships where they finished 12th. The team was disappointed by a disqual- ification on day one of competition due to some incorrect directions on the course, but continued on to finish on day two. 7. Grant Union track and field Grant Union Prospector Kaylee Wright, then a junior, won three titles at the girls track and field state cham- pionships, helping her team earn sec- ond place at the state championships See Sports, Page A13 Eagle file photo Grant Union Prospector Drew Lusco won the heavyweight title on Feb. 17 at the OSAA Wrestling State Championships. In photo, Lusco puts Kaleb Kendrick of Irrigon in an arm bar at the Grant Union Wrestling Invitational in January.
