The Blue Mountain eagle., January 01, 2019, Page 9, Image 9

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MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
WEDNESDAY
January 1, 2020
10 SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
FROM 2019
Contributed photo/Shanna Wright
Grant Union Prospector Kaylee Wright stands in the top spot on the podium for the javelin event at the OSAA 2A Track and Field State Champion-
ships at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. She broke her previous state record in javelin, and she was named 2A Athlete of the Meet.
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By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
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Grant County athletes in 2019 provided moments of excitement
after hours of practice and devotion to their sport. Here are 10 high-
lights from the year.
1. Grant Union track and field
Contributed photo/Kirsti Cason
Grant Union’s Trinity Hutchison is victorious
over Nyssa’s Noelle Acosta in the 155-pound
semifinal match at the girls state wrestling
tournament in Portland. Hutchison went on to
win the state title with a 5-1 decision over Lilli-
ann Restrepo of Century.
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One-thousandth of a second determined the 2A girls track and field
champions. A photo finish in the 100-meter dash gave 2 more points
to the Enterprise Outlaws, who topped Grant Union by half a point
to win the girls title at the 2A Track and Field State Championships.
Along with second for the team, Grant Union senior Kaylee
Wright was named the 2A Athlete of the Meet, shattering her pre-
vious state javelin record with a throw of 139-05 for her fourth con-
secutive championship title and became high jump champion for the
second year in a row, clearing the bar at 5-03.
Wright also raced with junior Sierra Cates, senior Trinity Hutchi-
son and freshman Carson Weaver on the girls 4x100-relay team to
place second, just .18 seconds behind Enterprise.
2. Grant Union girls wrestling team
Senior Trinity Hutchison won the OSAA State Wrestling Champi-
onship in the 155-pound class, and freshman Arionna Young placed
second at 115. They brought home the fourth-place trophy for the
Grant Union girls team as a 2A team, facing off against all sizes of
schools in the girls tournament.
3. Prairie City track and field
For the Eagle/Benjamin Lonergan
Levi Burke of Prairie City clears a 6-foot-5-
inch bar to win the boys 1A high jump at the
2019 OSAA 1A Track and Field State Champi-
onships at Western Oregon University in Mon-
mouth May 18.
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Prairie City Panther Levi Burke won the 1A high jump at the May
17-18 OSAA State Championships at Western Oregon University in
Monmouth.
“Last year was motivation to keep going,” Burke said. This time,
Burke jumped 6-05 — 5 inches higher than the next closest compet-
itor, Luke Martin of Sherman. Besides the title of champion, Burke
also went undefeated in high jump this season at nine events.
Prairie City sophomore Tristan McMahan and senior Syd Holman
also competed.
The Chieftain/Ellen Morris Bishop
Prairie City/Burnt River Panther Jake McHat-
ton takes down Triangle Lake Laker quarter-
back Zach Pennel during the Nov. 9 Six-Man
Crossover battle for third and fourth in state
in Madras.
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4. Grant Union boys wrestling team
Senior Drew Lusco, wrestling in the 285-pound heavyweight
bracket, had a second-place finish at the OSAA State Wrestling
Championships. The final round decided the championship match
with Lusco falling to a Central Linn senior by 1 penalty point. Along
with second place at state, Lusco won the championship title at the
OSAA 2A/1A Special District 4 Tournament.
5. Prairie City/Burnt River football
The Prairie City/Burnt River Panthers football team ended a suc-
cessful season in fourth place at the 1A Six-Man Crossover Cham-
pionship, losing to the Triangle Lake Lakers who claimed the 25-20
win at Madras High School. Head coach Scott Dean was apprecia-
tive of the many accomplishments the team had this season.
“I want to thank my players, the parents, the community and my
coaches Dennis Flippence and Jonathan Engberg for the change in
program direction,” Dean said. “Being the East Six-Man Football
Southern Champions served our players well because they became
champions — that can never be taken away and the program must
work hard to get better in the future.”
6. Prairie City boys basketball
Contributed photo/Kirsti Cason
Grant Union’s Drew Lusco (top) controls Chil-
oquin’s Daniel Jones in their 285-pound semi-
finals match Saturday at the 2A/1A state wres-
tling tournament in Portland. Lusco won 8-4
to advance to the finals.
The Prairie City Panther boys basketball team finished in fifth
place at the 1A Boys Basketball State Championship, falling 56-53
to the Days Creek Wolves.
Panther head coach Sam Workman said both teams battled hard
in their final game.
“I was excited with the way they played their last game of the sea-
son and how they fought,” he said of his team, adding they all per-
formed well.
See Highlights, Page A10
Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography
Prairie City Panther Marcus Judd is in action
against Nixyaawii with Golden Eagle player
Jace Ashley (21) defending.
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