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BlueMountainEagle.com
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
A9
WEDNESDAY
March 13, 2019
Dancers kick off state competition with Spring Showcase
Grant Union Gold
competes Saturday
in Portland
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant Union Gold
dancers wowed the crowd
Friday at their annual Spring
Showcase with team, duo
and solo performances.
Dancers took the fl oor at
Grant Union Junior-Senior
High School, showing skills
they’ve learned over the past
six months of practice, while
also celebrating their kick-
off to the OSAA Dance and
Drill State Championships.
The team will travel to
state competition on Friday,
leaving the school at 9 a.m.,
performing at approximately
5 p.m. Saturday at the Port-
land Veterans Memorial
Coliseum.
Head coach Kattie Piazza
said she’s coached sev-
eral of her team members
since sixth or seventh grade.
Brandi Hicks is her assistant
coach this year.
The 10 Gold dancers
started off Friday’s event
performing to “The Great-
est Show,” the theme song
from the movie “The Great-
est Showman.”
In the routine, both Leah
Comer and Celine Hicks
are lifted up in the air by
teammates.
Performing solo in a
contemporary, lyrical style
were Brianna Majors, Leah
Comer, Shanniyah Hall,
Celine Hicks and Ali Chobo.
Chobo
and Andrea
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Gold dancers Andrea Comer, left, and Ali Chobo perform a hip-hop routine at
the Spring Showcase.
Grant Union Gold dancers lift Leah Comer in their fi rst
performance at Thursday’s Spring Showcase, dancing to the
theme of “The Greatest Showman.”
Comer also took the fl oor
for a hip-hop number, which
Piazza said is a favorite form
of dance for both girls.
All solo and duo numbers
were choreographed by the
girls performing them.
The fi nale was the big
reveal of the state competi-
tion dance, the team danc-
ing to “Whatever It Takes”
by the band Imagine Drag-
ons with a theme of “Break-
ing Free.”
Piazza said they still
had a little more to add to
it for state. Again, the cho-
reography included Leah
Comer and Celine Hicks
held up by teammates in the
performance.
Andrea Comer, Celine
Hicks and Ali Chobo were
recognized as seniors on the
team.
Emilie Updegrave, a
junior, said she was happy
with the outcome for the eve-
ning as well as the season.
“We have worked really
Grant Union Gold dancer Leah Comer performs a solo
routine, dancing to “Skyfall” by Adele.
hard for this, and I person-
ally think this is the best year
we’ve had in a while,” she
said. “This team has meant
so much to me because
everyone loves dance so
much and is here for a
reason.”
Sophomore
Brianna
Majors was also pleased.
“I think we performed
strongly tonight,” she said.
“I think we’re ready for
state.”
The 2A Gold dancers
are in for a challenge Satur-
day, as they compete against
schools in the 1A-4A class.
“It’s one of the tough-
est divisions in the state,”
Piazza said, adding Grant
Union is the only 2A team
taking the fl oor.
She said some of the
teams have dance as a year-
round sport, and some score
as high as 6A teams.
Although
competi-
tion will be tough, look-
ing forward, Piazza remains
hopeful.
“We have one of the
best-conditioned
teams
in the state of Oregon,”
she said. “It takes a lot
of strength, energy and
emotion.”
Special Olympians face law enforcement for basketball fun
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant County Spe-
cial Olympics Miners chal-
lenged the law enforcement
team in a basketball show-
down Thursday evening at
the Prairie City School gym.
“The crowd was gener-
ous and supportive,” said
Miners head coach Dave
Hoeffner.
He said shooting the
ball,
rebounding
and
defense were key in their
preparation.
“The team worked hard
this year,” he said. “Their
skill level has improved.”
He said two of his play-
ers were unable to play this
year, and he hopes they’ll
be able to join them next
season.
John Day Police Chief
Mike Durr said the event
was fun.
“I think next year we’ll
practice more, and we’ll be
ready for them,” he said.
JDPD Offi cer Andrew
Martin said he’s had some
experience coaching basket-
ball in Baker City.
“I love basketball and
helping other people enjoy
basketball,” he said.
Joining the action on
the law enforcement team
were Oregon State Police
Detective Erich Timko and
Trooper Jake Reeves and
Grant County Search and
Rescue volunteers Sam
Palmer, who is also a Grant
County commissioner, and
Pastor Randy Johnson of
the John Day Church of the
Nazarene.
Miner Caleb Madsen
Grant County Special Olympian Caleb Madsen (15) high-fi ves
referee Ray Wenger, and Crystal Wimberley runs down the
court in the game against law enforcement on Thursday
night in Prairie City.
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Grant County Special Olympians and their coaches and other volunteers pose with the law
enforcement and search and rescue members after their basketball game on Thursday in
Prairie City. Front: Referees Darrel McKrola, left, and Ray Wenger; middle row (black and
white shirts), Brian McKrola, Charley Fronapel, Katie Shockley, Elizabeth Swarthout, Caleb
Madsen (behind Swarthout), Jannet Hoeff ner, Crystal Wimberley and Josiah Hoeff ner; back
row, Pastor Randy Johnson, Oregon State Police Trooper Jake Reeves, unifi ed volunteer
Jason Leighton, OSP Detective Erich Timko (with hat), John Day Police Department Offi cer
Andrew Martin, JDPD Chief Mike Durr, Pastor Levi Manitsas (announcer), Grant County
Commissioner Sam Palmer, Special Olympics coach Dave Hoeff ner and Special Olympics co-
coordinator Deronda Lallatin.
scored two 2-pointers and
three 3-pointers for the
night. He said it was “cool”
when Johnson threw him a
rebounded ball, which led to
Madsen scoring 3 points.
“It’s not about who’s the
best. It’s about having fun,”
Madsen said.
“I enjoyed that the law
enforcement offi cers came
out and played with us,”
said Miner Crystal Wimber-
ley. “Our team has worked
really hard this year, and it
really paid off. We hope to
come back here next year.”
Other Miners team mem-
bers were Brian McKrola,
Charley Fronapel, Elizabeth
Swarthout, Josiah Hoeffner
and Katie Shockley, and all
contributed in scoring.
The annual basketball
game is the main fundraiser
for the local Special Olym-
pians, and the funds go
toward their travel and uni-
form expenses.
Special Olympics assis-
tant coaches and unifi ed
partners were Jannet Hoef-
fner, Jason Leighton, Lauri
Shockley and Deronda
Lallatin.
Other volunteers were
Pastor Levi Manitsas of Cor-
nerstone Christian Fellow-
ship as announcer and refer-
ees Darrel McKrola and Ray
Wenger.
Lallatin and Kathy Jo Gill
are local co-coordinators for
the Grant County Special
Olympics program.
The team’s next sport is
soccer with practices starting
up in mid-April at the Sev-
enth Street Complex.
On June 7-8 the local
Special Olympians will
compete at Providence Park
in Portland, home of the
Timbers.
Lallatin said they wel-
come more to join the Special
Olympics team, as well as
those who would like to play
as a volunteer unifi ed mem-
ber (someone who plays the
game, supporting the Special
Olympics team members).
For more information, call
Lallatin or Gill at Sue Z Q’s
Thiftstore, 541-575-0715.
Grant
County
Special
Olympian
Elizabeth
Swarthout takes aim during
halftime warmups against
the law enforcement team.
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15
Long Creek, Prairie City track and fi eld at Diana Thurmond
Invitational in Harper, 11 a.m. (MT)
Hailie Wright
Kaylee Wright
Madi McKrola
Tristan Morris
Jacob Vaughan
Tanner Elliott
Blue Mountain Conference All-League recognition
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union girls basketball
Hailie Wright, senior, fi rst team
Kaylee Wright, senior, fi rst team
Madi McKrola, senior, second team
Grant Union softball vs. Burns, 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (may be post-
poned to Saturday pending fi eld conditions)
Grant Union baseball hosts Ice Breaker Tournament vs.
Mac-Hi, 2 p.m. — CANCELED
Saturday, March 16
Grant Union boys basketball
Tristan Morris, junior, fi rst team
Jacob Vaughan, senior, second team
Tanner Elliott, senior, second team
Grant Union baseball hosts Ice Breaker Tournament vs. St.
Paul, 2 p.m. — CANCELED
Grant Union dance @ OSAA Dance and Drill State Champi-
onships, Portland, 5 p.m. (approximate time)