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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2015)
A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 SPORTS Community makes annual booster club steak feed successful BY SAM BARBEE HERMISTON HERALD Kennison Field was a huge project in Hermis- ton last year. While a good chunk of the money came from donations, most came from the Hermiston Sports Boosters Steak Feed, which LV VHW IRU SP 0DUFK 7 at the Hermiston Confer- ence Center. -RH7KRPSVRQZKRKDV EHHQLQYROYHGIRURIWKH \HDUV VDLG WKH HYHQW like Kennison Stadium, is just another indication of the support given by the community. “I’ve just been very for- tunate and blessed to be part of this group, to be part of a community that’s so giv- ing and supportive of these kids,” he said from Eastside Market. “It can be hectic at times getting everything put together, but it’s fun. When you see the end re- sult, you just feel good with what you’ve done. There’s so many people that put it together. You’re just one piece of the puzzle. It’s good stuff.” Tickets have already sold out for next week’s dinner, which includes raf- ÀHVIRU0DULQHUV6HDKDZNV and Trail Blazers tickets. The packages include four seats, lodging, dinner and a stipend for gas. Other items will be auctioned in a live setting, as well as a silent DXFWLRQDQGUDIÀHVDQG percent of the net proceeds go directly to the Sports Boosters to pay for various things, from an extra coach to equipment. Ford Bonney, the own- er of Hale’s Restaurant in Hermiston, is the auction- eer, and he helps coordinate the dinner because of his vendor connections. RDO, Three Mile Canyon Farm- ing, Columbia Bank, Lamb Weston, Sherrell Chevrolet and Rogers Toyota are title sponsors and donate what- ever they can to help the event. Tom Spoo, a local FFA alumnus, coordinates the barbecue, and Coca-Co- la and Budweiser provide drinks. This year’s steak feed is the same format as its been in recent memory. The meal, prepared by Spoo and the FFA alumni, feature steaks, salads and potatoes. “You can’t have a meal in Hermiston without pota- toes,” Thompson joked. Reser’s Foods are also a staple in assisting with food, and Columbia Pressed Wines also brings in beverages. Not only do people con- WULEXWH WKURXJK WKH RI¿FLDO channels of the night — by winning an auction bid or E\ EX\LQJ UDIÀH WLFNHWV ² some like to donate private- ly instead. “We do have some cash donors,” Thompson said. “People who will just write us a check. We have that. It’s another part of the equation where we got people who want to be in- volved, just on a quieter level. They’re not looking for (recognition) ... They just want to help. There’s a lot of great folks who will do that anonymously or quietly as possible. Like, ‘You know what? I want to be help, but don’t need any big deal.’ ” Thompson said that phase two of the Kennison Field project — building a grandstand on the north VLGH RI WKH ¿HOG ² LV VWLOO planned, but still on hold. “Nothing right now,” Thompson said of any proj- ects. “But there’s always stuff that comes up. People have ideas about things. You never know.” Thompson said the fund- raising goal is “always to do more than last year.” Last year, the event raised DERXW JURVV DQG QHWWHG DERXW ,W was more than half of the WKH ERRVWHU FOXE raised in the calendar year. “It’s great night. It brings the community together, people that have a com- mon love for athletics and the kids,” Thompson said. “It’s kind of a celebration in way.” By the sports boosters’ bylaws, the funds are re- stricted to athletics. Some funds go to helping student pay for various fees related to athletics such as physical exams, equipment to pay- to-play fees. Some of the money also goes to its adopt-a-dog pro- gram, which is aimed at giving students an avenue to participate in extracurric- ular activities if they can’t afford athletics. GUTIERREZ: continued from page A9 She had no idea she would contribute in a complete- O\ GLIIHUHQW ZD\ IRU WKH ¿UVW WKUHH PRQWKV RI WKLV VHDVRQ IURP WKH EHQFK $W ¿UVW LW ZDV D GLI¿FXOW SURSRVLWLRQ for her. She felt like she let her team down. She felt like she was somehow hurting her teammates because she was watching and cheering in- stead of running and scoring. During try-outs, she sat with her back up against the folded-up bleachers, legs ex- tended, with her schoolwork out. Every now and again she looked longingly out at her teammates doing what she wanted to do. It took awhile for her to accept her role. Once she did, however, she was all-in. “She brings a smile to practice every day,” Hoffert said. “She encourages girls every drill. When she goes in, she makes the most of it be- cause she wants it so badly.” --- :KHQ *XWLHUUH] ¿UVW UH- turned to the basketball court about a month ago, she ad- mitted she wasn’t the same player. She couldn’t run as fast. Her feet wouldn’t coop- erate. Sometimes she made “freshman mistakes,” as she put it. Her teammates support for her never wavered, however. They never stopped encour- aging, never stopped pass- ing her the ball. Hoffert was the same. He never stopped giving her opportunities and making sure she was alright. Two days after her surgery, with Gutierrez sedated and stuck in bed, the seventh-year coach came to visit her to make sure her knee was as good as it could be, that her spirits were up, that she would come out for the team. “They were really loving and caring like a family, just really supportive,” Gutierrez said of her team. “I liked that.” Gutierrez certainly appre- ciates that Hoffert left an open spot on the roster for her. “I was really grateful for that,” she said. “Because SAM BARBEE PHOTOS Hermiston senior Jazmin Gutierrez (30) said she wouldn’t take back her knee injury because she learned about what it means to have perspective, be a teammate and live in the moment. Hermiston senior Jazmin Gutierrez (30) is back playing basketball after suffering a gruesome NQHHLQMXU\LQ-XQHWKDWUHTXLUHGVXUJHU\DQGIRUFHGKHUWRPLVVWKHÀUVWWKUHHPRQWKVRIWKH basketball season. I’ve always looked forward to being on varsity and com- peting at this level, and them just leaving that open for me without even having to tryout, I was so grateful.” Hoffert, in turn, is grate- ful to have not Gutierrez the player, but Gutierrez the per- VRQ +H VDLG LQ \HDUV RI coaching, he’s never seen any high school athlete have the perspective that she does. He said she understands that any- thing a person loves can be taken away in an instant, like her senior basketball season, and that it’s imperative not to take things for granted. Her attitude and perspec- tive has rubbed off on her teammates — some inten- tionally, some unintention- ally — and it’s brought the VIKINGS: On top of that, Umatilla has an advantage in con- ditioning. During the past continued from page A9 week practice, Bow has Viks plan on pressuring run his girls hard. Mon- Amity’s guards, who have GD\ WKH\ UDQ PLOHV VKRZQ RQ ¿OP GLI¿FXOW\ along the McNary Dam handling strong ball pres- trails. Wednesday, they sure. Umatilla has done a UDQWLPHGPLOHVRQWKH good job this season of lim- high school track. Umatil- iting easy post-entry passes la plans to use that advan- by either strong ball pres- tage heavily on Saturday. sure or total denies down “Watching teams (out low. west), they are fatigued. Bows said he plans They are tired at half,” on letting Aleesha Wat- Bow said. “They’re tired son, Sidney Webb and in the third quarter, fourth Kassandra Galbraith run quarter. The defense amok among the Warriors. doesn’t sit anymore. Nys- team closer together as a unit. At practice Friday, she was in the thick of things, banging in the post, being a leader, getting some buckets. Hoffert also doesn’t treat her any differently. He holds her accountable the same way he GRHV-DQVHQ(GPLVWRQRU6DUD Ramirez. She is also the team’s big- gest cheerleader. When Hermiston went to Lake Oswego in Decem- ber for the Nike Interstate Shootout, an opponent of Hermiston’s would get super excited after each basket. So when Hermiston went to La Grande for its second game after that tournament, Hoffert said he wanted that energy from the bench. Gutierrez led the charge. “After that, I was like, ‘Let’s be the heart. Let’s be the heart when we can,’ ” she said. “I just feel like that was (my role). “I just wanted to encourage my teammates. I’ve always encouraged people to do better and cheered them on, (but) this season it’s different. Something’s different with the team we have. We have a lot more unity and we’re a lot more of a team. I don’t want to say I’m the reason why that happened, but I feel like with me being from a different an- gle I can encourage people in different ways.” --- Now, eight months re- moved from the devastating injury, the strength in Guti- errez’s knee has almost fully returned. She sports a brace from her shin to her thigh to keep her knee stable. She said every now and then she’ll feel the scar tissue pop, which is FRPSOHWHO\ QRUPDO 7KH ¿UVW time that happened she said she panicked and thought she had re-injured it, but now she knows better. She admits that her skills have diminished some, which is to be expected after such a long layoff, but that doesn’t matter to her. “It feels great (to be back),” she said. “I’m hum- bled and grateful that I get this opportunity again. My doctor told me that most peo- ple don’t come back because they’re discouraged and they don’t want to do it. I took that as a challenge. I said, ‘Let’s get after it. I want to play DJDLQ¶,¶PGH¿QLWHO\JUDWHIXO and taking it less for granted.” In Hermiston’s 79-24 win over Hood River Valley, Gutierrez got some run in the fourth quarter of the blowout. The senior got to the free- throw line and made one of two, her only points of the season thus far. She didn’t get in on senior night, though, which hurt Hoffert more than it hurt Gutierrez. “The game didn’t go how we thought, (and) she didn’t an opportunity to play, and I told her that it bothered me,” Hoffert said. “It stuck with me all night. She came to me and told me ‘It’s OK, coach. I get it. I’m upset I didn’t get to play on senior night, but you sa’s coach told me Amity’s never beat Nyssa back. ton back one time. They (and) easy baskets down coach had to call timeout They never beat Day- just mostly got put-backs low.” IRXU RU ¿YH WLPHV LQ WKH fourth quarter just to get his girls water and breaks. My kids don’t need that. We’re ready to roll condi- tioning-wise.” Because of their ath- leticism, Bow expects his Vikings to have a distinct advantage today. “If our legs are strong, “Climate Change: and we can shoot the ball, Impacts to hydrology, fish, wildlife & public health.” ZH¶OO EH ¿QH´ %RZ VDLG “Getting up and down the Facilitated by Jeff Blackwood, ÀRRUZH¶OOEH¿QH,GRQ¶W Member of the Umatilla County Climate Change Focus Group think they’re going to beat XV GRZQ WKH ÀRRU 7KH\ Speakers: Kate Day William Duke Eastern Oregon Mark Kirsch BULLDOGS: continued from page A9 ship or consolation bracket. “When we get beat, it’s about character,” Williams said. “We come back and win. We’ve just got to do our job in the back door. We’re gutsy enough to do it.” “Our whole team is sol- id,” Colbray said, who won both of his Friday bouts by pin. “That’s what counts, the whole team effort and not just a couple of front- runners. I think we have the heart to pull it off.” Rodelo exhibited plen- ty of heart in his 4-2 quar- WHU¿QDO YLFWRU\ RYHU -XV- tin Montgomery of South Albany. After two previ- ous shots at Montgomery landed outside of the cir- cle, a third with 27 second remaining in the match landed and resulted in the bout-deciding takedown. don’t have to worry about it. You don’t have to lose sleep over it anymore.’ So I talked to the team and told them to SXW WKHPVHOYHV LQ -D]PLQ¶V VKRHVIRUPLQXWHV-D]KDQ- dled that decision with more maturity than most adults would. She never stopped rooting on her teammates, and when it came down that she never got in, she was all team.” Gutierrez wonders if the injury never happened if she would have understood what it means to be a teammate in a tough time. If given the oppor- WXQLW\WRJREDFNWRODVW-XQH and successfully navigate that drill without tearing apart her knee, she said she wouldn’t. She would go through every- thing — the surgery, the rehab, the sitting — again because of the lessons she learned. Plus, she said she found her calling as a physical therapist, some- thing she might never had been exposed to had she not had injured herself. “It was a learning expe- rience,” she said. “I don’t think I would’ve learned as much about myself as I have or matured as much as I have or learned the importance of (being a teammate).” “There’s a lot more to life than basketball, and we get that from her,” Hoffert add- ed. “We do want to win. We do want to be successful, but there’s more to life than bas- ketball. She’s going to move on and be phenomenal in whatever she does.” “It usually comes down to the end,” Rodelo said. “I take one shot, get one take- down and I’m good.” +HUPLVWRQ ¿QLVKHG WKH ¿UVW GD\ SRLQWV EHKLQG 'DOODVLQWKH&ODVV$WHDP VWDQGLQJV 'DOODV ¿QLVKHG runner-up to Hermiston each of the past two years. Sandy is in third, Hillsboro fourth. The Bulldogs will go for an eighth state title in nine years today. Forum Brenden Haggerty Tuesday, March 10 th , 2015 at 7:00 p.m. BMCC, Rm ST-200, 2411 NW Carden Ave., Pendleton For more information please call Karen at 541-966-3177. Need not be member to attend. Please detach and send with payment Name Phone # Address City E-mail address Please include a season fee of $20 per individual member. Please make checks payable to BMCC. $6.00 at the door, students free Lecture reminders will be sent via E-mail, as will weather cancellation notices, if necessary . Thank you for mailing your membership forms to: InterMountain ESD (IMESD) 2001 SW Nye Ave. Pendleton, OR • Attn: Karen Parker
