12A • October 30, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com SignalSports Cross country team sets pace as Cowapa League champions Seaside’s Katie Za- gata, left, runs along the course during the Cowapa League Champi- onships, slightly ahead of teammate Josie Smith. Both qualified for the state meet. By Gary Henley EO Media Group JOSHUA BESSEX/EO MEDIA GROUP WARRENTON — When it comes to Class 4A boys cross country, the top three high school teams in Oregon were all on display Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Camp Rilea, site of the annual Cowapa League Championships. And the best of the best? Seaside settled that question with a dominat- ing performance on the soggy, ,000-meter course. The Gulls had three of the top four ¿nishers and literally ran off with the Cowapa boys’ team championship, as Seaside ¿nished with 3 points, followed by Tillamook (48) and Valley Catholic (9). Along with the entire boys’ team, the Seaside girls will send two ath- letes to the state meet, Oct. 31 in Eugene. Coaches around the state have already voted Seaside as the best boys’ team at the 4A level — and the Gulls will be the favorites once they line up to run at Lane Community College. Seaside’s ¿rst si[ runners ¿nished in the top 21 in Wednesday’s race, and (“Good grief,” says the rest of the Cow- apa League) none of them are seniors. “We knew this meet would be a smackdown,” Seaside coach Neil Bran- son said. “In the hypothetical results, the Cowapa meet was Tillamook, ourselves and Valley Catholic (for ¿rst, second and third); and statewide, it’s Tillamook, Valley Catholic and ourselves.” Individually, the Gulls picked up the bulk of their points with a 2-3-4 ¿nish. After Tillamook senior Eulis- es Cru]-Vieyra (¿rst in 16 minutes, 44 seconds), it was Seaside junior Bradley Rzewnicki (second, 16:49); junior Hunt- er Thompson (third, 16:6); and sopho- more Ra¿ Sibony (fourth, 16:8). -unior -ackson -anuik was eighth in 1:11. A key ¿nish came from sophomore Colton Carter (18th, 1:6). was real happy with (the time).” Teamwise, “I really wanted our team to make it this year,” he said. “It’s the ¿rst time we’ve had a really good team.” Said Branson, “From the 3,000-meter mark on, the boys really got after it today. It was a sight to behold.” Branson said this will be the best representation at state for the Seaside boys, “By far. It’s been 31 years — 1984 was our last one (league champi- onship).” The top ¿nisher for Astoria was junior Lucas Caruana, 10th in 1:13. The state e[pectations are de¿nitely high for Seaside — from the Gulls themselves. “Teamwise, I hope we win,” Thompson said. “We should. This (meet) was harder than the actu- al state meet. That’s what we were thinking.” “-ust do our best,” Rzewnicki said. “I think if we all have a really good perfor- mance, we’ll place well.” In the girls’ race, Scappoose soph- omore Linnaea Kavulich was the run- away winner in 19:, ahead of Tilla- mook’s Kara Putman (20:43). Tillamook won the team title, fol- lowed by Scappoose, Banks, Seaside, Valley Catholic and Astoria. Individually, Seaside freshman Katie =agata and junior -osie Smith ¿nished fourth (20:3) and ¿fth (21:03), respec- tively, both qualifying for state. “Katie and -osie ran great races,” Branson said. “Katie really stepped it up, and -osie, with about 900 meters to go, was running with (Astoria’s Kaylee) Mitchell, and you can’t get into a sprint with her. -osie responded right away and created some distance there.” Mitchell ¿nished seventh in 21:23, and teammate McKenzie Burnett was 16th in 22:42. Seaside runners are on FIRE “When they scored the hypothetical meet, Colton was 2th,” Branson said. “We knew he wasn’t going to be back there. And he will be even tougher at state, as far as being competitive.” Seaside junior -uneau Meyer was 21st in 18:2. Thompson, Sibony, -anuik, Meyer and Carter — all soccer players — had played a game the night before vs. Til- lamook. Not a concern, Branson said. “It is what it is. It doesn’t do a lick of good to get e[cited about it,” he said. “They just do what they do. They’re kids,, and I just knew that everybody would come out here and get after it. “Our theme was ‘courage’ — let’s just show courage,” he said. “And they did. This is the largest contingent we’ve had in many, many years. We had 3 kids running today, and we haven’t had that in a long, long time.” The second-place Rzewnicki said, “I felt good. It’s a slower course, and I JOSHUA BESSEX/THE DAILY ASTORIAN Astoria’s Megan Bergeron, No. 13, fights for possession with Seaside’s Lizzy Barnes, No. 4, during their soccer game at CMH Field Thursday, Oct. 15. Girls soccer closing in on WoS WKree ¿nisK By Gary Henley EO Media Group Seaside 3, Tillamook 0 TILLAMOOK — The Seaside Gulls are closing in on a WoSWhree ¿nish in the Cowapa League, as they scored another shut- out win Tuesday, Oct. 20, 3-0 at Tillamook. Seaside improves to 4-4, tied with Banks for third place with two regu- lar season games remain- ing. Tillamook drops to 0-12 overall. The Chee- semakers have been out- scored 89-1 this season. Boys Soccer Seaside 2, Tillamook 1 The Seaside boys locked up a share of the Cowapa League title Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Tilla- mook, as the Gulls defeat- ed the Cheesemakers 2-1. Elsewhere in Cowapa boys soccer, Valley Cath- olic defeated Astoria, 2-0. Volleyball The volleyball playoffs are set for two local teams. Warrenton, ranked 21st in the latest OSAA rank- ings, hosted 18th-ranked Portland Christian Thurs- day at 6 p.m. in a Lewis & Clark League playoff. The Royals and War- riors both ¿nished -6 in league play. Elsewhere, Knappa played at Gaston Thursday (6:30 p.m.) in a Northwest League playoff. The winner of that match advances to play the winner of Vernonia vs. Nestucca Saturday, and the winner of Saturday’s match secures the league’s No. 3 seed to the state playoffs. “I’m 55, should I get one every year?” “I’m 30, do I need one at all?” Is it time for your mammogram? Mammogram screening can help fi nd breast cancer early. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get screened based on your personal and family history, as well as other risk factors. To schedule an appointment with a Providence physician or provider, call 503-717-7556. We have clinics in Cannon Beach, Seaside and Warrenton. Digital mammography and breast MRI is available in our Diagnostic Imaging Department in Seaside. It’s not just health care, it’s how we care. ® A free gift bag will be given to all women who have a mammogram or breast MRI during the month of October. Get breast health resources at www.ProvidenceOregon.org/breastcancer.