The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2006
Page 13
Vernonia Sports Report
by Brittanie Roberts and John
Fitch
All good things must come to
an end, including this year’s fall
sports season. Football this
year, coached by Jackson
Gillett, finished their season
with a 5-4 record. The team
was dedicated, with everyone
working toward a chance to
make it to State. The Loggers
started out well, with three vic-
tories, but took a devastating
blow when playing Portland
Christian; the score was 46 to
6. This was the first loss of the
season, and hit the players
hard. The team suffered three
additional losses to power
teams Warrenton, Rainier and
Clatskanie; then had edge-of-
your-seat performances at
Homecoming against
the
Riverdale Mavericks, and fin-
ished the season with a 30-0
shut-out against the Neah-Kah-
Nie Pirates. The Junior Varsity
football team also had an im-
pressive season, finishing with
an almost perfect record; six
victories, one loss, and one tie.
Six Loggers made the cut for
All League and were intro-
duced at this year’s fall sports
banquet. The resilient running
back Brent Thompson, hot
blooded and impenetrable
strong safety Caleb Rice and
power-hungry defensive tackle
Dylan Burch were named to
first team All League. Line-
backer Bud Normand, tight end
Jeremey Lende, and defensive
end Willie Hansen made sec-
ond team All League.
The Loggers operated with
fire and passion, always work-
ing to get better and better, and
better. If you attended any of
the games this year, you would
understand why six of our play-
ers stood out enough to make
All League. The team worked
together and performed with
unmatched intensity.
This year’s volleyball team
had a competitive season, right
from the start. At least ten girls
were cut from volleyball try-
outs, unable to participate as
part of the team due to size.
The Lady Loggers Junior Varsi-
ty team won the bulk of their
games, finishing with more
wins than losses; an 8-6
record. Varsity did well, finish-
ing just one game out of state,
a 4-7 record, all under the di-
rection of Ron Ropp, their new
head coach, and assistant
coach Brook VanMeter.
Cross Country also finished
Districts just out of state as a
team, but had an awesome
season. The girl’s team won
second-place at two separate
meets, and the boy’s won first
place at the Adventist meet.
Nicole Frantz once again blew
the competition away, qualify-
ing for the state meet, and fin-
ishing eleventh there, just
clinching a play-off position.
Sunny (Michael Calhoun) fin-
ished 13th at Districts, missing
a spot to State by mere sec-
onds, an excruciating run to
watch for the team’s coach,
James Brookins. Brookins
knew that all Sunny needed to
do was beat the one man
ahead of him; however, both
Sunny and Nicole made third
team All League, which was
also announced at the sports
banquet. Coach Brookins had
an emotional display of pride
and gratitude toward his run-
ners, and an emotional farewell
to his senior star, Nicole, saying
he’s, “going to miss her!”
In a fitting end for our first
column, we want to congratu-
late senior Joreigh Landers for
committing to a division one
college in Illinois to play soft-
ball. She signed a letter of in-
tent to Northern Illinois with a
full ride scholarship. Joreigh is
an amazing athlete, exemplify-
ing impressive skills in basket-
ball and softball. We wish her
luck, and know that she will at-
tempt nothing less than her
very best.
Wrestlers take second in Jefferson Board meeting
Vernonia High School wrest- follows: 1st place – Tommy cancelled
lers took second place at a nine
team tournament in Jefferson,
during the weekend of Decem-
ber 9-10. With 14 wrestlers fin-
ishing in the top 4, the Loggers
were only 13 points away from
first place.
Local wrestlers placed as
Carr, Tyler Corey and Trevor
Gwin. 3rd place – Mike Potter,
Willie Hansen, Tyler Bernardi,
Collin Moeller, and Joe John-
ston. 4th place – Kodiak Stone,
Dylan Burch, Ben Bamburg,
Tyler Clines, John Dotter, and
Taylor Smith.
The December 14 meeting
of the Vernonia 47J School
District Board was cancelled
after the wind storm caused a
power outage that afternoon.
The next regularly scheduled
meeting is January 11, 2007, at
6:00 p.m. at the district office.
WGS Site Council invites public to meet with them
The Washington Grade
School Site Council meets
monthly to discuss plans to im-
prove the school’s educational
environment, to enhance edu-
cational opportunities for all
school staff and develop plans
to improve the professional
growth of school staff mem-
bers.
The WGS Site Council
would like to extend an invita-
tion to all community members
interested in attending these
meetings. The group will meet
at Washington Grade School
on Mondays at 3:15 p.m. with
future meetings scheduled for
January 22, February 26,
March 19, April 30, and May
21, 2007.
If you have questions re-
garding the Site Council or the
meetings, contact Aaron Miller
or Cici Bell at 503-429-7941.
Pet of the Month
Start your Holiday and Winter Ball search here.
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Wedding dresses and more,
wedding invitations, formal and
casual attire, dyeable shoes.
33555 E. Columbia Ave. Lorelei Village,
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Vernonia Sports Home Game Schedule
Wrestling
The Washington Grade School Christmas Program, held on
December 11, was directed by district music teacher Bonnie
Holce. The program, written by 6th grader Sammy Lindauer,
was entitled “Santa’s Stuck.”
Thursday, Jan. 4, against Nestucca &
St. Helens at 5 pm
Paid for by Henk Schenk, Broker, John L. Scott Market Center Realty and The
INDEPENDENT
Columbia Humane Society in St. Helens has a variety of wonderful
pets available for adoption. Find the pet that’s right for you in the shelter
at 2084 Oregon St. Monday through Saturday, 11 am. to 5 pm. 503-397-4353
Holly is a very young pretty Black
Shepherd Mix. She knows how to
Sit, Stay, Lay, etc. She would make a
very nice addition to any family,
and loves to play. Holly enjoys
other dogs and is just overall a
very social girl!
The Columbia Humane Society is a
No-Kill non-profit shelter dedicated to
helping friends find each other since
1985.
The Pet of the Month is Sponsored by:
PBM Inc. Precision Building Maintenance, Inc.
503.429.1042
www.PBMaintenance.com
LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED, CCB# 144926