Junior Hornets win two football titles
After four months of battling and bonding, the Junior Hornets youth football organization concluded its third season by competing in the holiday Gridiron Classic at Auburn Memorial Stadium Nov. 21-22 and Nov. 26-29. Three of the five Junior Hornets football teams participated in the event, which invites local football clubs as well as teams from Alaska, Oregon California and eastern Washington. Each team is drafted into four-team divisions, where winners advance to the championship.
The Junior Hornets fourth-grade team won its opening game with a decisive 26-12 victory over the Sunnyside Grizzlies. They squared off the next day in a championship game against the Graham Eagles and put the hammer down 19-0 to take home first place in the St. Helens Division. Fullback Travis Baxter and lineman Austin Rewoldt were both awarded Most Valuable Player honors.
The fifth-grade team got off to a slow start against the Timberline Blazers, trailing 12-0 at halftime. Displaying their high-octane offense, as they did all season, they battled back and tied the game at 12 midway through the fourth quarter, but ultimately lost 19-12. The team bounced back in the consolation game, pummeling the Pasco Bull Pups 33-6, qualifying them for a third-place trophy in the Evergreen Division. Quarterback and running back Kidder McKee took home MVP honors.
The sixth-grade team played at 4:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and feasted on the Sequim Wolf Pups with a 40-0 win. Kicking off against Tacoma’s Harpers Angels in the championship game, the sixth-grade team, which has played together for three seasons, sealed the deal with a 26-0 shutout and a first-place trophy in the Columbia Division. Running back Connor Pierce and lineman Isaiah Cornish were awarded an MVP trophy.
Rugby program offers look at sport
The Rainier Plateau Junior Rugby Club is hosting a series of indoor clinics to introduce the game of rugby.
The sessions are open at no cost to all interested students who would like to check out rugby and see if this is a spring sport they might wish to play.
The next sessions are scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bonney Lake High gymansium and Monday at Lakeridge Middle School. The final event is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Bonney Lake High’s gymnasium.
Attending a session in no way obligates an athlete to join the club.
For information, visit www.rainierjuniorrugby.com.
Wolverines conclude season in clash
In the competitive clash between the Capital City Cougars and the Enumclaw Wolverines Nov. 21, it was the Cougars that came out ahead 13-12.
The Wolverines were led by Joey Deters’ two touchdowns. A team effort, the game was not determined until the final 2 minutes. With the Wolverines marching down the field for the winning touchdown, a fumble turned the ball back into the Cougars’ paws as time expired.
On Nov. 22, from Vladimir Mejia’s opening 80-yard kick return, the Wolverines dominated the South Kitsap Gray Wolves, 34-0.
It was the first of two TDs and extra points for Mejia. The other extra points, and a touchdown, were made by Bailey Deters. The Wolverines also received touchdowns from Justin Mitchell, Garrett Quiles, and Ethan McElderry. McElderry also had an interception.
Equestrians bring back fair honors
Enumclaw and Buckley 4-H equestrians brought home numerous honors from the Washington State 4-H Fair, which took place in conjunction with Puyallup’s Western Washington Fair in September. Local 4-H horse program members qualified at Enumclaw’s King County Fair to attend the state fair where they exhibited in one of several equine sections based on their age and riding specialty.
In the Dressage and Over Fences section, Enumclaw High School senior Reilly Williams was Reserve Grand Champion in Senior Hunt Seat Equitation. Williams and her 7-year-old Thoroughbred Untamed West also placed third in Senior Equitation Over Fences, third in Senior Showmanship and fourth in First Level Dressage.
Enumclaw resident Cassidy Stobart and her Ponies of America pony Gus were Grand Champion in Equitation Over Fences for the intermediate age level. Hannah Dahlquist, an Enumclaw Middle School eighth-grade student, was Reserve Champion Intermediate Equitation Over Fences and fifth in Hunt Seat Equitation with her pony IndyGo. Enumclaw High School freshman Sabrina Woodard captured fifth place in Intermediate Showmanship with her horse Luke.
In the Senior Western Games section, Enumclaw resident and EHS graduate Caitlyn Becker was Reserve Grand Champion in Showmanship with her Morgan horse Spitfire. EHS senior Kacy Trojcak and her horse Ivey were fifth in the flag race, and White River High School senior Colleen Branson was sixth in flags and fifth in barrels with her quarter horse Dexter.
In the Intermediate Performance section, Enumclaw resident and Thunder Mountain eighth-grade student Taylor Davis was Reserve Grand Champion in Saddleseat Equitation with her Arabian Homer.
Williams, Dalquist, and Becker are members of Evergreen Equestrians 4-H Club. Stobart and Davis are members of Wranglers and Riders, and Trojcak and Branson are members of the Enumclaw Trailblazers. In addition to their riding accomplishments, these youth participate in educational activities and community service as part of their 4-H experience.
Plateau players named all-league
Thirteen area players were first-team selections on the 2009 All-South Puget Sound League 3A football team. The team was chosen by league coaches.
Enumclaw, who finished second in the league behind Lakes, had four players on the first team, along with three White River players.
Sumner had three players and Bonney Lake, who finished fourth in the league, had one.
Enumclaw senior Jordan Grant received double honors as he was selected as an offensive and defensive lineman on the first teams.
Joining Grant are senior wide receiver Coleman Clyde, senior defensive back Joe Gerne and sophomore Tyler Carlson on special team. Carlson was also a second-team pick at tight end.
White River players who receive first-team honors are senior running back Blake Tidwell, senior wide receiver Michael Madden and senior kicker Kevin Moore. Madden was also named to the first-team special team.
Sumner junior Cody Haavik was named as first-team linebacker and junior Zach Bower was named as the punter. Junior Peter Marth was a first-team pick on special teams.
Bonney Lake’s lone representative was senior Hunter Colegrove on special teams.
Second-team selections from Enumclaw were senior quarterback Riley Carel, junior running back Andy Holdener, junior offensive lineman Markus Hammond, senior lineback Mario Mejia and senior defensive back Andrew Gamblin.
Bonney Lake had five players with second-team honors. They were senior running back Aaron Quevedo, junior wide receiver Austin Marshall, junior offensive lineman Mike Howard, senior defensive lineman Dion Bertch and junior Colton Nash at wide receiver and defensive back.
White River second-team picks are senior offensive lineman Kameron Kujana and junior defensive back Markus Kaelin.
Sumner junior offensive lineman Sean Dorfler and senior defensive lineman Alex Griffith were named second-team selections.
Honorable mention were Tyler Babakus, Danny Malloy, Cole Schuler and Jason Stenbakken of Bonney Lake; Trenton Disque, Terren Houk, Kevin Knapp and Jeff Wiltse of Enumclaw; Alex Bricker, Aaron Clark, Ben Taua and Zach Williams of Sumner; and Marc Anderson, Barry Bonville, Bruce Jefferies, Kaleb Murphy and Chase Myers of White River.
League champs Lake, who had nine players on first team, walked away with top honors including Dave Miller as Coach of the Year. Willis Wilson was named Offensive Back of the Year, Roc Hill was named Offensive Lineman of the Year, Jordan Patterson was Defensive Back of the Year and Sione Potoa’e was Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Enumclaw golfer aces Oregon hole
With a 64-degree wedge, Enumclaw’s Dave Salsbury aced the 60-yard, 8th-hole at Edgefield Golf Course in Troutdale, Ore.
Exactly 10 years earlier, Salsbury nailed a hole-in-one at the same course on his 40th birthday.
