Cougars return 3 state placers
Photo by Steve Wilkowske
Garret Miyake (top), a district runner-up and a fourth-place finisher at state at 125 pounds last season, will be a factor at 130 or 135 for the Cougars this season
By Sean Patterson
for the Herald
The return of three state placers, one of whom won a
state title a year ago, gives the Canby High School wrestling team a good foundation to
work with as it embarks on another season.
Head coach Dan Nugent, now in his 14th year with the program, again has good numbers (70)
and plenty of experience (12 seniors) to work with.
And, in senior transfer Ian Gadberry, who wrestled for Canby as a freshman before moving
to Pendleton, a defending state champion.
"Being so early, we're still in the process of figuring out who fits best
where," said Nugent, who guided his team to a third-place district finish last
February. "But, as usual, there are a few guys who we know will be big for us.
Getting Ian back is a big boost, and we've got Lucas (Hambleton) and Garret (Miyake) back
after both got to state last season.
''There won't be any holes in our lineup, but at this point there are still a lot of
question marks. It'll take a little time to see who steps up at certain weights."
There are a few certainties. For starters, the Cougars have a bona fide state-champion
contender in Gadberry, who won it all at 119 pounds last season. He and Hambleton, sixth
in state at 112, give the Cougars a good one-two punch in the lower weights.
The team also has high expectations for senior Miyake, a district runner-up a year ago and
a fourth-place state finisher at 125. He'll most likely wrestle at 130 or 135 this winter.
In the middle and upper weights, the team has experience in seniors Keith Callaway
(140/145), Pete Savory (145), Nate Krytenburg (145), Jared Wilson (160), Jeff Wilson
(171), Steve Schrader (215), Emilliano Vargas (215) and Rath Cyrus (heavyweight). All of
them were key to a CHS squad that went 20-3 last season and won six of seven Pacific-9
Conference duals.
Canby also welcomes a talented freshman, Stephen Schantin, who was successful as a club
wrestler at the national level over the summer. He figures to be a factor at 103 or 112
pounds.
A sophomore, Joe Kuznetsov, should also see time at 103, while senior Drew Bayless gives
Nugent another weapon at either 112, 119 or 125.
Others to watch in the 125 range include freshman Jason Callaway and sophomores Pat
Johnston, Travis Colvin and Koelby Edlund.
And, backing Miyake in the 135 range could be Chris Kyllo or Lance Stewart.
Brock Ellis figures in around 140, and the foursome of junior Chris Morey, Josh Gustafson,
Ross Doman and Beau Ellis give the Cougars depth at 152.
Moving up the scale, junior Marc Koch will be the one to watch at 171, and senior Justin
Ables is penciled in at 189. Juniors Scott Doman and Aaron Porter join Cyrus as
heavyweights.
As always, the Cougars have set their sights high.
"We've got a good group to work with and, like every year, we've got the same goals
of winning district and taking as many to state as we can," Nugent said. "I can
already tell this will be a fun group to coach."
And, as in year's past, the Cougars will get their biggest challenges from the usual
suspects - Newberg, Dallas, McMinnville and Forest Grove.
Newberg has been not only a Pac-9 power but a state one the past several years, while
Dallas managed to edge Canby for second at district last winter.
Canby opens its season with the Lane County Tournament Dec. 1-2.
CHS not as
deep,
but some big names return
By Sean Patterson
of the Herald
The Canby High School swim
team may not be as deep as it has been in recent seasons, but the Cougars still have
quality swimmers who could very well make a run at state berths.
That's the assessment of head coach David Biskar, who enters his 13th season with numbers
and a few big names. Among them are senior Lisa Champ, the owner of five individual school
records, and Sarah Anderson, a state qualifier a year ago both as an individual and as a
relay competitor.
Canby also has high hopes for returning boys Corey O'Brien and Robert Street, as well as
newcomers Alex Laskey and Laurance Koenig.
But Biskar is quick to admit that, while Canby may have the numbers, it lacks the overall
depth that made the Cougars a team threat last season.
"We've got the bodies out - I think we had 51 kids (as of last week) - but many of
them are new to the sport," said the coach, who will team with new assistant and
former CHS standout Nathan Templeman to run the squad.
''I've got just six of my top 12 girls back from last year, so we lost a lot. And we lost
a couple of key boys in Erin Koch and John Lyon. We've still got some kids who will place
high at district and make state, but we probably won't be scoring as many team points.''
Champ, swimming as well as ever, is the Canby girl to watch. She has enjoyed a strong club
season over the summer and fall and is poised to get back to state in the 100-yard
freestyle and at least one other event.
Last year, Champ wound up second in the state 100 free only to Bethany Pendleton of Hood
River, who has since graduated.
"She's got a legitimate shot at becoming Canby's first state champion," Biskar
said of Champ. "She's motivated and swimming great right now, and she's as fast as
anyone in the state."
The Canby speedster can contribute wherever she is needed, but she'll most likely
specialize in the freestyle races.
Still another freestyler, Anderson, returns after reaching state in the 50 free. She was
also a member of two state-qualifying relay teams.
Canby will also get points from Dessa Bingley in the breaststroke, Bridget Crorey and Kari
Rittenbach in the distance freestyle events, and Michelle Maier in the individual medley,
butterfly and breaststroke.
The Cougars also welcome two newcomers who should be factors: freshmen Ashley Scroggy, a
versatile athlete who can swim all events, and Kayla Scheafer, a freestyler and
butterflier.
As for Canby's boys, the team's fortunes will rest heavily on the emergence of two
sophomores, O'Brien and Street. The former swims the IM and the butterfly effectively,
while the latter specializes in the distance freestyle races and the breaststroke.
Another sophomore, Laskey, joins the team and should contribute in the breast and
freestyle, and Koenig is expected to score placements in the freestyle and backstroke.
Others to watch include junior freestyler and IM specialist Kevin Larkins, Ben Dowdy,
Mitchell Freschweiler and German exchange student Joern VanAalst.
"I honestly don't know a lot about other teams in our league, but you figure
McMinnville and Tualatin are going to be strong," Biskar said. "Our focus will
be on getting better each week and peaking at the right time. That's the goal year in and
year out."
The Cougars open the season with a home meet against Dallas this Thursday, Nov. 30. The
meet will begin at 5 p.m.
Time is of the essence
for Huskies
Improvement and personal goals are at the forefront of what the North Marion swimming
program is all about this winter.
The Huskies had 17 athletes out for the team as of last week - six of whom are returning.
But once again, North Marion will be measuring success not so much in terms of points but
by times.
"Many of our kids are beginners in the sport and will be a work in progress,"
admits second-year head coach Chere Moore. "Our goal initially is to get better with
each meet. Last year we were able to do that. We started out the season scoring three or
four points a meet and ended up scoring between 20 and 30 by the end.
''Hopefully, that trend will carry over to this year.''
Four girls and two boys are back from last year's squad. Among them is Ryan Miller, the
team's high district placer last February with a third in the 500-yard freestyle and a
fifth in the 200 free.
Also back is Tim Hunt, expected to swim the freestyle sprints, and girl competitors Jenny
Carr, Julia Morales, Julie Walker and Jennie Webb.
Walker and Webb figure to specialize in the breaststroke, while Morales may be the team's
lone butterfly entry. Carr's strength is the backstroke.
In terms of newcomers, Moore is pleased to have German exchange student Anna Neiweiser on
the team. She will most likely be a factor in the 200 and 500 freestyle races.
With so many new and up-and-coming swimmers, the coach was reluctant to name any more
prospects, preferring instead to "wait and see who steps up for us," she said.
All told, the team features six boys and 11 girls.
"Ryan (Miller) has a shot at doing very well - he's probably our best hope at
district," Moore said. "But the whole team is excited about a new season. As I
said, we'll mainly be working on improvement and going from there."
The team opens the season with a home meet on Nov. 28 at the Canby Municipal Swim Center.
The meet is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.
After that, North Marion is not scheduled to have another home meet this season.
Huskies eager to prove themselves
by Sean Patterson
Canby Herald
If there is a poster boy who embodies the spirit of
the North Marion High School wrestling team this year, it would have to be Jason Roberts.
Roberts, now a senior, has gotten a taste of what it feels like to excel. He qualified for
state as a freshman, then just missed the cut when he lost a district wrestle-back match a
year later.
Then, last season, he was unable to compete at the Capital Conference district
championships.
If there's anybody as hungry as Roberts, head coach Mike Robinson would like to meet him.
"Jason has proven he can compete in this league and be successful," said
Robinson, now in his 13th year with the program. "He had a great season going last
year before it ended the way it did. Now, he's got one last chance to prove himself. And,
from what I've seen so far, he looks ready."
Roberts figures to be the Huskies' top man at 130 pounds. He is one of 10 seniors on a
30-member team that features a handful of state-caliber wrestlers.
Perhaps the biggest boost for North Marion - and the Class 3A level in general - came when
the Oregon School Activities Association approved a motion to allow the third-place
district finisher in each weight to go to state.
In year's past, only the top two from each weight class advanced to the 3A state
tournament.
That gives several North Marion athletes reason to believe they can make state. Among them
are sophomore Orin Newkirk at 145 and seniors Zach Martushev at 130, Justin Willis at 171,
Andrew McLaren at 171/189, Dallas Branum at 215 and Greg Jorgenson at heavyweight.
The Huskies also boast experience in senior Scott Bozarth (171/189) and junior Larry
Lisoff (140).
Robinson admits the team is generally young at the lower weights, with a number of
freshmen and sophomores set to shoulder the load. They include freshman Ross Newkirk at
103, freshman Tim Grossnickle at 112 or 119 and sophomore John Smith at 125. The team has
another sophomore, Chris Derby, who figures to contribute at around 140.
In the middle weights, Orin Newkirk will likely be backed by Japanese exchange student
Yasu Daisuk at 145, while another Japanese athlete, Tomo Mori, will figure in at 160.
The Huskies also have a freshman, Brandon Neileigh, penciled in at 152 and still another
freshman, Sean Young, competing at 160.
In addition to Roberts, Willis figures to be another strong state contender after
finishing third in district at 171 a year ago.
In the upper weights, Erick Medina joins Branum and Jorgenson to solidify the lineup.
As always, perennial state powers Cascade and Sweet Home are the teams to beat in the
conference. And this year, North Marion will get a taste of big-meet competition when the
school takes part in the Oregon Wrestling Classic, a preview of the state meet, for the
first time on Jan. 12-13.
"That should only make us a better team," Robinson said. "Any time you get
an opportunity to take on many of the state's best, you come out a better wrestler for
it."
The Huskies open the season at Rainier on Dec. 2.
