Dewey Enos continues to build a solid foundation for wrestling at Kennedy High. Enos, a Silverton High grad, started in 2017 with just 10 wrestlers. This season, he has 26 athletes on the roster and some good momentum based on a second-place finish at districts during last spring’s COVID-influenced season.
“To be honest there were some very hard years, and extremely tough days,” Enos said. “This is only the beginning. I try to explain to these great student-athletes that wrestling is a sport of commitment, accountability, and dedication.
“With those three things, the sky is the limit. We have built something special here with these kids and they have fun while doing it.”
Top returners are Adam Beltran (113), Jose Nunez (160), Griffin Kilbourne (170) and heavyweight Briggs Snell. Showing good promise, Enos said, are newcomers Jayden Bear (106) and
Jesus Espinoza (126).
Leading the way for the girls squad are returnees Kira Boitano (106) and Alexandria Geschwill (120).
Enos also noted the assistance he and the program have received from veteran assistant coaches Fred Geschwill and Craig Cervantes.
Meanwhile, at Silverton, second-year head coach Jared Wilson notes that “our league is by far the toughest in the state at 5A, but we look forward to the challenge. If you want to be the best you have to compete against the best. We are working hard to build a championship level program, and I am happy with the progress we are making.”
Top returnees include Steven Powell, 4th in the state last season at 170, and Jacob Moore, fifth at 126. Wilson also is high on 220-pound freshman Brash Henderson, who has had good success as a youth wrestler.
“We are really excited about his future,” Wilson said, “and are confident he will be competing at a championship level through his time at Silverton.”
Football: Jordan McCarty, who helped lead Silverton to the Class 5A state title in November, has committed to play college football at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. McCarty, who cannot sign with the Wolves until February, said “Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far. Can’t wait to get to work” in a Jan. 9 tweet.
McCarty was also named first-team QB and offensive player of the year on the all-state Class 5A team. He was joined on the first team by his two top targets, wide receivers Vandon Fessler and Austin Ratliff as well as offensive linemen Orie Schaffers and Samuel Willis. Running back Alex Briseno received honorable mention.
Fessler and Ratliff (defensive back), Schaffers (defensive line) and linebacker Keegan Walter placed on the first defensive squad, with Willis (DL) and James Toland (LB) earning second-team nods.
Foxes coach Josh Craig was named coach of the year. Craig is 41-11 overall and 8-3 in the playoffs in his five years as head coach.
Boys Soccer: Foxes senior defender Solomon Moore was named second-team all-state in Class 5A after leading Silverton to an 8-3-5 record and a spot in the quarterfinals. Moore scored the lone goal in the team’s first-ever win against seven-time state champion Woodburn on Oct. 5.
Alumni Watch: Former Foxes and Oregon State University track and field and cross country standout Maddie Fuhrman is studying nursing in graduate school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Fuhrman remains an active runner and plans to participate in her first marathon on Feb. 22 in the George Washington’s Birthday event in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Redistricting: Silverton will remain in Class 5A’s Mid-Willamette Conference when new districts take effect in the fall. The Foxes will be joined by Central, Corvallis, Crescent Valley, Dallas, Lebanon, McKay, South Albany, West Albany and Woodburn.
JFK will remain in the Class 2A Tri-River, with Chemawa, Colton, Culver, Delphian, Gervais, Salem Academy, Santiam and Western Christian. They are joined by joined by new teams Regis, Blanchet Catholic and Sheridan, but the league loses Willamina.
Note that football special districts will not be finalized until as late as February.
Academics: The Kennedy volleyball squad was the highest-ranked by the OSAA among teams at Silverton and JFK. The Trojans, with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.84, finished second in Class 2A volleyball behind Oakand (3.94).
Other Kennedy squads at 3.0 and above were: girls soccer (tie-8th, 3.66), boys soccer (tie-23rd, 3.30), football (7th, 3.28) and boys cross country (8th, 3.05).
Silverton teams above 3.0 include girls cross country (6th, 3.85), girls soccer (13th, 3.77), volleyball (18th, 3.62), boys soccer (10th, 3.47), boys cross country (20th, 3.39) and football (tie-3rd, 3.38).
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