Kirsten Barnes’ return to the coaching reins of Silverton volleyball was a highly successful one. Barnes previously coached in the program from 1996 to 2010 and won eight league titles during an 11-year run as head coach.
This year’s Foxes were 12-8 overall, hovered around the top 10 in Class 5A most of the year, finished fourth in the brutally tough Mid-Willamette Conference and came within one match of qualifying for the state tournament.
“This team was very cohesive, they didn’t have any finger pointing when mistakes were made and they played for each other and picked each other up,” Barnes told Our Town. “That’s really special at a high school level and made it a very enjoyable season.”
Barnes, who said she will return next season, also noted that “every team we lost to this year played in the 5A and 6A state tournament final 8, so we had a really great season. We’re in a good place with six players potentially returning next year.”
Outside hitter Alexis Haury and defensive specialist Farrah Keith were named to the all-Mid-Willamette Conference first team. Setter Helen Schmitz and middle hitter Olivia Boyd were second-teamers, while libero Gracelyn Jensen and middle hitter Ella Haury received honorable mention.
Alexis Haury, who will play next season at the University of Washington, finished her Foxes career with six school records: career kills 744, career digs 965, career assists 1,368, career aces 229, single-season kills 318 and single-season aces 63.
Haury led this year’s squad in kills and aces. Other leaders included Schmitz (94.5% serving percentage), Boyd (50 blocks), Jensen (294 digs) and Schmitz (325 assists).
Football: Silverton dominated the Mid-Willamette Conference all-stars, as selected by the league’s coaches. QB Sawyer Teeney was the offensive player of the year, linebacker Daniel Kuenzi earned defensive honors, Eli Willis was named top defensive lineman, Brash Henderson top offensive lineman and head coach Dan Lever and assistant Jim Barr also were honored.
On the first team were Brody Sullivan (running back, kick returner and defensive back), Orozco (D-line), edge rusher Willis, linebackers Daniel Kuenzi and Diego Flores, DB Cohen Mulick, Willis and Henderson (O-line), wide receiver Elijah Howard and QB Teeney. On the second team were tight end Brody Kuenzi, DB Howard, Orozco (O-line), Mulick at wide receiver and Flores at running back. Earning honorable mention were WR Hudson Waples and DB Cade Wynn.
Kennedy finished 8-2 in its second season at Class 3A. The Trojans, runners-up to Cascade Christian a year ago, fell 22-21 to South Umpqua on Nov. 3 at Stayton High in the round of 16. South Umpqua will play Lakeview in the quarterfinals.
The Trojans claimed 7 first-team spots on the Special District 1 all-stars, as selected by league coaches. Honored were running back Jaydon Estrada, offensive lineman Matt Chapman, defensive linemen Cole Vogel and Evan Wyatt, linebackers Isaac Berning and Estrada and defensive back Elijah Traeger.
Traeger was a second team choice at quarterback. Also on the second team were Vogel at tight end/H-back, Colby Rich (wide receiver), offensive linemen Dominic Beyer and Manny Ramirez, defensive lineman Maverick Maynard, defensive back Tivickson Este and place-kicker Oscar Gonzalez. Berning received honorable mention at running back.
Soccer: The Silverton girls team advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals before falling 6-0 at North Eugene on Nov. 4. The No. 11 Foxes, in their second year under coach Renee Cantrell, opened the playoffs with a 3-1 upset of No. 6 Thurston of Springfield on Oct. 31. Silverton, 8-6-2 overall, finished third in the Mid-Willamette Conference with a 6-2 mark.
The boys squad advanced to the playoffs despite finishing 7th in the brutally tough Mid-Willamette, which produced the No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 and No. 9 teams in the state.
Silverton entered the playoffs as the No. 14 seed and fell 8-2 to No. 3 LaSalle Prep of Milwaukie. Forward Anton Mikkelsen, an international student from Denmark, was named first team all-MWC. Midfielder Emmett Limbird was placed on the second team, while defender Xander Gragert and goalkeeper Travis Grimes received honorable mention.
Cross Country: The Kennedy girls squad took 13th at the Class 3A-2A-1A state meet at Lane Community College in Eugene. Yulissa Chavez-Cortes was the top finisher for the Special District 2 champion Trojans, taking 61st on the 5K course at 22:22.7. Also running for Kennedy were Briar Hachenberg (68th, 22:52.8), Nora Brenden (70th, 23:19.0), Stephanie Cardenas (74th 23:24.5), Paityn Garcia (80th, 24:01.8) and Alyse Williams (95th, 26:06.8). Johnathan Kintz, who won the district title for the Kennedy boys, finished 29th at state in 18:29.7.
The Silverton girls, meanwhile, were 12th in the 5A meet, led by Lauren Ortega, who was 42nd in 21:47.8. Also running for the Foxes were Rachel Kintz (57th, 22:32.6), Kylee Kern (58th, 22:38.0), Sophia Seeder (63rd, 22:50.3), Ellie Traeger (75th, 23:19.3), Melia Horner (77th, 23:27.2) and Charlee Mohr (82nd, 24:03.7). JD Arthur was the lone participant for the Silverton boys, taking 22nd in 16:42.9.
Running: Turkey Trot races of 3K and 5K are set for Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, at Robert Frost School in Silverton, 201 Westfield St. Both races start at 8:30 a.m., with proceeds benefiting the school. Individuals can sign up for $20, with a family rate of $60.
Folks can sign up online at https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/Silverton/SilvertonTurkeyTrot until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The event is untimed and costumes are encouraged. Strollers and leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.
