By Dixon Bledsoe
Spring brings with it an optimism that can be contagious, at least for those of us who not only see the glass as half-full but are darn glad to have a glass. These are the things that are lifting my dead-of-winter spirits.
The Silverton Boys basketball team, coached by Darrin Shryock, is running on all cylinders. With 12 wins in a row after injuries and an absolutely brutal pre-season, the Foxes rely on a smothering defense, up-tempo offense and arguably one of the best back-court duos in Oregon. Zach Gengler is, simply put, the most gifted high school basketball player I’ve ever seen in the Fox orange and black or most any other colors for that matter. He literally does it all with cat-like reflexes and has verbally committed to play basketball at Portland State. Toby Roth makes some of the best laser-like passes I have seen as the senior point guard has come alive as a scorer, assist-genius, defensive stalwart, rebounder, thief and floor leader. He is the consummate floor general and college coaches are taking notice on a routine basis. They work together beautifully like biscuits and gravy and can change direction mid-air like leaves in a late fall wind. They have gotten everyone involved in the offense with their selfless, team-first play. The senior-laden team is fast, tall, talented, and hungry (I think they will like the biscuits and gravy analogy). The twin towers, Joe Schaefer and Trevor Bledsoe (no relation to the writer except being his favorite son) at 6’6” are rebounding and shot-blocking dynamos who can score when the team needs scoring down low. They force opposing teams to re-route drives to the basket. Zach Gould is a defensive dynamo who can score, has a physical style of play is controlled yet tenacious, rebounds well, and gives all-out effort night after night. Preston Kirk, fresh off of all-state honors in football as a wide receiver and last year’s 5A State Championship as a pole vaulter, is a fast, talented young man who can penetrate down low, hit the three, and can be counted on to score in double figures. Sophomore Cole Chandler and juniors Ian Susich, Jonas Dahl and Matthew Willis are talented players in their own right, and have some great role models to learn from for next season. I have followed the six seniors for a long time, and I’ve dreamed about this senior season for years, and it is coming true in high definition. Two home games left and hopefully then the state playoffs. They are great students and athletes, and just genuinely good kids. Please go see them. The coaches have their hoopsters gelling at just the right time.
Kids. I love ‘em. As I write, Megan Mannion, an eighth grader at Mark Twain, is making the shelves at SACA look like a world-class supermarket on a sunny Saturday. Ross Martinson of Silverton and Sadie Manley of Mount Angel are Future First Citizens. Alan Hopper and Joe Biben serve as the cheerleading squad at basketball games, home and away, and few Saturday Night Live skits are more entertaining. Everywhere we look, we can see good kids doing good things. Hannah Brown of Silverton is going for the 2013 Miss Teen Portland award for young ladies who are poised and self-confident. She is all that.
Darin Rybloom isn’t leaving Silverton. He is simply moving up the Roth’s corporate ladder because he is an outstanding manager and an even better person. Darin has done much more for this community than most people know or can even fathom.
I am honored to be named Silverton’s First Citizen for 2012, a satisfying and yet humbling recognition. This is a wonderful town we live in, and my heartfelt congratulations go out to my fellow award-winners who were recognized for lifetime achievement (Verlene Beard), distinguished service (Richard Carlson), and business of the year (Mark Holland and the team at Holland Collision). I know them all personally, and know they feel like I do – we do what we do not for recognition but because we love this town and the people in it, we know that someone has to step up when there is a need, and because service is part of our community’s genetic makeup. But a community “thank-you” has kind of a nice feel to it. March Madness is coming. Life is good.
