By James Day
The resurgence of soccer at Silverton High was shown with the release of the Mid-Willamette Conference all-star teams.
Foxes boys coach Kyle Calder was named coach of the year after leading Silverton to a 4-2-1 league record and a spot in the state Class 5A quarterfinals. Defender Anthony Reyna and forward J’Rrett Baker were first-team all stars and midfielders Patrick Doyle and Eric Garcia were named to the second team.
Silverton’s girls team finished 3-2-2 in the Mid-Willamette and won a state play-in match before falling to Willamette in round one of the playoffs. Defender Lilly Paradis and center midfielder Stephanie Russ were first team all-Mid-Willamette and forward Baylie Cameron and defender Heather Schmidgall were named to the second team.
Meanwhile, Silverton’s football team took home its share of awards. The Foxes finished 10-2 and advanced to the state semifinals before losing to eventual 5A champion West Albany. Foxes assistant coach Grant Piros shared assistant of the year honors with Brian Mehl of West Albany, and Silverton claimed nine first-team and four second-team spots on the conference all-stars. Earning first-team honors were Matt Craig (tight end and linebacker), Cameron Clokey (defensive line), Mathis Kuenzi (defensive back), Cort Martin (specialist), offensive linemen Joe Kuenzi (guard), Matthew Willis (tackle), Logan Munson (wide receiver) and Max Wilson (running back). Willis (defensive tackle) and Martin (defensive back) earned second-team honors, as did quarterback Cole Chandler and offensive tackle Levi Stadeli.
Kennedy, which took second behind eventual state runner-up Regis in the Tri-River conference, placed six athletes on the first team and two on the second team. Ty Sawyer (running back and linebacker), Sam Moreno (wide receiver and defensive line) and Blake Traeger (tight end and defensive back) and Daniel Glaede (offensive and defensive line) were two-way first-teamers. Also on the first team were quarterback Noah Giberson and kicker Carl Hesse. Offensive linemen Max Jaeger and Kyle Manning made the second team.
The Kennedy volleyball team, which took fourth at the Class 2A state tournament, placed two players (Loghan Sprauer and Lakin Susee) on the Tri-River first team and two more (Emily Schmidt and Amilia Grojaques) on the second team.
AREA COLLEGES
Derek Traeger from Kennedy took home first-team all-Northwest Conference honors for Willamette after leading Bearcats receivers with 67 catches for 808 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hannah Deede (Silverton) led Western Oregon volleyball in kills (228) and was among team leaders in sets (137), digs (159), blocks (99) and services aces (16). Josue Amezquita (Silverton) scored four goals and had two assists for Chemeketa men’s soccer. The Storm, coached by Silverton resident Marty Limbird took second in the NWAACC South. Sierra Brusven (Silverton) scored a goal and had three assists for the Corban women’s soccer team. Morgan Anderson (Silverton) competed for the Oregon State women’s cross country team. Her best finish was 17th in the Beaver Classic, where she ran 22:45 for 6-kilometers. Leonel Jines (Kennedy) competed for Western Oregon men’s cross country. His best mark was a 27:21.94 for 8-kilometers at the Charles Bowles Invitational in Salem.
DANCE
The Silverton High dance team took a first and two seconds at a Nov. 23 competition at West Albany High that featured 17 teams. The squad took first in contemporary small and second in both small jazz and small hip hop. The Foxes also took part in the 20-school categories championship Dec. 7 at Oregon City in an event in which squads competed against each other regardless of size. Silverton took fourth in both jazz and contemporary and fifth in hip hop. The squad now will start working on its routine for the state dance championships. The Foxes’ next competition will be Feb. 1 at Stayton.
OSAA
The Oregon School Activities Association has made its final decision on redistricting for the four-year time block beginning in the fall of 2014. Silverton will remain in the Class 5A Mid-Willamette Conference, but the league will lose West Albany to Class 6A and add Central, which will be moving up from Class 4A. Kennedy, meanwhile, remains in the Class 2A Tri-River Conference. The league loses Toledo, Waldport and Culver and gains Perrydale, St. Paul and East Linn Christian.
