By Brenna Wiegand
A love of the game will play out in an athletic romp to “The Land Down Under” for two Silverton High School students this month.
On July 7, Luke Ferguson will travel to Australia to become part of a football team that will compete in an international tournament. KayLynne Kuenzi does likewise for volleyball about a week later.
Ferguson, son of Kim and Melody Ferguson of Scotts Mills, is going to play football. The 2009 SHS graduate turned out for the football team his sophomore year at his friends’ urging. Luke’s friends were right: The soft-spoken, friendly fellow was varsity quarterback the past two years. He was named second Team All-League his junior year and this year was team captain and co-MVP. It was a season in which SHS made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
He also managed to set the career passing record for Silverton High.
This month, he will serve as quarterback in International Sports Specialists Inc.’s Down Under Bowl. The team, composed of players from Oregon and Alaska, will meet for the first time when they get to Australia.
“I haven’t talked to anyone else on the team,” he said. “We’ll hold practices every day for about a week before the tournament.”
On the other hand, KayLynne Kuenzi, part of a volleyball team made up solely of other Oregonians, has already been in contact with all of her Australia-bound volleyball “mates.”
“We’ve sent pictures so when we meet up at Los Angeles Airport we’ll know each other,” she said.
Kuenzi, daughter of Todd and Melissa Kuenzi of Silverton, will be a senior in the fall. A defensive specialist on Silverton High School’s varsity volleyball team – this year’s league champs – Kuenzi says she’s eager to get back on the court. A starter the past two years, she was named Third Team All League her sophomore year. Her aggressive performance during the recent season netted Kuenzi an All-League Honorable Mention.
Kuenzi was also captain of the varsity girls’ basketball team this year – a teamed that placed second in league and made it to the second round of playoffs. She also ran hurdles her first two years and this year gave golf a shot – and discovered she loves it.
Kirsten Barnes, SHS volleyball coach, nominated Kuenzi for the trip.
“She said it would be a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Kuenzi said. “I’m just really excited about experiencing a whole new place and culture where it’s a completely different atmosphere. And it will be good just to get away!”
Kuenzi will compete in ISSI’s Down Under International Games, where her team will play in both indoor and beach volleyball tournaments.
“They guaranteed us about five games,” she said.
Both athletes were grateful for the financial support from family and friends that, along with their own earnings, made the trips possible.
Upon her return, Kuenzi hits the ground running, helping with grade-school volleyball summer camps, her team’s summer training – and helping in the family catering business, Kuenzi’s Best.
Ferguson and Kuenzi will enjoy two-day stopovers in Hawaii on their return trips, and Kuenzi will return to the Hawaiian Isles in August with the Silverton volleyball team. They’ll warm up for the coming season by competing there during an eight-day stay.
Kuenzi is also playing in a summer basketball league. She hopes to find a way to squeeze in some of her other passions: boating, swimming – and now golf.
Next year, Kuenzi looks forward to a sports-filled senior year – and being part of the first to graduate from the new high school at the Pine Street campus. Her future plans include becoming a dental hygienist.
Ferguson was also nominated by his coach for the globetrotting trip. Silverton High School football coach Scott Gragg told Ferguson it would be fun to get out and see the world – while playing football.
“I haven’t traveled out of the U.S. much,” said Ferguson. “This is an entirely new environment and culture and I think it will be interesting to see all the differences.”
Ferguson was also a starting basketball player the past two years, earning league honors both times. During his senior year he was named Second Team All-League, team captain and Most Valuable Player. He was also a class valedictorian. Ferguson plans to pursue science at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., where he’ll also play football.
His summer plans include visiting relatives in New York, a couple of family trips to the coast and working as a Little League umpire. Attending college in Southern California should provide exciting new venues for Ferguson’s other favorite pastimes: hiking, swimming, boating, surfing and snowboarding.
“I’ve loved it at Silverton (High School),” Ferguson said. “I like the teachers and the staff; the highlights have probably been football season and all the time spent with friends.”
His attitude toward high school was reflected at the recent SHS Awards Night, where Ferguson was named Scholar Athlete of the Year; Science Student of the Year; Runner-up Athlete of the Year; and Co-Senior Boy of the Year. He was also the recipient of an Elks Scholarship.
“He owned the show,” Kuenzi volunteered.
