By James Day
The Silverton High boys basketball team has a new head coach, but Foxes fans will see a familiar face on the sidelines when they open play in December. Steve Roth, a 1982 Silverton graduate and former head coach of the Foxes, has taken over for Darren Shryock.
Shryock, who led Silverton to a pair of third-place finishes in the Class 5A tournament during his 12 years with the Foxes, has moved on to become the athletic director at Stayton High.
Roth, who both preceded and succeeds Shryock as head coach, served as an assistant since giving up the head coaching position in 2002.
“I didn’t honestly aspire to be head coach again,” Roth told Our Town. “I was happy working with Darren and believed in his coaching. It took me awhile to wrap my head around the idea of stepping back into the role of head coach. I understand the level of commitment and more-than-just-a-game stress associated with this job, but I also believe in the program that we’ve developed over the past 17 years.”
Roth will be assisted by his younger brother Doug Roth, former Foxes and George Fox standout Brent Satern and Mike Gray.
“Steve is a great coach and valuable member of our teaching staff at Silverton High School,” Foxes athletic director Greg Kaatz told Our Town. “He has tremendous knowledge of basketball and is a quietly fierce competitor. He expects the best from his players and is able to build strong and positive relationships at the same time.”
So what sort of team will Foxes fans see this season?
“I expect they will see a team of high-character kids and excellent students who carry those qualities onto the basketball court,” Roth said. “They are smart and unselfish and play very well together. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a team that matches their toughness, especially on the defensive end of the court.”
Football update: Fans in Silverton – Mount Angel have yet to see a football loss this season. Kennedy is 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Tri-River and Silverton is 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-Willamette.
“I am very excited about how hard this teams plays,” first-year Kennedy coach Joe Panuke told Our Town. “They work hard at practice and are great teammates to each other.”
Playing key roles for the Trojans are quarterback Noah Giberson, a three-year starter, running backs Bishop Mitchell and Jacob Lopez and linemen Dylan Arritola and Enrique Larios.
Kennedy visits Regis on Oct. 17 with the winner taking the lead in the Tri-River.
“The league is still up for grabs with three games remaining,” Panuke said. “We will need to play our best ball of the year the next three weeks to grab a playoff spot.”
Silverton, meanwhile, is headed toward a showdown of its own. The Foxes, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by the OSAA, visit No. 2 Central on Friday. The Panthers (5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-Willamette) are in their first year at Class 5A.
“We just keep preparing and are enjoying the ride, knowing there are big games ahead and that things are going to get tougher,” Foxes coach John Mannion told Our Town
Silverton is coming off a 62-14 home win against South Albany in which eight players scored touchdowns. The Foxes scored on a punt return by Travis Sinn, an interception return by Colton Harle, quarterback Cole Chandler threw three touchdown passes and three different ball-carriers scored.
“We’re all working hard right now and it shows,” Chandler tsaid. “We’re pumped … we’re on a six-game winning streak.”
Kennedy volleyball: The Trojans continue to roll through the Tri-River schedule. Kennedy is 10-0 in league play, 15-3 overall and ranked No. 2 in Class 2A. St. Paul is hot on the Trojans’ heels with a 10-1 mark. Kennedy defeated the Buckaroos on Sept. 18 in a hard-fought match in which the Trojans rallied from a 2-1 deficit. The two teams played for the conference lead Tuesday.
Silverton soccer: The Foxes’ girls squad is off to a 2-0 start in league play, with a 3-1 win vs. Lebanon and a 5-1 victory vs. Woodburn. Gary Cameron has taken over as head coach, with last year’s coach, Fred George, serving as associate head coach. George led the Foxes to the round of 16 in the Class 5A playoffs last season.
Cameron has just one senior, defender Elizabeth Fleshman, whom he calls skilled and experienced. Four junior starters return, including second-team all-conference Baylie Cameron, honorable mention Lizzy Roth, Heidi Moore and Hannah Doyle. The Foxes are playing without two-year starter Chloe Bretz, who is out with a knee injury.
Silverton started 0-5-1, with all five losses to Class 6A teams. “A tough preseason schedule and few untimely injuries have made for a rough start,” Cameron siad. “This year could very well be a tale of two seasons. This team’s identity is starting to emerge, we are beginning to find some traction.” Cameron thinks the Foxes can contend for the conference title.
Cross country: Kennedy’s Kaylin Cantu took fourth and Lauren Stokley finished ninth Oct. 2 at the Regis Invitational. More than 450 runners competed in the event, which was co-hosted by Stayton High at Stayton Middle School. Cantu, a freshman, ran 20:04, the best time a Trojans runner has ever turned in on the course. The Kennedy boys were 10th as a team, led by ninth-place finisher Noe Jines (personal best 17:08) and Adrian Parra (21st, 17:35). Silverton’s Maddie Fuhrman, meanwhile, took sixth at the Oct. 3 Oxford Classic and was 10th in the Sandelie Golf Course Classic. The SHS boys team took fourth in the Oxford meet.
