For the first time ever a Silverton JBO team has taken home a state title. The program’s Minor American squad, nicknamed the “Wild Bunch,” edged Glencoe 13-12 on July 14 to take the championship at Dierickx Field in Gladstone.
Silverton went undefeated in the tournament, downing Central 13-3, Tualatin 16-6 and Banks 12-9 to advance to the title contest. Head coach Ty Hurl called them the “Wild Bunch,” noting that “they never give up and just keep on playing their hearts out.”
Players on the squad are Myles Emmert, Henry Briggs, Greyson Keopadapsy, Derrick Eckis, Blake Kelsey, Luke Horner, William Von Flue, Wyatt Hurl, Kane Mack, Lincoln Teeney, Trey Carstensen and James Collier. Hurl was assisted by coaches Blinn Carstensen, John Eckis and Darren Von Flue.
The state title by the Minor American squad of third- and fourth-graders was just part of a strong season for Silverton JBO. Vice-president Brad Emmert told Our Town that the program had a record number of K-2nd players this season. The Junior American team of fifth- and sixth-graders took third at state, while the Senior American, Senior National and Minor National teams all participated in the county tournament.
Parents can find out more information on how to get involved by going to www.silvertonjbo.com.
Running: The annual Homer Classic events are set for 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at Silverton High School on Pine Street. Events include a 2-mile run/walk and the 8-kilometer covered bridge run that passes through Gallon House Bridge. You can register at www.racenorthwest.com/homers-classic or sign up on race day. The courses are flat and fast and lend themselves to good times. Proceeds from the events benefit running programs in Mount Angel and Silverton.
OSAA Cup: The final numbers are in for Kennedy’s fourth consecutive Class 2A OSAA Cup victory. The award goes to the school in each OSAA classification for the best overall combination of athletic success, sportsmanship and academics. Kennedy totaled 2,457.5 points, well ahead of runner-up Central Linn (1882.5). The trophy will be awarded to Kennedy at an all-school assembly at the start of the school year. Silverton took 11th in Class 5A with 2,470 points.
Shooting: The Silverton High trap shooting team sent a full-contingent of five shooters to the U.S. Clay Target League national championships in Mason, Michigan. This is just the second season for the Foxes, whose squad grew from 10 shooters to 27 this season. Just
two shooters qualified for nationals a year ago.
The Foxes hit 432 out of 500 targets and finished 142nd out of 207 squads entered. Senior Cameron Phillips was the top individual shooter, hitting 93 out of 100 targets to advance to the finals. In the finals he hit 90 of 100 and finished 360th out of 1,691 athletes participating. Also on hand for Silverton were Sam Barrett, Jake Zurbrugg, Wyatt Beede and Keegan Conaway. Phillips, Barrett and Zurbrugg all earned special nationals patches for hitting 25 consecutive targets.
Coaching the squad at nationals were Fred Zurbrugg and Kevin Beede.
The Oregon branch of the clay target group is starting a fall league in September. Any newcomers looking to join the team should contact Kevin Palmer at Butte Creek School at
503-829-6803 or email at [email protected].
First-responders: Silverton participants scored well in a SkillsUSA national competition in protective services in Louisville, Kentucky.
Brennen Raynor took third in post-secondary firefighting, Easton Peoples was fifth in high school firefighting and Magaly Nino Gomez, Zach Stutzman, and Samira Weathers earned seventh in career pathways.
More than 6,400 career and technical education students participated in
the event.
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