June 12, 2014

By Cliff Richardson

McKenzie Girl and Boy 2014 Athlete of the Year Makaila Hiddleston and Bailey Adams

Eagle Seniors Makaila Hiddleston and Bailey Adams were honored with respective 2014 McKenzie Athlete of the Year Awards recently at the school’s annual Spring Academic and Athletic Awards ceremony. Hiddleston’s athletic accomplishments this year included 1st Team All-League selections in Volleyball and Basketball and a 7th place finish in the Shot Put at the OSAA Track and Field State Championships. Adams was selected 1st Team All-League in Football, Basketball, and Baseball and was a member of the McKenzie 4X400 meter relay team that placed 6th at the OSAA Track and Field State Championships.

Eagle Scholar Athletes Touted at Spring Awards

McKenzie High honored its 2014 Scholar Athletes recently at the annual Spring Academic/Athletic Awards ceremony. The award is earned by Varsity athletes who maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA throughout their athletic seasons. This year’s scholar athletes were Junior Katey Totten (4.10), Junior Tamera Satchell (4.05), Senior Bailey Adams (3.96), Senior Scout Hanchett (3.83), Junior Buggy Hiddleston (3.71), Junior Hayley Jackson (3.70), and Senior Makaila Hiddleston (3.58).

Mitchell, Adams, and Huffman Earn Special District 3 All-League

McKenzie Seniors Casey Mitchell and Bailey Adams and Eagle Junior Eric Huffman earned All-League honors recently, selected by the Head Coaches of the 2A/1A Special District 3 Baseball League. The three Eagles played for the collective Lowell/Mohawk/McKenzie team that placed third in League play this season. Mitchell was voted on the League’s 1st Team as an Infield player. Adam’s was also voted on the 1st Team as an Utility player. Huffman was placed on the League’s 2nd Team as an Infield player.

Eagle Track Athletes Earn All-State Honors

McKenzie Junior Alex Nastasiuk (State finish: 3rd place, 300 meter hurdles), Senior Makaila Hiddleston (State finish: 7th place, shot put), and the Eagle’s 4X400 meter relay team consisting of Senior Bailey Adams, Juniors Jeff Bayer and Nastasiuk, and Sophomore Drew Hamlow (State finish: 6th place) earned OSAA 1A Track and Field All-State Distinction by virtue of their recent finishes at the OSAA Track and Field State Championships.

McKenzie Spring Track and Field Team Awards

McKenzie Head Track and Field Coach Dustin Pearce presented his 2014 Team Awards recently at McKenzie’s annual Spring Academic/Athletic Awards ceremony. The Most Outstanding Female Thrower award recipient was Makaila Hiddleston (Sr.), the Most Outstanding Female Jumper award was given to Idgie Glynn (Soph.), the Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete award was earned by Shyla Harlan (Sr.), the Most Improved Female Track and Field Athlete award went to Isabella Sabillion-Espinoza (Fr.), and Honorable Mention went to Breanna Van Pernis (Soph.). Awards given to Eagle male athletes were The Most Outstanding Male Thrower award earned by Alex Nastasiuk (Jr.), Most Outstanding Male Jumper given to Jeff Bayer (Jr.), the Most Outstanding Male Track Athlete earned by Drew Hamlow (Soph.), and the Most Improved Male Track and Field Athlete earned by Trevor Spray (Jr.).

McKenzie Senior Athlete’s Careers Recognized

McKenzie recognized its graduating senior athletes and the cumulative number of Varsity Letter Awards each earned in their years at McKenzie. Bailey Adams earned 4 Varsity Letters each in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track and Field. Casey Mitchell: 4 Varsity Letters each in Football, Wrestling, and Baseball. John Thomas Winningham: 2 Varsity Letters in Football. Chris Lavoie: 1 Varsity Letter in Football. Makaila Hiddleston earned 4 Varsity Letters each in Volleyball, Basketball, and Track and Field. Shyla Harlan: 3 Varsity Letters each in Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field. Delphine Clark: 4 Varsity Letters each in Volleyball and Basketball. Clea Coach: 3 Varsity Letters each in Volleyball and Basketball and 1 in Baseball. Ayshia Seiler: 4 Varsity Letters in Volleyball and 1 in Basketball. Scout Hanchett: 1 Varsity Letter each in Volleyball and Track and Field. Cynthia Harlan: 1 Varsity Letter in Track and Field.

Monroe Wins 2A/1A State Baseball Championship

Monroe defeated Regis 7-1 in the OSAA State 2A/1A Baseball Semifinals last Tuesday, June 3, at Monroe and next defeated Weston-McEwen/Griswold in the State Championship Game held at Volcano Stadium in Keizur on Friday, June 6. The Dragons won the game, 2-1, on a walk off homerun in the bottom of the 7th inning hit by pinch hitter Zach Gwillim. With the game even at 1-1, the sophomore back up catcher who had played most of the current season on the Dragon JV team got the call with one out from Monroe Head Coach Bill Crowson, nervously approached the plate and remembered praying a quick prayer to God to let him hit the ball and not get out. The Lord, surely a baseball fan, answered Gwillim’s request and with a 1-1 count, Gwillim hammered the ball over the left field fence for the game winner. Dragon starting pitcher Austin Crowson, recovering from the flu, was again stellar on the hill as he struckout 11 TigerScot batters, allowing just 4 hits and walking one. Monroe’s first run came in the second inning for an early lead, but the TigerScots tied the game in the top of the 7th inning, setting the table for Gwillim’s heroics. The State Baseball Title was the third for the Dragons, the last coming in 1991 and prior to that, in 1931.

McKenzie River Reflections