McKenzie Sports Report

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

The McKenzie Varsity Volleyball team hosts Alsea on Tuesday, September 17, with match time set at 6:00 pm. The Eagles host Eddyville Charter on Thursday, September 19, and that match time is also set for 6:00 pm.

The McKenzie Varsity Football team travels to Crow on Friday, September 20. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 pm.

The Eagle Cross Country teams travel to Seaside on Saturday, September 21, to participate in the Three Course Challenge.

Eagles Defeat Days Creek in Home Opener

McKenzie’s Varsity Six-man football team earned a hard-fought 40-34 Special District 2 South League victory last Friday, September 13. The Eagles hosted the Wolves of Days Creek on a very pleasant September evening under the lights at Wade Thomas Field. The Finn Rock contest introduced first-year McKenzie Head Football Coach Willie Kumle and Assistant Coach Angelo Santiago to the Eagle Community. The SD-2 South win also earned the Eagles sole first place in the League standings, 1-0, a half-game ahead of Gilchrist, 1-1.

Several of the teams in the SD-2 South have not played yet this season, including Powers, North Lake, and Crow (McKenzie’s next opponent). Days Creek 0-1 and Elkton 0-2 round out the rest of the League.

McKenzie traveled to Stoffer Family Stadium on the campus of George Fox University (Forest Grove) the week prior (September 6) to play C.S. Lewis Academy in the first game of the 2024 season for both teams. The Watchmen easily defeated the Eagles 51-26, but McKenzie was absent some key players at the time.

C.S. Lewis Academy is a member of the SD-2 North League which also includes Alsea, Triangle Lake, Eddyville Charter, Siletz Valley, and Falls City. No game stats were available at press time.

McKenzie Open Season With A Win, Searching Since For Second

The Eagle Varsity Volleyball team won its first match of the 2024 season with a 3-1 victory over the Pleasant Hill JV2 team. McKenzie has dropped seven straight contests since then, including losing 19 straight sets.

Eagle Head Coach Rachele Mark has her work cut out for her as the team is spunky and enthusiastic, but short on Varsity level skills. However, it’s always a key element to any winning program, to begin with the right attitude, and it appears that Coach Mark has that in her players.

McKenzie lost a Mt. West League match, 0-3, at home to Mapleton on September 3 and followed with a 0-3 loss at Mohawk on September 5. Also at Mohawk, the Eagles dropped a 0-3 match to Mannahouse Academy, Eugene.

On September 7, at East Linn Christian Academy in Lebanon, McKenzie lost a pair of 0-2 matches to Willamette Valley Christian and Alsea. Both losses were non-league contests.

Last week, Monday, September 9. the Eagles traveled to Crow to play Crow/City First Christian Academy, a Mt. West League match. Crow/City First Christian Academy defeated McKenzie in three straight sets, 25-5, 25-13, 25-12.

Thursday, September 12, saw the Eagles jump the bus for a ride to sunny Siletz. The Warriors were fine hosts but sent the gals from McKenzie home with another 0-3 defeat. But the Eagles didn’t fold their tents early however, battling their hosts down to the wire, 25-20, 25-20, and 26-24. No game stats were available at press time.

Meister Takes Third In Acorn Gully Chase

Eagle junior Will Meister finished third in the annual Acorn Gully Chase 3,000-meter race held at Oakland High School. Meister ran the distance in a time of 10:58.73 minutes. Yoncalla’s Max Finnie won the race in 10:44.60 min. and Reedsport’s Jude Lichte finished just ahead of Meister in 10:56.10 min.

McKenzie Zyla Drake brought home a fourth-place finish in the freshman’s first varsity 3,000-meter race. Drake’s time was 13:55.23 min., and she was followed closely by junior Myra Dion, who ran 13:56.05 min. race and finished fifth. McKenzie freshman Claire Weiss also placed in the top ten with an eighth-place finish time of 14:22.06 min.

Oakland’s Callie Sarnoski won the Girls 3,000 meters in a time of 12:25.14 min. Reedsport won the Boy's team competition with a score of 32 points, followed by Days Creek in second with 37 points, Sutherlin in third with 65 points, and Oakland fourth with 84 pts. The Girl's team competition was won by host Oakland with 15 pts.