Timberwolves anticipate a successful wrestling campaign
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
It will be a familiar scene when Goldendale takes to the wrestling mats this year. Expect a real struggle to win matches, not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of talent in enough places.
Goldendale has been a strong team for some time in the middle to heavy weight divisions, but can't find enough wrestlers to fit the lower weight divisions. Typically the Timberwolves enter matches with as many as six defaults due to lack of wrestlers at weights from 103 through 130 and sometimes at the top weight of 285. The team wins most of the matches that are actually wrestled, but a 24-36 point deficit is hard to overcome.
None-the-less, expect them to do it this year. "It reminds me of three years ago," said assistant Coach Matt Dumolt, "when we had the number one and two wrestlers at a couple of divisions."
Dumolt believes there could be as many as six Timberwolves at State this year. Two of the six are sophomores Kurt Wilkins and Braydon Ross, both of whom wrestled at the State event last year. The list also includes Torey Spaulding-Jimenez, who led the team all year and was a shoo-in for State before breaking his leg prior to the district tournament. Spaulding-Jimenez, the team leader, proved he is back with his near 1,000 yard rushing performance for the Timberwolf football team this fall.
Another good bet to make it to State is Billy Monroe. Monroe qualified for the regional tournament, but came up short on State qualification. There are four other wrestlers who competed for Goldendale last year, including Kyle Ross, alternate to regionals last year, Zach Barrett, Kirk Giese, and Tyler Jussila, who was plagued by injury last year and starts this year with rib problems.
Kyle Ross spent last year hefting the big boys at 285, mainly because Darren Stelter occupied the the 215 division. This year Ross will go at 215 and Dumolt expects him to be a force at that weight. In all, 16 are out for wrestling this year, including Jessica Carr, making it two years in a row Goldendale has had an entry in girls' wrestling.
Goldendale will be strong with Spaulding-Jimenez at 140, Braydon Ross at 152, Monroe at 171, Wilkins at 189 and Kyle Ross at 215. Barrett gives the team depth at 189 and expect newcomers Nolin Bare, Austin Jones and David Sanchez to give added strength to the middle weights. Others on the squad are inexperienced, but could surprise.
As rosy as the outlook is for the Timberwolves this year, it will likely get better in the coming years. There are 10 sophomores and two freshman on the team this year and the middle school squad has some future stars. The first match is scheduled for Dec. 3, at Granger with Warden and Ki-Be, also competing.
Shootout is early test of area teams
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Mt. Adams Shootout will be an early test of area teams from TLG and Lyle. The Shootout takes place at the Trout Lake school on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
In addition to the host TLG Mustang-Eagles, Lyle-Wishram will compete in this year's event. The other two teams are Arlington and Vancouver Christian.
The TLG boys lost two of their starters to graduation, three-point specialist Alex Whitefield and playmaker guard Luke Dearden. Andy Wells is an athletic 6-4 plus post player who will key the offense and defense for TLG. Expect the Mustang-Eagles to be a quick, defensive team. Lyle-Wishram lost four of their five starters, including shot-blocker Mike Murphy and outside shooter, Adam Snyder. Allen Matai returns to run the offense and they still have size with Kyle Murphy and Nolan Smith plus the motor of Henry Matai.
On the ladies' side of play, Lyle-Wishram and TLG were young teams last year, so both squads will be more experienced. TLG lost Anna Schmid and Heather Huffsmith, but Liz Vogt is back to dominate inside play. The Cougars don't have a player to match-up with Vogt, but will have plenty of speed on the court and will have to rely on defense and the transition game.
The format for the Mt. Adams Shootout is Lyle-Wishram vs Arlington and TLG vs Vancouver Christian. Winners play winners and losers play losers on Saturday, starting at noon. The first game on Friday features Lyle-Wishram girls at 3 p.m. followed by Lyle-Wishram boys at 4:30, then TLG girls and finally TLG boys expected to start at 7:30 p.m.
Added fee to fish Columbia River area will help pay to monitor salmon and steelhead
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Starting April 1, 2010, anglers who fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to purchase a new endorsement that will help maintain and improve fishing opportunities throughout the basin.
The Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Program endorsement was authorized by Senate Bill 5421 during the 2009 Legislative session. The annual endorsement was one of several license fee changes approved by the Legislature to help offset a $30 million cutback in state funding for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The total charge of the endorsement, after transaction and dealer fees, will be $8.75. The endorsement and recreational fishing licenses for the licensing year that begins April 1, 2010, can be purchased as of Dec. 1, 2009.
"Funds generated from the endorsement fee will support the evaluation of selective fisheries in the Columbia River Basin," said John Long, statewide salmon and steelhead fisheries manager. Funds also will be used for other management activities, including fisheries enforcement, data collection and monitoring.
Selective fisheries allow anglers to catch and keep abundant hatchery fish, marked with a missing adipose fin, but require that they release wild fish.
"This program is designed to support current selective sport fisheries for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries, and - to the maximum extent possible - expand those opportunities in the future," said Long.
The endorsement will be required, along with a fishing license, for anglers 15 years of age and older to fish for salmon and steelhead on the Columbia River and its tributaries when open to fishing for those species. The list of affected streams includes the Klickitat, White Salmon and Wind rivers as well as Drano Lake. The entire list is available on line at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/crss_endorsement/. |
