June 8, 2017

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

McKenzie’s Spring sports  season has concluded and there are no activities scheduled. McKenzie High School will hold the 2017 Mother’s Tea on Friday, June 10, in the Old Gymnasium and beginning at 6:30 pm. The McKenzie High School Gradu-ation is scheduled for Saturday, June 11, at 11:00 am.

Oregon State’s Casey Mitchell Enjoying One Heck Of A Ride!

McKenzie Alum Casey Mitchell (Class of 2014) loves baseball! Just ask him next time you bump into him and he will tell you so. Mitchell played on the last Eagle varsity baseball team to suit up at McKenzie High School (2014) and was not willing to hang up his spikes quite yet, so he packed his bags for Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton seeking an opportunity to swing a bat some more.

Mitchell earned a spot on the team at BMCC and played two seasons for the Timberwolves while studying Emergency Medi-cal Technician and pre-requisite courses designed for a transfer to Oregon State University. Up-on completion of his two year career at BMCC, Mitchell did indeed transfer to Corvallis last fall, enrolled in the OSU School of Forestry’s Natural Resource Department, is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree (hopefully in two years) and is looking forward to a career in fire management with the United States Forest Service. Mitchell will return home to work this summer at McKenzie River Ran-ger District on the Fire Crew supervised by fellow Eagle alum, Quinlan Anderson. For some, a stint at small college ball might be enough, but for Mitchell, he still had not experienced his fill of baseball. So, why not call up one of the most respected and successful coaches in the college game, Beaver Head Coach Pat Casey, and see if something could be worked out?

Long story short, you never know how it might go unless you ask and ask Mitchell did. Casey Mitchell, meet Pat Casey! A meet-ing was set up and following a fine conversation with the future Hall of Fame Coach, Coach Casey offered Mitchell the position of volunteer manager on the Top Ranked Division 1 Baseball in the Nation. Talk about an opportunity! Casey Mitchell has found himself smack dab in the middle and involved in, perhaps, one of the finest collegiate baseball seasons ever played. Oregon State will host a Super Regional series and may be headed for the 2017 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska with a potential Nation-al Championship at stake. And Mr. Mitchell will have a seat on the bus (plane).

When asked how he might capitalize on this remarkable turn of events, Casey Mitchell thought he might entertain coaching baseball down the road (what better mentor than Coach Casey, who has two National Championships under his belt and over 1000 career wins). And who knows, perhaps, Mitchell might see a walk-on opportunity develop at Beaver Nation. Having readily displayed initiative, with obvious willingness to work hard, learn from his mentors and peers, one can only imagine what other doors might open for the Eagle alum.

As for his relationship with the Beaver scholarship athletes, Mitchell has nothing but high praise for his coaches and teammates. “We all mesh extremely well, there is good chemistry amongst all the teammates and respect is shown for all,” Mitchell relates. That reflection describes classic Pat Casey coached teams.

This 2017 team, however, may set the bar higher than ever before. Beaver baseball history is being written with each new pitch and swing of the bat. The talent and skill of the team’s athletes is evident. But so is the camaraderie. Recently, following the conclusion of a home Goss Stadium game, one of the Beaver players proposed to his lady on the mound. The special moment had the remaining fans and the young player’s teammates holding their breath, until the stunned lady recovered and whispered an affirmative to the gentleman on his knee. Casey’s teammates cautiously sneaking up third baseline, erupted in a world series style mob on the hill in celebration. And Casey Mitchell is right in the middle of it. “It was awesome,” he shared.

Lastly, the humble and grateful Eagle would like to express his appreciation and thanks to the folks of the McKenzie River Valley, stating “they are the best people I have ever known.” From us in the Valley, Good Luck Casey and to Your Beavers!!

Eagle Track Athletes Lauded At Spring Sports Ceremony

The McKenzie Athletic Department held its Spring and Year-End Sports Ceremony on Tuesday, June 6. The lone varsity sport offered at McKenzie High School this spring season was Boys and Girls Track and Field.

The Eagle Girls team wrapped up a successful season with a second place team finish in the 1A-SD5 Championships and a trip to the OSAA State Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. At the Ceremony, Eagle Head Coach Duane Aanestad recognized the following athletes, who completed a full season at McKenzie. For the Eagle Boys, Coach Aanestad presented the 2017 Most Points At A Meet Award to senior Mike Davis and for the Eagle Girls, the corresponding Award was presented to junior Katelynn Caulley. The 2017 Most Personal Records Awards were presented to sophomores Malakai Taylor-Ide and Chloe Erdahl. A new award this season, the ‘Narly Dog Award’ (Most Events Participated In) was given to freshman Danielle Melcher.

McKenzie 2017 Athletes Of The Year:

Miyanna Hayesand Jermiah McGlasson

All year long, Miyanna Hayes was the lone senior on her team(s). Coaches and teammates rely heavily on the maturity and experience of their senior athletes and it is expected that those seniors will mentor and set proper example for their underclassman teammates. In a real sense, as coaches will readily admit, typically how your seniors lead, so go the team’s chemistry and success. Usually that expectation is spread out amongst its seniors, as it is that important a responsibility. For Hayes, the talented senior had to shoulder the whole burden alone, throughout the year, every season, and one could argue, she did a remarkable job.

Hayes’ volleyball team finished third in the Mt. West League, qualifying for the First Round of the OSAA State Volleyball Championships. Hayes was honored by MWL Coaches as the 2016 Mt. West League Most Outstanding Player and selected for the MWL All-League First Team. The Eagle Coaching staff further honored Hayes with the team’s 2016 McKenzie Best Offensive Player Award and Most Inspirational Player Award. In basketball, Hayes helped lead her team to a fourth place finish in the Mt. West League. The Mt. West League Coaches once again awarded Hayes with a MWL All-League First Team award and the Eagle coaching staff chose her as the 2017 McKenzie Most Valuable Player and Most Inspirational Player. And this spring, while participating on the McKenzie Girls Track and Field team, Hayes anchored both the Eagle’s 4X100 meter and 4X400 meter relay teams that helped McKenzie finish second in the 1A-SD5 Championships and qualify for the OSAA State Track and Field Championships. For her extraordinary efforts, Miyanna Hayes was awarded the 2017 McKenzie High School Girls Athlete of the Year Award.

Jermiah McGlasson was McKenzie High’s 2017 Boys Athlete of the Year Award recipient. McGlasson played this past fall football season as a wide receiver and defensive end. McGlasson also earned a starting position on the McKenzie Varsity Basketball team and the Eagle sophomore earned a Mt. West League Honorable Mention Team award.

Eagle Seniors Recognized For Athletic Careers

McKenzie’s graduating seniors were recently recognized for their athletic career contributions at the annual Spring Academic and Athletic awards ceremony. Senior Miyanna Hayes is the lone senior Eagle female athlete having earned a varsity letter in her four years at McKenzie. Hayes earned 4 varsity letters in volleyball, 4 varsity letters in basketball and 3 varsity letters in track and field, for a total of 11 varsity letters in her career. Senior Scot Willis led all Eagle boys graduating this spring, also earning a total of 11 career varsity letters. Willis participated in 4 years of football, 4 years of basketball, and 3 years of track and field. Chanse Hamlow was recognized for 4 yrs. of football, 4 yrs. of basketball, and 1 yr. of baseball. James Rimmer participated in 4 yrs. of football, 4 yrs. of basketball, and 1 yr. of baseball. Matt Brownlee played 3 yrs. of football, 4 yrs. of basketball, and 1 yr. of baseball. Mike Briggs in his only year at McKenzie earned a varsity letter each in football, basketball, and track and field. Cody Grimm, also enrolled one year at McKenzie, earned 1 varsity letter in football and 1 varsity letter in basketball.

The Mt. West League recognized two Eagle student athletes with its MWL Scholar Athlete Award, senior Matt Brownlee and junior Katelynn Caulley. McKenzie Athletic Director Neil Barrett announced McKenzie’s recipients of the OSAA Award of Excellence, which recognizes those individuals and/or organizations that exhibit an exemplary display of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity. This year that distinction was awarded to Leonard and Stacey Meyer and to the McKenzie Community Track and Field organization.

McKenzie River Reflections