North Salem takes the field before the McKay vs. North Salem football game at North Salem High School on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016.

North Salem High School has asked the governing body for Oregon high school athletics to play against smaller schools, a move that would put the Vikings in a different league from the other five Salem-Keizer public schools.

North Salem’s petition to the executive board of the Oregon School Activities Association is scheduled to be heard Monday, and a decision is likely then.

“I think it gives us a chance to compete against schools that are similar to us,” North Salem baseball coach Chris Lee said.

North Salem currently plays in the Greater Valley Conference, which is among the leagues classified as 6A — the biggest and most athletically competitive schools.

If North Salem’s petition is approved, North Salem would move down a classification starting with the 2018-19 school year and be in a league with schools like Canby, Central, Dallas, Silverton and Wilsonville.

“It’s something that obviously had a lot of discussion,” said Larry Ramirez, director of high school education for the Salem-Keizer school district and who is on the OSAA’s Classification and Districting Committee. “We’ve had talks with coaches and families trying to get feedback on the thought of North playing down a level.

“It was a tough decision, but North has not been as competitive as they probably would have liked to have been as of late. This is not a forever deal. The plan would be hopefully that North is able to establish some more programs, a whole athletic activities program that’s more competitive, and only be there for the time block. It’s an opportunity for them to strengthen up. Hopefully, if everything goes well, we’re able to pop North right back up.”

More reclassification coverage: 

Dropping North Salem in classification would be cruel
North Salem High School may move down in classification

There are four criteria that must be met for a school to play down:

• More than 50 percent of its students must be eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch.
• The school’s team sports – football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball – must have finished in the bottom 50 percent of the final OSAA power rankings at least 75 percent of the time the previous three years.
• The school’s teams must have finished in the bottom 20 percent of the final rankings at least 50 percent of the time.
• The school’s teams had a winning percentage of 25 percent of less at least 40 percent of the time. 

The option for schools to petition to play down was first made available four years ago and few schools tried.

“It’s something that we put into place last time that we went through classification and districting,” OSAA Executive Director Peter Weber said. “If they meet those four criteria, the board moves them down.”

McKay meets the OSAA qualifications to play down, but chose not to.

Woodburn petitioned the Executive Board to play down in December, and its petition was accepted.

In the past decade similar moves where schools in the same district have been broken up has occurred in Albany, Eugene and Portland.

North Salem’s Rebekah Miller won the state championship in the 100 meter dash in May 2016.

It would be a stark change for Salem’s oldest high school.

“Anytime there’s change, it’s hard to deal with,” Lee said. “To think that our school is the same school it was in whatever decade, it’s not.”

Where North Salem’s baseball team has had sustained success in Lee’s time as head coach – in his first 16 years the team has won 60 percent of its games – the participation numbers have dropped in his program to where they only have varsity and JV teams.

More prep sports coverage:

Pick the SJ athlete of the week
Sprague beats West Salem to take first place in GVC

Moving down a classification would split up North Salem’s traditional rivalry with South Salem.

The Mayor’s Trophy football game between North Salem and South Salem also likely would be lost.

When North Salem won that game in October of 2016, it was the first time in nine years they had won it. South Salem has won the game 46 of the 62 years it has been awarded.

“I think rivalries are important when they are competitive and we certainly had a rivalry this year, but there have been years where it’s been a lot more lopsided,” North Salem football coach Jeff Flood said.

Reclassification

Moving schools to higher or lower classifications is only part of the classification committee’s work. The committee is also considering options that would reduce the number of classifications from the current six to five.

In the latest updates from the OSAA’s Classification and Districting Committee, there are both six classification and five classification options, including splitting the highest classification into two classifications only for football.

In those options there are versions where the rest of the Salem-Keizer public schools are placed in a league with Bend schools such as Mountain View, Bend and Summit, and there are versions where the Salem-Keizer schools are in smaller leagues with McMinnville and West Albany.

But the committee has put forward versions that would put schools in five classifications and split the schools in the highest classification.

Weber said the committee is releasing the proposals to get input into the direction it should take.

“I think there are people who currently support that we stay with the six class. Overall it’s working, why change?” Weber said. “I think a lot of people in that camp are pleased and note the competitive balance that they see in the six-class approach that they don’t see in the five-class approach.”

More sports coverage:

Corban men’s soccer adds Mid-Valley players
Former Santiam star Hannah Thompson lights up in California

The OSAA Classification and Districting Committee has placed Chemawa, Gervais and Jefferson in lower classifications preliminarily.

Those three schools meet the criteria to move down in classification, but they have yet to petition the Executive Board.

Weber said those schools fit the criteria to move down, and the Classification and Districting Committee is assuming that they will petition to move down.

“Not at this time,” Chemawa athletic director Jerry Mack said. “We’re trying to see what they want to do with us.”

Along with North Salem’s petition to play down, the Executive Board will hear petitions Monday from Warrenton, Myrtle Point and Illinois Valley to play down.

North Salem is by far the largest school of those petitioning to play down.

“I think there are a lot of coaches at North that believe they want to coach their kids, it doesn’t matter what level they’re at,” Flood said.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler

West Salem High school’s Brooke Chuhlantseff, left, and North Salem’s Madison Willhoft compete in the 1,500 meter race during a Greater Valley Conference meet on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Salem, Ore.

Marie Tolmachoff represents the next step in Silverton High School’s swimming program.

The freshman swimmer has been a surprise this season, winning races seemingly at will.

Marie Tolmachoff, a Silverton High School freshman swimmer, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017.

She won the 100 free (1:01.31) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.88) and swam on the winning 200 free relay and 200 medley relay teams in last week’s dual meet against Central.

She was selected as the athlete of the week by a poll of readers.

Tolmachoff and the fast freshman class of Silverton swimmers gives the Foxes a shot at Friday and Saturday’s Mid-Willamette Conference district swimming meet at Corvallis’ Osborn Aquatic Center.

Read more:

North Salem petitioning OSAA to play down a classification
Casey Bunn-Wilson making an impact at Linfield College
Dropping North Salem in classification would be cruel

Playing on a team with the premier high school girls guard in the country, South Salem’s Dani Harley does not feel like she’s in the shadow of fellow senior Evina Westbrook.

South Salem’s Dani Harley shoots the ball in the first half of the West Albany vs. South Salem girl’s basketball game at South Salem High School on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

In fact, she never even thinks about it.

Harley, an accomplished player in her own right, is averaging 15 points, 2.2 steals and 2.1 assists for the defending two-time Class 6A state champions. She scored 18 points and hit five 3-pointers in last season’s state championship game victory over Tigard.

Still, when people talk about No. 3 South Salem (17-3, 10-0 Greater Valley Conference), Westbrook’s name is sure to surface.

“I don’t really care about the fame and all that,” said Harley, a 5-7 guard who was named second team all-GVC last season. “I just wanna play. As long as I’m playing, I’m fine.”

Harley will continue her basketball career next season at George Fox University in Newberg, a perennial NCAA Division III power in the Northwest Conference.

Her focus now is on helping South Salem win a third consecutive state championship. She is the Saxons’ second-leading scorer behind Westbrook, who is averaging 24.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 5.4 steals.

Westbrook, who is headed to the University of Tennessee, would understand if Harley felt slighted.

“But she’s never, ever come off like that,” Westbrook said. “Never one time can I ever recall that she’s felt like that. If anything she’s always like congratulations on everything that I do. I think that says a lot about her character. If it was the other way around I don’t know how I’d feel.”

Harley has excelled in a Robin role to Westbrook’s Batman, not that she views it that way. They met at The Hoop in fourth grade and “we’ve always been good friends since,” Harley said.

When South Salem defeated St. Mary’s in 2015 to win its first state championship since 1976, Harley was a part-time starter on a team that included Westbrook and Katie McWilliams, the 6A Player of the Year who is now a sophomore guard at Oregon State.

Last season Harley was a starter on a team that featured Westbrook, the 6A Player of the Year, and Jordan Woodvine, who is now a freshman forward at Boise State.

South Salem’s Evina Westbrook (22) said she has a connection on the court with Dani Harley that "just clicks."

Harley and Westbrook are the only returning starters from the 2015-16 squad. Harley primarily plays shooting guard, looking to hit 3-pointers or drive to the basket, with Westbrook as the main ball handler.

“They work well together and support each other,” South Salem coach Nick McWilliams said. “They’re trying to help each other be better and help our team be better. It’s a good relationship and I think Dani is willing to do what it takes to help us be successful.”

South Salem has been successful this season after a rocky start. The Saxons opened the season with double-digit losses to Southridge and Sheldon, teams they could see again in the state tournament. They also lost by 33 points to La Salle, the state’s top-ranked 5A team, on Dec. 30 in the Nike Interstate Shootout.

South Salem takes an eight-game winning streak into Friday’s game at West Albany. Other than a two-point win against McNary and a seven-point win at Forest Grove, the Saxons have won all of their league games by at least 14 points.

Harley is well aware that the road to a three-peat will be difficult.

“Recently we’ve been kind of starting out slow,” Harley said. “Once we get to state (playoffs) we can’t have games where we’re starting out slow because teams are gonna be just too good. But I feel like we can do it again if we play to our potential.”

Senior guard Hannah Hersh, who has been friends with Harley since their preschool days, said Harley plays a key role for the Saxons.

“There’s been games where we thought we were gonna lose and all of a sudden she comes back with those 3-pointers. She just really brings the team up,” Hersh said. “When we’re feeling down she’ll hit one and we’re like, ‘OK, maybe we can do this.’”

Harley has put up impressive numbers this season, but it’s not something she tracks. We’re talking about a selfless, team-oriented player.

Ask Harley what her scoring average is and she’d be guessing.

“My dad told me before, but I forgot,” Harley said with a smile. “My big thing is how many 3s I can make this game.”

ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz

More prep sports coverage:

Dropping North Salem in classification would be cruel
North Salem petitioning OSAA to play down a classification
South Salem girls push conference win streak past 50

South Salem’s Evina Westbrook (22), who is rated as the top high school guard in the nation by ESPN, said she has a connection on the court with Dani Haley "that just clicks."

South Salem’s Dani Harley will continue her basketball career next season at George Fox University.

A year ago Peter McKinley was homeless.

At the time, he was a junior at Gervais High School who had gone from being consistently suspended while in junior high to being a chapter president of the Future Farmers of America and being part of the leadership of Gervais’ Associated Student Body.

McKinley didn’t let his surroundings dictate his trajectory.

He went on to place fourth in the district wrestling meet and qualify for the state tournament, and played his heart out every game of his senior year of high school football with the goal of becoming a college football player.

Gervais senior Peter McKinley (second from left) receives his MaxPreps Athlete of the Month award on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Second from right is former Oregon player Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who presented him with the award.

Friday morning McKinley’s favorite football player, former Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, not only gave him his phone number, but encouraged him to contact him in his pursuit of that dream.

Ekpre-Olomu, along with Marines Rafael Yumo and Russell Mullis, presented McKinley with the MaxPreps High School Athlete of the Month award for December in front of the entire Gervais student body and a huge collection of family and friends.

“I thought I was going to come here and meet a kid that worked hard and did all the right things,” said Ekpre-Olomu, who is recovering from a knee injury. “What he’s done and what it’s taken him to get to this point, it’s only motivated me to even work harder. I just realized how much this kid wants it.

“He’s doing great. He’s all-whatever in wrestling and he’s saying all he wants to do is play college football, and how much work he’s going to put in to get to that. And I’m looking at where I’m at and what position I’m in, if he’s going to work this hard, why not me work just as hard as him?”

McKinley is the first athlete from Oregon to receive the award.

It allows McKinley to accomplish one of his goals as a high school athlete: To be able to bring a trophy to his school.

More prep sports coverage: 

North Salem petitioning OSAA to play down a classification
Teagan Quitoriano receives offers from Oregon, Oregon State
South Salem’s Dani Harley a key ingredient for Saxons’ title hopes

It was more attention lavished on McKinley at one time than he had cumulatively before in his life.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking, honestly,” said McKinley, a senior. “I’m just a small kid from Gervais. No one knows where Gervais is. I didn’t even want to come to Gervais originally. But I’m happy I stayed. … It’s all the hard work paying off.”

McKinley has had his greatest athletic success in wrestling, but football is his passion.

A 5-foot-11 linebacker who wrestles at 220 pounds, he’s been trying in vain to get college football programs to show any interest in him.

He’s emailed every college football coaching staffs he could find, and replies have been rare.

“That’s the dream,” McKinley said. “I want to play college football. I will be somewhere playing college football next year, I just don’t know where yet.

“Right now I’m just working on wrestling, going to districts next week, I’m hoping to pick up the No. 1 seed and be a district champion. That’s pretty much where I’m at right now.”

McKinley was shocked when he found out Ekpre-Olomu would be presenting him the award Friday morning.

Throughout Oregon’s run to the National Championship Game in 2015, while others were gushing over Marcus Mariota, McKinley was Ekpre-Olomu’s biggest fan.

Ekpre-Olomu has been rehabilitating his latest knee injury at the Nike World Campus in Beaverton in hopes of restarting his NFL career.

McKinley and Ekpre-Olomu bonded immediately over their collective struggles.

“When I met Peter and realized the hard work and education, how sports can impact somebody, how much he said he’s grown from when he was a freshman until now, I feel like I’ve done kind of the same exact thing in these past couple years,” Ekpre-Olomu said. “To see somebody kind of in the same shoe you were a few years back, it really touches you and kind of gets to your heart.

“That’s all you can ask for. That’s kind of why your playing the sport. Yeah, you love playing a sport and you love what it brings, but you realize how much you can impact other people.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Madison Hull hit a game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left in regulation, then scored nine more points in overtime to lead No. 2 Western Mennonite to a thrilling 54-50 victory Friday over No. 3 Kennedy before a packed gym at Western Mennonite High School.

No. 2 Western Mennonite celebrates its 54-50 overtime victory over No. 3 Kennedy at Western Mennonite School in Salem on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017.

Hull, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, finished with 35 points in the regular season finale for the Tri-River Conference powers. Her game-tying top of the key 3-pointer was from 30 feet.

It was a sterling performance from Hull on “Senior Night.”

“I honestly love the pressure,” Hull said.

She seemed oblivious to it. Hull scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, leading the Pioneers (18-7, 8-4 Tri-River) back from a 39-31 deficit to open the fourth quarter.

Western Mennonite, which won the Class 2A state championship in 2015, will be the No. 2 seed in the league tournament next week. Defending state champion Kennedy (14-9, 10-2) hosts the league championship game Feb. 18.

Western Mennonite didn’t take its first lead Friday until Hull’s jumper with 1:02 left in regulation put the Pioneers on top 42-41.

Junior forward Molly Jaeger put Kennedy back in front with an inside basket, and the Trojans extended their lead to 44-41 on two free throws by sophomore forward Kalyssa Kleinshmit with 15 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for Hull’s dramatic 3-pointer.

Sophomore guard Annika Hess joined Hull in double figures with 12 points. Jaeger and Kleinschmit scored 11 points apiece for Kennedy.

It was the second overtime game of the season between Western Mennonite and Kennedy. The Trojans prevailed at home in the first matchup 70-63 on Jan. 20.

ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz

Read more:

South Salem’s Dani Harley a key ingredient for Saxons’ title hopes
North Salem petitioning OSAA to play down a classification
Gervais’ Peter McKinley has gone from homeless to hero

If you want a preview of the OSAA 2A girls state basketball tournament, check out the Tri-River Conference playoffs next week.

Western Mennonite’s Madison Hull (13) passes the ball while being defended by multiple Kennedy players in the first half of the Kennedy vs. Western Mennonite girl’s basketball game at Western Mennonite School in Salem on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Western Mennonite won the game 54-50 in overtime.

Four of the state’s top six teams in the OSAA power rankings reside in the Tri-River, including defending state champion Kennedy.

On Friday, No. 2 Western Mennonite (18-7, 8-4) defeated No. 3 Kennedy (14-9, 10-2), the regular season champs, 54-50 in overtime before a packed house in what is known as “The Barn” on Western Mennonite’s campus.

It would come as no surprise if Western Mennonite and Kennedy met again Feb. 18 in the league playoff championship game, and perhaps a couple weeks later in Pendleton in the state tournament.

Tri-River: Conference of champions

The Tri-River has produced the past eight girls state champions.

“I honestly love the Tri-River. It’s the best league in 2A,” said Western Mennonite senior guard Madison Hull, who scored 35 points in Friday’s dramatic comeback victory by the Pioneers. “Every night you never take it off because every team’s good.”

No. 1 Monroe (23-0) of the Mountain View Conference is the main challenger to end the Tri-Rivers’s streak of state championships.

Kennedy is strong once again despite the graduation of first team all-state guard Lakin Susee, who is the leading scorer this season for Chemeketa Community College.

Kennedy’s Kaylin Cantu (25) tries to block a shot by Western Mennonite’s Lexi Pack (21) in the first half of the Kennedy vs. Western Mennonite girl’s basketball game at Western Mennonite School in Salem on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Western Mennonite won the game 54-50 in overtime.

“Once you get out of the Tri-River (playoffs) we’re really tough because every night we’re battling,” Kennedy coach Kerry Hall said. “We love it.”

No. 6 Regis, which won five consecutive state crowns from 2010 to 2014, is the No. 3 seed in the Tri-River playoffs. The fourth seed was determined by a play-in game Saturday between St. Paul and No. 5 East Linn Christian.

Western Mennonite overcomes challenges

Western Mennonite has navigated a road littered with challenges to emerge as a state championship contender.

Former coach Robby Gilliam resigned in November due to health reasons. Hull, a first-team all-state selection last season, said Western Mennonite was close to not fielding a team this season.

“There just wasn’t enough interest,” Hull said. “We weren’t gonna have a team at the beginning. Even some of the girls that are starting (now), it’s not that they didn’t want to play. … But I’m the only returning starter from last year and so a lot of them weren’t confident.”

Enter Mike Hopper, who came on board as head coach. The Pioneers stayed together and developed into a strong team.

Hopper, whose daughter, Peyton, is a senior guard for Western Mennonite, joked that his primary role as coach is “to stay out of their way.”

Said Hull: “He’s doing a great job.”

Hull hopes to conclude prep career in Pendleton

Western Mennonite would not be in this position without the stellar all-around play of Hull. Her 30-foot 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime Friday against Kennedy.

Hull scored 20 of her 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, helping the Pioneers overcome a 39-31 deficit entering the fourth quarter.

“If she’s not the best player in the state I would be hard pressed to find out who was,” Hopper said.

Had Western Mennonite cancelled its season, Hull said she would have played at West Salem in the 6A Greater Valley Conference.

The challenge of testing her skills at the state’s highest level would “have been a cool experience,” but Hull wanted to finish her high school basketball career at Western Mennonite, where her father, Gary Hull, has guided the boys basketball program for three decades.

“I would have missed it so much,” she said.

Two teams from each of the six 2A conferences automatically qualify for the 16-team state playoffs, and two more get in based on their standing in the OSAA power rankings. Eight teams will qualify for the 2A state tournament March 2-4.

Hull has an opportunity to conclude her high school career with a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance at the Pendleton Convention Center.

“I love Pendleton. It’s like nothing else,” Hull said. “Everything shuts down and everyone comes and watches.”

More sports coverage:

Madison Hull leads Western Mennonite over Kennedy
Blanchet’s Sophia Poole grows into leader, lifts team
Gervais’ Peter McKinley has gone from homeless to hero

BOX SCORE

Western Mennonite 54, Kennedy 50 (OT)

Kennedy: Kleinschmit 11, Carley 11, Jaegar 11, Cantu 7, Arritola 6, Frey 2, Gomez 2

W. Mennonite: Hull 35, Hess 12, Pack 3, Foster 2, Hopper 2

KENNEDY 15-12-12-5-6 – 50

W. MENN 9-14-8-13-10 – 54

ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz

Mia Hamm is a two-time gold medalist with the U.S. women’s soccer team.

When we rolled out the red carpet last year to honor the best in high school sports in the Mid-Valley, we set the bar high.

We brought in Jerry Rice, arguably the NFL’s greatest receiver of all-time, to help us celebrate. He shared his personal story on stage and personally congratulated each award winner.

So how do we top that?

We do it all over again, only this time we invite arguably the greatest women’s soccer player of all time.

Mia Hamm will be our special guest at the 2017 Statesman Journal Sports Awards on June 6 at the Salem Convention Center.

Tickets for the dinner event are on sale now, with an early-bird special of $50 per ticket. After March 12, tickets are $65.

Hamm is widely regarded as not just the greatest women’s soccer player of all time but one of the greatest American women athletes of all time. She led the United States to two World Cup titles (1991 and 1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2004).

But perhaps her greatest accomplishment has been as an ambassador for the sport.

During her prime, she was the Michael Jordan of women’s soccer. Every little girl with a soccer ball at her feet wanted to be Mia, just like every little boy with a basketball in his hands wanted to be Michael.

At 15, she became the youngest player to play on the U.S. Women’s National Team. She went on to become a five-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, the most any player has been honored. In 1999, Nike named a building after her at its World Headquarters in Beaverton.

She retired after the 2004 Olympics and is now busy raising three children with her husband, former All-Star baseball player Nomar Garciaparra. She also runs the Mia Hamm Foundation, which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for families in need of a marrow or cord blood transplant and to the development of more opportunities for young women in sports. Her latest endeavor is helping to bring a second Major League Soccer franchise to Southern California.

PREVIOUS SPORTS AWARDS: Memorable moments 

We expect Hamm to share her personal story on stage just like Rice did at last year’s event, and help us honor the best of our local athletes.

The top athletes from 19 sports will be recognized, along with Coach of the Year and Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

We will again present community awards that are nominated on and voted on by you. In addition to Heart and Desire, Courage and Comeback athletes of the year, we are creating new awards for Cheer and for Dance and Drill.

Nominations for those awards are open now through March 5. Three finalists will be selected in each category, and voting will take place March 13 through April 9.

We also are excited to announce a new Scholar Athlete Award. Each school will be able to nominate one student-athlete who excels on the field or court as well as in the classroom. A panel of judges will select a winner to receive a $5,000 scholarship.

High school sports coverage: West Salem earns district swimming title | Tri River is home to 2A powers | Silverton posts school-best finishes | Peter McKinley goes from homeless to hero

The Capitol Cup will once again recognize the top sports program in the Mid-Valley.

Stay tuned for more information about the event. In the meantime, mark your calendars for June 6. You won’t want to miss the 2017 Statesman Journal Sports Awards.

“Forward This” appears Wednesdays and Sundays and highlights the people, places and organizations of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Contact Capi Lynn at clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6710, or follow her the rest of the week on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

Tickets

Go to StatesmanJournal.com/SportsAwards

Nominations

Go to StatesmanJournal.com/Nominate

Photo gallery: Winner photos from Mid-Valley Sports Awards

Mia Hamm retired from soccer after the 2004 Olympics but continues to be an ambassador for the sport.

Mia Hamm will be the special guest June 6 for the Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center.

West Salem senior Micah Masei is the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s OSAA Class 6A state swimming meet in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.22.

South Salem’s Tyler Cook, left, and West Salem’s Micah Masei compete in the 50 yard freestyle during the Greater Valley Conference swimming championships at the McMinnville Aquatic Center on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017.

The state swimming meets take place Friday and Saturday at Gresham’s Mt. Hood Community College.

South Salem’s 200 medley relay team of Daisuke Fitial, Christian Richey, Paul Lomax and Tyler Cook has the No. 2 seed time, Fitial is the No. 2 seed in the 100 back and is No. 3 in the 200 IM and Cook is the No. 3 seed in the 100 free.

West Salem’s girls 200 free relay team has the No. 4 seed time and senior Hannah Bodkin is the No. 4 seed in the 100 breaststroke.

In the 5A state meet, Dallas senior Jolie-Rae Ford is the No.3 seed in the 100 freestyle, Silverton’s boys team of Jaiden Davis, Mike Doerfler, Ross Mackinnon and Jason Orr is the No. 4 seed in the 200 free relay and Orr is the No. 4 seed in the 100 backstroke.

Salem Academy’s 400 free relay team of Wilson McLean, Davis McHugh, Joel Westby and Caleb Warde is the No. 3 seed and Warde is the No. 2 seed in the 100 free and the No. 3 seed in the 200 free.

Signings

Salem Academy senior Stacia Panther has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball and compete in track and field at Lane Community College.

Prather, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, was a first-team all-PacWest Conference selection in volleyball as a senior.

In track and field, she was the PacWest Conference runner-up in the high jump as a junior and was second in the triple jump. She has competed at the state track and field meet all three years of high school.

Soccer: North Salem senior Amy Duvall has signed a letter of intent to play at Clackamas Community College.

Soccer: McNary senior Isabella Heath has signed a letter of intent to play at Chemeketa.

Honors

South Salem senior Evina Westbrook has been named to the CBS MaxPreps Girls Basketball Player of the Year Watchlist.

Athletes of the week

North Salem sophomore Ian Carlos

Ian Carlos, Michael Murphy, Daniel McClung, Abby Whitney, Matthew Ismay and Natalie Bock were honored as athletes of the week by the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club at its Feb. 10 meeting.

Carlos, a sophomore wrestler at North Salem, is ranked No. 1 at the 145 pound weight class, is 24-0 and is nationally ranked.

Sprague junior Michael Murphy

Murphy, a junior wrestler for Sprague, is No. 3 in the state and won his weight class at the Oregon Wrestling Classic.

Sprague sophomore Daniel McClung

McClung, a sophomore wrestler for Sprague, is ranked second in the state, placed third at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions and second at the Gut Check Challenge in Washington.

South Salem junior Abby Whitney

Whitney, a senior who wrestles for South Salem, placed third in the 132 pound weight class at the Oregon High School girls state qualifier and advanced to the state meet.

McNary senior Matthew Ismay

Ismay, a senior on McNary’s boys basketball team, scored 17 points, had eight rebounds and five assists in a win against McKay.

Sprague junior Natalie Bock

Bock, a junior on Sprague’s girls basketball team, is averaging 14 points per game, including scoring 24 against West Albany.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or twitter.com/bpoehler

Sprague’s Jailen Hammer shoots a free throw in a game against West Salem as the schools face each other for first place in the Greater Valley Conference on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, at Sprague High School. Sprague beat West Salem 71-65.

People have been talking about Jailen Hammer’s potential on the football field for some time.

But his athletic potential has shown up fully on the basketball court first.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard scored 25 points in Tuesday’s 71-65 win against West Salem and has been a consistent scoring presence for the Olympians all season.

Read more:

North Salem’s petition to move down a classification approved by OSAA
West Salem’s Micah Masei is No. 1 seed for state

This is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Mid-Valley weekly watch list:

Kailey Doutt, McNary girls basketball: The junior guard scored 16 points in Tuesday’s 63-35 win against McKay and 10 in Friday’s 45-42 overtime loss to Grants Pass.

Kyle Greeley, West Salem boys basketball: The junior scored 23 points in Tuesday’s 71-65 loss to West Salem.

Jonah Downey, Santiam boys basketball: The sophomore guard scored 16 points in Tuesday’s 58-29 win against East Linn.

Delaney Henery, West Salem girls basketball: The senior guard scored 29 points in Tuesday’s 56-31 win against Sprague and 29 in Friday’s 67-47 win against Forest Grove.

Ana Coronado, Blanchet girls basketball: The sophomore guard scored 13 points in Tuesday’s 50-40 win against Kennedy and 12 in Tuesday’s 55-23 win against Chemawa.

Katie Tallon, Willamette Valley Christian girls basketball: The senior center scored 14 points and had 15 rebounds in Tuesday’s 54-30 win against Falls City.

Alex Barba, Central boys basketball: The senior wing scored 13 points in Wednesday’s 60-57 loss to Crescent Valley and 17 points in Friday’s 76-46 win against South Albany.

R.J. Veliz, Blanchet boys basketball: The sophomore point guard scored 30 points in Tuesdays’ 72-32 win against Chemawa.

Hannah Munson, Silverton girls basketball: The senior wing scored 15 points in Wednesday’s 62-45 win against South Albany.

Nick Conway, Blanchet boys basketball: The senior wing scored 17 points in Thursday’s 65-46 win against Gervais.

Andrew DeJager, Crosshill Christian boys basketball: The junior scored 18 points in Thursday’s 45-42 win against Willamette valley Christian.

Jalen Flowers, Dayton boys basketball: The senior post scored 23 points in Friday’s 60-52 win against Santiam Christian.

Sports Awards

Vote for your favorite by noon, Thursday at StatesmanJournal.com/aow.

Daisuke Fitial, South Salem swimming

Daisuke Fitial, South Salem swimming: The senior won the 200 IM (1:57.55), 100 backstroke (51.84) and swam on the winning 200 free relay team at the Greater Valley Conference district swimming meet Saturday.

Sprague’s Alexis Smith

Alexis Smith, Sprague swimming: The freshman won the 100 freestyle (55.46) and 200 free (2:01.27) in Saturday’s Greater Valley Conference district swimming meet at McMinnville Aquatic Center.

Treve Earhart

Treve Earhart, Dallas wrestling: The junior won the 195 pound weight class at Saturday’s Mid-Willamette Conference district wrestling, his second district championship.

Hannah Bodkin

Hannah Bodkin, West Salem girls swimming: The senior placed second in the 200 IM (2:13.32) and set a school record in placing second in the 100 breast (1:06.13) at Saturday’s Greater Valley Conference district swimming meet.

Athletes of the Week poll

Sprague junior Colby Evenson jumped up seven spots to No. 2 in the 500 freestyle with his performance Friday in the preliminary round of the OSAA Class 6A state swimming meet at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham.

The top six in each event advance to the A Final of the Class 6A state meet, which take place Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

Sprague’s Colby Evenson competes in the 200 yard individual medley during the Greater Valley Conference swimming championships at the McMinnville Aquatic Center on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017.

Evenson swam the prelims in 4:48.77, improving on his seed time of 4:52.66, and he also earned the No. 4 seed in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:57.58.

Sprague’s 200 free relay team of Ian Shultz, John Salgado, Parker Greene and Evenson earned the No. 4 seed for the finals with a time of 1:30.75. Shultz also was No. 4 in the 100 breaststroke (58.72).

West Salem senior Micah Masei earned the No. 2 seed for the finals of the 50 free with a time of 21.07and is the No. 2 seed in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.50.

South Salem’s relay team of Daisuke Fitial, Paul Lomax, Christian Richey and Tyler Cook was second in the 200 medley relay preliminaries with a time of 1:38.73.

The same group of swimmers earned the No. 4 seed in the 400 free relay in 3:18.90.

Fitial earned the No. 2 seed in the 100 backstroke (52.78) and the No. 5 seed in the 200 IM (1:59.01); Cook is No. 2 in the 100 freestyle (48.01) and No. 6 in the 50 free (21.79); and Lomax is No. 6 in the 100 butterfly (52.51).

In the girls, West Salem senior Hannah Bodkin is the No. 3 seed in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.85.

Sprague freshman Alexis Smith is the No. 5 seed for the 100 freestyle finals (54.50).

In the 5A meet, Dallas senior Jolie-Rae Ford placed fifth in the preliminaries of the 100 free in 56.10 to advance to Saturday’s finals, which start at 8:15 a.m.

Silverton’s relay team of Jason Orr, Ross Mackinnon, Jaiden Davis and Blake Doerfler was sixth in the preliminaries of the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:48.10 and advanced to Saturday’s finals.

In the 4A/3A/2A/1A state meet, Salem Academy’s team of Davis McHugh, Joel Westby, Elijah Leutwyler and Matthew Nettland earned a spot in the 200 medley relay final with a time of 1:51.87.

Also for Saturday’s finals, which start at 6:45 p.m., Salem Academy sophomore Caleb Warde earned the No. 3 spot in the finals of the 200 free with a prelim time of 1:49.68 and the No. 4 spot in the 100 free (50.36).

Salem Academy junior Wilson McLean is the No. 5 spot for the finals of the 50 free at 22.76.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Statesman Journal Sports Awards

Big-time athletes earn great reputations.

The Statesman Journal will honor those athletes.  In addition to these finalists, all Athletes of the Week have earned a ticket to the 2017 Sports Awards.

These are the Player of the Year finalists for Fall Sports for the Statesman Journal Sports Awards.

The winners will be presented at the June 6 Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center.

If you are an honoree, click here to reserve your spot at the Sports Awards.

Fans cheer as runners compete in the Greater Valley Conference championship boy’s 5K race at the Crystal Lake Sports Park in Corvallis on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. West Salem’s Ahmed Muhumed finished first.

Boys cross country

Jefferson junior Hassan Ibrahim

West Salem senior Ahmed Muhumed, Jefferson junior Hassan Ibrahim and Jefferson freshman Ahmed Ibrahim are the finalists for the boys cross country athlete of the year.

This season Muhumed won his third consecutive Greater Valley Conference district championship and followed that up by winning his second consecutive OSAA Class 6A state championship.

Hassan Ibrahim, a junior, continued his exciting career by winning the 3A/2A/1A Special District 3 championship for the second year in a row then went on to place second at the state meet for the second straight year.

Jefferson freshman Ahmed Ibrahim

His younger brother, Ahmed Ibrahim, made a sterling debut by placing third in the district meet with a personal record then went on to place third at the Class 3A/2A/1A state meet.

Announcing the All-Mid-Valley boys cross country team

Girls cross country

Kennedy’s Kaylin Cantu

Kennedy junior Kaylin Cantu, Sprague sophomore Ginger Murnieks and Sprague junior Kaylee Mitchell are the finalists for the girls cross country athlete of the year.

Sprague’s Kaylee Mitchell crosses the finish line in the Greater Valley Conference championship girl’s 5K race at the Crystal Lake Sports Park in Corvallis on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Sprague’s Ginger Murnieks finished first.

In Mitchell’s first season at Sprague and second ever running cross country, she placed second in the GVC district meet and went on to place 12th at the Class 6A state meet.

Cantu won her third consecutive district cross country championship and went on to place third at the 3A/2A/1A state cross country meet.

Sprague runners prepare to compete in the Greater Valley Conference championship girl’s 5K race at the Crystal Lake Sports Park in Corvallis on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Sprague’s Ginger Murnieks finished first.

Murnieks focused on cross country for the first time this fall and won the GVC district championship then went on to place 14th at the 6A state meet despite breaking her foot.

All-Mid-Valley girls cross country team announced

Boys soccer

South Salem’s Sebastian Ruelas (17) celebrates with his team after a goal in the Central Catholic vs. South Salem boy’s soccer game in the second round of 6A playoffs at South Salem High School on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. Central Catholic won the game 9-8 after 11 rounds of penalty kicks.

The finalists for boys soccer player of the year are Woodburn senior Reggie Reyes, South Salem senior Sebastian Ruelas and West Salem senior Stuart Aeschliman.

Ruelas scored 16 goals and had five assists this season and concluded his high school career as South Salem’s all-time scoring leader with 41 goals and 93 points and was named first-team 6A all-state.

West Salem’s Stuart Aeschliman (9) competes for possession with Grant’s Philip Quinton (7) on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Grant High School in Portland, Ore. The West Salem Titans tied 1-1 with Grant.

Aeschliman, an All-American selection, scored 18 goals, contributed six assists and was named first-team all-league for the fourth time and 6A first-team all-state.

Woodburn’s Reggie Reyes

Reyes was the Mid-Willamette Conference player of the year and was first-team 5A all-state after scoring 12 goals.

Announcing the All-Mid-Valley boys soccer team

Girls soccer

Emily Collier is a defensive center midfielder for Blanchet Catholic School on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016.

Blanchet junior Emily Collier, Sprague senior Sarah Teubner and Silverton freshman Paige Alexander are the finalists for the girls soccer player of the year.

Silverton’s Paige Alexander and the Foxes fall to La Salle 3-2 in overtime during the OSAA Class 5A State Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at Hillsboro Stadium.

Alexander made a sterling debut by scoring 33 goals and having 10 assists and was the co-5A state player of the year.

Sarah Teubner signs to play soccer for Clark College at Sprague High School in Salem on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017.

Teubner was the Greater Valley Conference player of the year and was first-team 6A all-state after scoring nine goals and recording 11 assists.

Collier was the 3A/2A/1A Special District 3 player of the year and was first-team 3A/2A/1A all-state by scoring 14 goals and having 18 assists.

Announcing the All-Mid-Valley girls soccer team

Volleyball

McNary’s Sydney Hunter goes up for a spike in a game against South Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at West Salem High School. The South Salem Saxons won the match-up 3-0.

The volleyball player of the year finalists are Sydney Hunter, a senior from McNary, Selbie Christensen, a junior from South Salem, and Paige Whipple, a senior from West Salem.

South Salem junior Selbie Christiensen

Christensen, a 6-3 outside hitter, had 369 kills and 217 digs and was named first-team all-Greater Valley Conference.

Hunter, a 6-1 outside hitter, had 347 kills and 124 digs and was honorable mention 6A all-state.

West Salem’s Paige Whipple (12) spikes the ball past Clackamas’ Calla Meyer (6) and Kayley Andersen (3) in the OSAA Class 6A quarterfinal volleyball match of Clackamas vs. West Salem at Liberty High School in Hillsboro on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. West Salem lost in four sets.

Whipple, a 6-2 outside hitter, had 517 kills and 268 digs and was 6A first-team all-state and was the GVC player of the year.

Announcing the All-Mid-Valley volleyball team

Football

Bishop Mitchell speaks before signing to play football with Portland State University at Kennedy High School in Mt. Angel on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017.

Kennedy senior Bishop Mitchell, Central senior Marlon Tuipulotu and Dallas senior Tanner Earhart are the finalists for football player of the year.

Central’s Marlon Tuipulotu (51) and his teammates shake hands with Wilsonville players following the Central vs. Wilsonville OSAA Class 5A semifinal football game at Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Wilsonville won the game 56-34.

Tuipulotu was the 5A defensive player of the year after making 62 tackles with 14 for loss including six sacks.

Dallas’ Tanner Earhart (24) rushes in the first half of the Dallas vs. Lebanon OSAA Class 5A semifinal football game at Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Lebanon won the game 10-7.

Earhart was the 5A offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,068 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Mitchell was the 2A co-offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,217 yards and 28 touchdowns.

2016 All-Mid-Valley Football team

The finalists, as well as athletes of the week, will receive a complimentary ticket for the event. They can register at http://stjr.nl/Nominee

Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.statesmanjournal.com/sportsawards

Tickets to the dinner/awards event are $50 if purchased by March 12. General admission tickets will cost $65 and be available through May 27.

GRESHAM — Silverton’s boys finally brought back some hardware.

The Foxes 200 medley relay team of junior Jason Orr, junior Ross Mackinnon, senior Jaiden Davis and freshman Blake Doerfler placed fifth Saturday in the OSAA Class 5A state swimming meet at Mt. Hood Community College with a time of 1:48.87.

It was the first time a boy individual swimmer or team from Silverton had won a state meet medal – a girls relay from Silverton placed sixth in 2010.

Silverton’s 200 medley relay team of Jaiden Davis, Ross Mackinnon, Jason Orr and Blake Doerfler placed fifth at the OSAA Class 5A state tournament, the school’s first medal in a boys state swimming event.

It’s another step for Silverton’s swimming program that has been making strides in recent years.

“It’s becoming more serious,” Davis said. “We work hard. We work really hard. Die like every single day during practice. At the time you’re like: ‘Why? Why are you doing this? Do I really need to swim today?’

“Then we do things like we did today to get the medal and you realize that putting in all that work is worth it.”

MORE SWIMMING:Sprague junior rises to No. 2 in prelims | West Salem’s Micah Masei is No. 1 for state | West Salem earns back district championship

The team came into the meet seeded seventh and placed seventh in Friday’s preliminaries, but another team ahead of them was disqualified, giving Silverton the No. 6 and final spot for the finals.

The same group came into the meet seeded fourth in the 200 free relay, but was eighth in the prelims so they didn’t advance to the finals.

With nothing to lose, they gave the final race everything they had.

“We were sixth so we weren’t really worried about dropping lower because we couldn’t do worse,” Orr said. “We were like, hey, we’re in the finals so let’s have fun.”

Dallas senior Jolie-Rae Ford finished her high school career by earning her fourth state meet medal.

The senior placed fifth in the 100 freestyle in 55.14.

Dallas swimmer Jolie-Rae Ford placed fifth in the 100 freestyle in the OSAA Class 5A state swimming meet on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017.

“I’m really happy with it,” she said. “I don’t think it could have gone any better. I think it was great.”

This was the shortest race at which she had placed at the state meet as her previous state meet placings were in the 200 and 500 free (twice).

True to form, she closed her final race Saturday strong and

“I thought it was really good, actually,” Ford said. “I mean even though the time wasn’t as good as it was at districts, I still had a really great race so I’m glad.”

Coach of the Year:  Ben Brown, Salem Academy

Salem Academy’s Sydney Brown has been named the PacWest Conference girls basketball player of the year.

Player of the Year:  Sydney Brown (Jr), Salem Academy

1st Team

Sydney Brown (Jr), Salem Academy

Aimee Smith (Jr), Salem Academy

Sophia Poole (Sr), Blanchet

Ana Coronado (So), Blanchet

Katelyn Gray (Jr), Scio

Eva Hardy (Jr), Salem Academy

2nd Team

Rachel McCoy (Sr), Colton

Trinity Phipps (So), Blanchet

Andrea Villegas (Sr), Gervais

Bailey Hittner (So), Blanchet

Grace James (Jr), Colton

Cassie Aguilar (Jr), Jefferson

Honorable Mention

McKenzie Reger (Jr), Scio

Marisela Sanchez (Sr), Chemawa

Haley Wallen (Sr), Scio

Isabel Vasquez (Fr), Gervais

Hallie Baker (Jr), Salem Academy

Daisy Correa (Jr), Gervais

Lindsey Larson (Jr), Salem Academy

Emily Collier (Jr), Blanchet

Katlyn Baker (Sr), Colton

Nalani Harvey (Jr), Chemawa

Alyssa Guzman (Jr), Jefferson

Regis’s Josh Scrocca receives the Comeback Player Award during the Mid-Valley Sports Awards banquet on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at the Salem Convention Center.

It’s one of the most universal experiences in sports: The comeback.

All great athletes have to overcome something, injuries, illnesses, living conditions or even losing a big game.

The Statesman Journal will honor a high school athlete who made a great comeback this year at the June 6 Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center.

The Comeback Player Award will honor one person who suffered an injury or was removed from competition for other reasons and returned to excel.

Last year, Regis’ Josh Scrocca came back from Crohn’s disease and a car accident to lead his football team in rushing in the state semifinals and was awarded the Comeback Award.

To nominate an athlete for the award, fill out the form at www.statesmanjournal.com/nominate.

Early bird tickets for the dinner/awards event cost $50 and are available through March 12. General admission costs $65 and will be available through May 27. Tickets can be purchased here: www.statesmanjournal.com/sportsawards.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Statesman Journal Sports Awards

South Salem lineman Tyler Coates (right) has signed a letter of intent to play football at Southern Oregon

South Salem senior Tyler Coates has signed a letter of intent to play football at Southern Oregon.

Coates, a 6-foot-1, 280 pound offensive and defensive lineman, was a first-team all-GVC center as a junior and was second-team all-league as a sophomore.

He missed most of his senior season due to injury, but was still honorable mention all-league.

Nominate an athlete for Comeback Player Award

State wrestling

Sprague sophomore Daniel McClung is a No. 1 seed in the 6A 126 pound weight class for this weekend’s OSAA Class 6A state wrestling tournament at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum.

Brothers Tanner Earhart (5A 160) and Treve Earhart (5A 195) of Dallas earned No. 1 seeds as did Central senior David Negrete (5A 220).

North Marion senior Lane Stigall goes after his third state championship and is the No. 1 seed in the 4A 152 pound weight class. Also in 4A, North Marion senior Gregory Wing is the No. 1 seed at 160 and Cascade junior Louie Sanchez is No. 1 at 220.

Locals that are No. 1 seeds in 3A are Willamina sophomore Jordan Reyes (106), Dayton senior Jared Henry (138) and Willamina senior Chandler Allen (170).

Signings

Cascade senior Tyler Walker has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Multnomah University.

Walker, a 6-foot guard, played significantly as a freshman but missed most of his sophomore season. He was an honorable mention all-Oregon West Conference selection as a junior.

Softball: Sprague senior Alexis Morrow has signed to play at Highline Community College.

Sprague senior Kaiden Flanigan

Athletes of the week

Kaiden Flanigan, Morgan Winder, Ryan Brown and Kailey Doutt have been named the athletes of the week by the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club.

Flanigan, a senior guard for Sprague’s boys basketball team, scored 18 points to lead the Olympians to a 64-58 win against South Salem and is averaging 14 points, six assists and five rebounds per game this season.

South Salem freshman Morgan Winder

Winder, a freshman forward for South Salem’s girls basketball team, had a double-double against Sprague with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game.

South Salem sophomore Ryan Brown

Brown, a sophomore post on South Salem’s boys basketball team, scored 25 points in a win against McNary and is averaging 6.4 points and over seven rebounds per game.

Doutt, a junior wing for McNary’s girls basketball team, had a double-double against McKay with 16 points and 10 rebounds and is averaging 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and three rebounds per game.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler

McNary junior Kailey Doutt

Regis’s Paige Rickman (right) headlines the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Mid-Valley weekly watch list.

Paige Rickman’s determined play helped Regis High School’s girls basketball team get back to the state playoffs.

The 5-foot-9 senior post scored 12 points and had nine rebounds in Tuesday’s 42-32 win against East Linn in the Tri-River Conference league playoffs.

No. 9 seed Regis travels to play at Gold Beach in Saturday’s round of the OSAA Class 2A state playoffs.

Read more:

Nominate an athlete for Comeback Player Award
South Salem earns first state tournament trophy since 2001

This is the American Family Insurance All-USA Mid-Valley weekly watch list for basketball:

Ryan Brown, South Salem boys basketball: The sophomore post scored 25 points in Tuesday’s 81-71 win against McNary.

Tyler Walker, Cascade boys basketball: The senior guard scored 20 points in Tuesday’s 81-77 win against Newport.

Andrew DeJager, Crosshill Christian boys basketball: The junior scored 23 points in Tuesday’s 63-38 win against Oregon School for the Deaf.

Evina Westbrook, South Salem girls basketball: The senior point guard scored 31 points in Tuesday’s 67-34 win against McNary.

Sarah Teubner, Sprague girls basketball: The senior guard scored 19 points in Tuesday’s 53-47 win against McMinnville.

Kyle Greeley, West Salem boys basketball: The junior guard scored 28 points in Tuesday’s 95-47 win against North Salem.

Halle Wright, Cascade girls basketball: The junior point guard scored 16 points, had seven assists and six rebounds in Tuesday’s 56-40 win against Newport.

Daisy Correa, Gervais girls basketball: The junior post scored 14 points in Tuesday’s 37-28 win against Colton.

Elizabeth Chavez, Central girls basketball: The sophomore guard scored 15 points in Wednesday’s 44-34 win against Lebanon.

Madison Hull, Western Mennonite girls basketball: The senior point guard scored 32 points and had 19 rebounds in Thursday’s 57-48 win against Regis.

Delaney Henery, West Salem girls basketball: The senior scored 20 points in Friday’s 55-44 win against McNary.

Morgan Winder, South Salem girls basketball: The junior forward scored 18 points in Friday’s 65-44 win against McMinnville.

Paige Alexander, Silverton girls basketball: The freshman wing scored 11 points in Friday’s 51-24 win against Lebanon.

Meagan Mendazona, Central girls basketball: The freshman guard scored 19 points and had nine rebounds in Friday’s 33-31 win against Dallas.

Sports Awards

Vote for your favorite athlete by noon Thursday at StatesmanJournal.com/aow.

Sarah Stoddard, a senior volleyball player, stands for a photo at Crossbill Christian School in Turner on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016.

Sarah Stoddard, Crosshill Christian girls basketball: The senior guard scored 11 points in Tuesday’s 50-17 win against Oregon School for the Deaf and scored 20 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s 39-17 win against Willamette Valley Christian in the championship game of the Casco League playoffs.

Sprague freshman Santos Cantu

Santos Cantu III, Sprague wresting: The freshman recorded three pins on his way to winning the Greater Valley Conference district championship at 195 pounds.

South Salem’s Tyler Cook

Tyler Cook, South Salem swimming: The senior placed third in the Class 6A state meet in the 100 free (48.02) and fifth in the 50 free (21.94) and swam on the Saxons’ third place 200 medley relay and sixth place 400 free relay team.

Senior Jason Richey, photographed at Dallas High School on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.

Jason Richey, Dallas boys basketball: The senior guard scored 25 points in Friday’s 50-47 loss to Dallas.

Elijah Schwartz from South Salem High School receives the Heart & Desire Award from Jerry Rice at the Mid-Valley Sports Awards on June 7, 2016 at the Salem Convention Center.

Achievement in sports isn’t always about athletes who throw the most touchdown passes, score the most points, serve the most aces or card the most birdies.

It’s also about difference makers who impact their teams in ways that may not show up statistically.

The Statesman Journal will honor a high school athlete who exhibited heart and desire in a variety of ways during the June 6 Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center.

The Heart and Desire Award will honor one athlete who leads on and off the field. These type of leaders are often not starters or stars on their teams. Nominees for this award are individuals who show up and give maximum effort and support the team, even if they are on the sidelines.

Cancer survivor gives to hospital through former NFL player

Nominate an athlete for Comeback Player Award

Last season then-South Salem High School seniors Elijah Schwartz and Damian Moe made the boys varsity basketball team after being cut the previous three years. They didn’t play much, but found themselves in the starting lineup in a late-season victory over North Salem that clinched the Greater Valley Conference championship.

Schwartz, who served as a student manager along with Moe in the seasons they didn’t make the team, was awarded the Heart and Desire Award.

To nominate an athlete for the award, fill out the form at www.statesmanjournal.com/nominate.

Early bird tickets for the dinner/awards event cost $50 and are available through March 12. General admission tickets are $65 and will be available through May 27. Tickets can be purchased here: www.statesmanjournal.com/SportsAwards.

This year’s special guest for the Statesman Journal Sports Awards will be Mia Hamm, who is recognized as one of the greatest women’s soccer players of all time. She led the United States to two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals.

ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/ghorowitz

TURNER – Much has changed for Tyrell Williams since he roamed the halls at Turner Elementary School as a fifth grader.

These days Williams is a standout wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams visits Turner Elementary School, where he attended fifth grade, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.

On Tuesday he was back at his old school, a guest of principal Dan Petersen, Williams’ track and field coach at Cascade High School.

Leafing through a 2002-2003 Turner Elementary School yearbook, Williams smiled when he saw his fifth-grade photo among fellow classmates.

“It’s just cool, especially coming back to where I went to school,” Williams said. “To be able to see old yearbooks and stuff, to see the kids go through the same cycle I went through, it’s cool. It’s fun.”

Williams was in town to visit family members, but made time to be part of an assembly at Turner Elementary.

Students in grades 1 through 5 learned there was a special guest waiting for them when they walked in the gymnasium.

“As soon as I knew I was like jumping around,” said fifth-grader Taylor Swift, a Williams fan. “Everybody was like, ‘calm down, Taylor.’”

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams high-fives students at Turner Elementary School, where he attended fifth grade, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.

Swift makes a point of trying to watch Chargers games on television “every Sunday” because her favorite player is on the team.

“I knew that he went to this school, so that was really cool,” Swift said. “I know he’s famous.”

Not all of the students were as familiar with Williams, but you would never have guessed it based on their enthusiastic response watching a video of Williams’ NFL highlights as he sat with them on the gym floor.

They provided Williams with engaging banter and it didn’t matter to him if they knew who he was.

“One girl was talking about her cat and how it’s allergic to fleas. I don’t know if she knew,” Williams said. “Some of them did. They were talking about their dad’s favorite teams and stuff. It’s kind of cool just to hang out with them.”

After the video, Williams answered a few questions from Petersen about his life, took part in a suggested touchdown celebration dance courtesy of a group of students, gave high-fives to the children as they left the gym, and signed autographs during lunch.

Williams hopes he left a message with students that will resonate.

“No matter where you’re from, the size of the school doesn’t really matter,” he said. “It’s just if you get an opportunity make the best of it.”

Williams blossomed in his second NFL season after signing with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Western Oregon University in May of 2015.

Last season he led the Chargers with 69 receptions for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns and was a finalist for the VIZIO Top Value Performer, an award presented annually to the NFL player whose on-field performance most exceeds the value of their annual salary. Williams is entering the final year of a three-year, $1.575 million contract.

If Williams has another stellar season, he’ll likely receive a substantial raise. He would become a restricted free agent after the 2017 campaign.

“The money is obviously nice and it’s a big part of it, but I just love playing football,” Williams said. “I make plenty of money so I’m not worried about going out and making more. It’ll come.”

Petersen said Williams remains the same humble young man who was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track and field) when he was a sprinter at Cascade.

Williams now stands 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, but weighed only 160 pounds coming out of high school and was not recruited by major colleges. He went on to become WOU’s career leader in receptions.

Dec 11, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) with the ball in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium.

Despite long odds, Williams made the most of his opportunity in San Diego. He played on special teams early in his rookie season, spent two months on the practice squad, and returned to the active roster for the last seven games. His first NFL reception went for an 80-yard touchdown.

“He’s the perfect example for our community kids of what it means to dream big,” Petersen said.

In January, the Chargers finalized a move from San Diego to the Los Angeles area after months of speculation. The Los Angeles Chargers will play the next two seasons at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, before moving to a new stadium in Inglewood for the 2019 season.

Williams would have preferred if the Chargers stayed in San Diego, but he’s not complaining.

As for his NFL future? Well, one excellent season has not made Williams feel like he’s arrived.

“It is crazy,” Williams said of his breakout season. “(But) I still feel like I have a lot to get better at.”

ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, or Twitter.com/ghorowitz

READ MORE: Cancer survivor gives to hospital through former NFL player | Former rivals make spectacular combination at Chemeketa | Pick the SJ athlete of the week

TYRELL WILLIAMS

Age: 25

Height/weight: 6-4, 205

Occupation: Wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers. Signed as an undrafted free agent in May of 2015.

Hometown: Salem

High School: Cascade

College: Western Oregon University

2016 season: Had a team-high 69 receptions for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns, including three 100-yard games.

Of note: Williams’ first NFL catch went for an 80-yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos. It was the longest first catch by a player in franchise history. … Finished his college career at Western Oregon as the school’s career leader with 165 receptions, good for 2,792 yards and 21 TDs. … Was a three-time All-Great Northwest Conference selection.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams high-fives students at Turner Elementary School, where he attended fifth grade, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams visits Turner Elementary School, where he attended fifth grade, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.