Hailey boys grab third in Jerome golf meet
The competition got tougher for the Wood River High School boys' golf team Monday during the 13-school Dale Mower-Subway Invitational 4A meet at Jerome Country Club.
Rigby is set to host the State 4A golf tournament May 11-12 at Jefferson Hills Golf Club, and Rigby showed it's ready to take on all comers by winning Monday's meet with 326 points ahead of Bishop Kelly of Boise (329) and Wood River (331).
Still, coach Bill Petzke's Wood River team came close to the title after winning its first two boys' meets of the season. Junior Jonathan Hobbs shot a 79 for fifth place behind individual medalist Brian Panter of Rigby (72). Tying for sixth was junior Chance McCroskey (81).
Rounding out the Wood River scores on a windy and cold day, the best four counting toward team totals, were sophomore Davis Hague 85, senior Rex Nilsen 86 and sophomore Ian Murphy 87.
Not playing for Wood River was junior Crockett Stearns, who won the first two meets of the season with scores of 72 at Burley and 76 at Jerome.
Wood River's girls coached by Chet Olson played in similar cold conditions at Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls Monday. Individual scores were Jennie Williams 115, Kylee Richmond 133, Karlie Jeneson 139 and Ali Town 161.
Olson said, "Blue Lakes is a very difficult course. Needless to say we donated a lot of balls to the water and canyon walls. But on a positive note, we've filled an entire girls' team for every tournament so far this season—something we haven't done in previous years."
In a three-school meet at Jerome's 93 Golf Ranch March 24, Williams had a 103, Town 128, Devan Annan 131, Nicole Gillette 132 and Richmond 137.
Small schools start their drive to state track
Small schools are starting their drive to the 92nd annual Idaho High School Track and Field Championships May 15-16 at Boise's Bronco Stadium.
Dietrich's speedy senior Jaren Stoddard was an individual star Thursday when a sizable representation of Magic Valley's small schools, up to 15 teams, gathered at ISDB in Gooding for the Valley Invitational track and field meet.
Stoddard won the 100-meter dash, 200m and 400m by comfortable margins and served on Dietrich's winning 4x200m relay. He helped the Blue Devils emerge in fifth place of 13 boys' teams with 69 points, 20 ahead of sixth-place Carey. Raft River (102 points) captured the boys' team race over Oakley (97.5).
Carey junior Amy Ellsworth was another standout. The reigning State 1A 1600m girls' champion won the 800m (2:33) by 15 seconds and the 1600m (5:59) by 13 seconds at Gooding. She also anchored the triumphant 4x400m relay team (4:41) with Jessica Parke, Micaela Adamson and Kelsey Green.
In the 15-team girls' ranks, Raft River (122) swept the day over Shoshone (94) with Carey fourth (72) and Camas County of Fairfield fifth (62.5).
Camas senior Lindsey Peterson won the 100m (13.4) and anchored Fairfield's winning 4x100m relay with Toni Wear, Mette Ericsson and high jump winner Katelyn Peterson.
The Carey Panthers added second places by Amy Ellsworth in triple jump (32-10 ¼) and Kayla Bailey in 300m intermediate hurdles (57.5), plus the boys' 4x400m relay with Dillon Cenarrusa, Joe Laidlaw, Jacy Gaird and Antonio Gamino (4:00).
Camas got second places from Lindsey Peterson in the 200m dash (28.4) and Ericsson in the 400m (1:06.2), plus Mickenzie Boggs in long jump (18-11) and triple jump (41-0).
WRHS tennis battles to 6-6 draw with Twin
Coach Vicki Johnston is optimistic about the prospects of the Wood River High School tennis team after two dual meets last week on the road, an 11-1 league win over Jerome and 6-6 draw with Twin Falls.
She said, "Our players are moving to the next level with each new experience. Our focus is to play each point like it's the most important. Leading the way is #1 boys' singles Morgan Pike, who is dominating with aggressive ground strokes, quick feet and nimble hands.
"Our #1 girls' doubles Jessica Hamilton and Ellen Davis have great confidence and teamwork. They dropped only three games in four sets against Jerome and Twin Falls. Senior Tanya Greenwood at #1 girls' singles used her motivation to cruise through two matches."
The Wolverines split the six singles matches, swept girls' doubles and won at #1 mixed doubles to achieve the tie.
Wood River (3-1-1) opens at home Friday, April 3 against Hillcrest of Idaho Falls in Hailey and then hosts Twin Falls next Tuesday. Results from Thursday's 6-6 tie at Twin:
Boys' singles: #1—Morgan Pike (WR) 7-5, 6-2 over Trent Petty (TF). #2—Daniel Olsen (TF) 6-0, 6-1 over Jordan Niedrich (WR). #3—Bryan Donoso (WR) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Aaron Cutter (TF).
Girls' singles: #1—Tanya Greenwood (WR) 7-6 (3), 6-0 over Cami Flournoy (TF). #2—Brooke Johnson (TF) 6-0, 6-1 over Emilie Jeneson (WR). #3—Elizabeth Middleton (TF) 6-0, 6-1 over Michaela Rodriquez (WR).
Boys' doubles: #1—Andrew Harmon and Andrew Bortz (TF) 6-2, 6-2 over Brendan Freund and R.J. Forgeon (WR). #2—Jeff Ward and Casey Petty (TF) 7-5, 6-0 over Rusty Williams and Johnny Burbridge (WR).
Girls' doubles: #1—Jessica Hamilton and Ellen Davis (WR) 6-0, 6-1 over Emily LaPatra and Emina Mesic (TF). #2—Tory Lakey and Lauren Reutter (WR) 7-5, 6-4 over Carly Athay and McKenzie Baggett (TF).
Mixed doubles: #1—Alex Henning and Kelsey Brennan (WR) 6-4, 7-6 (2) over Scott Tikasky and Andrea Jones (TF). #2—Mike Zitterkopf and Rachel Webster (TF) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 over Davis Matthews and Hannah Baybutt (WR).
Wolverines are back on the track at Twin
Wood River High School senior Delaney Fox picked up a victory in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles Friday to highlight the afternoon for 40 Wolverines competing in the five-school Twin Falls High School Invitational meet.
Fox (48.0 seconds) won intermediates by .14 seconds as the Wolverine girls picked up 31 points to finish fourth in the girls' standings behind winner Twin Falls (132), Jerome (123) and Minico of Rupert (60).
Wood River's girls also had two second-place finishes at Bruin Stadium—freshman Kaitana Martinez in triple jump (30-7 ¾) and the 4x800-meter relay team of Brooke Bowers, Amy Heather, Tristin Bowers and Fox (school-record 12:21.3).
Freshman Tristin Bowers earned a third-place result in the 3200m run (13:40.72). Also placing third was the 4x400m relay of Lucy Paisley, Brooke Bowers, Maddie Bates and Martinez (4:45.00). Bates was fourth at 400m (1:09.25) and Fox fifth in the long jump (14-7 ½).
"I was very pleased with the girls' progress and their desire to compete," coach J.C. Nemecek said.
Hailey's boys didn't fare as well with 17 points for fifth place behind winner Twin Falls (160), Jerome (99), Minico (53) and Burley (30). Top finish was a second for the 4x800m relay of Greg LeBlanc, James Paris, Ben Stout and Chase Caulkins (a school-record 9:07.8).
In third place was junior Caulkins in the 3200m (10:26) and Rob Paris in the long jump (19-4). Dale McLaughlin capped off the scoring with a fifth place in pole vault (11-6).
Posting personal records were John Bartoletta in the 200m, Miles Hendricks 100m, Dale McLaughlin 100m, Jake Miczulski 100m, James Paris 3200m, Andrew Pfeiffer 1600m and 3200m, Will Spiller 3200m, Tom Waters 100m, Lucy Paisley 100m and 200m, and Anthony Williamson in shotput.
Wood River travels to Rexburg for its next meet Thursday, April 2.
