Sports Zone

Pleasant Hill represents area on all-academic rankings

While the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) doesn’t vote on all-league or all-state honors, they do release a seasonal academic all-state ranking. 

These academic all-state rankings are based on the average GPA of the student-athletes for each team, and the OSAA releases top-10 lists for each sport.

BOB WLLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE
Vaun Halstead, who plays linebacker and running back for Thurston, has signed a wrestling scholarship with Oregon State University.

The only school in our coverage area to make a top-10 list is Pleasant Hill, which made four different academic all-state lists. The Billies top-10 finishes in Class 3A were: First-place girls soccer (3.89), (tied) third-place girls cross country (3.97), fifth-place boys soccer (3.63) and seventh-place volleyball (3.78).

The Academic All-state honors also recognize the team(s) that have the highest GPA in the entire state. 

For the fall season, nine teams were tied with 4.0 GPAs, and two of those teams were Churchill boys and girls cross country. For the Churchill boys team, it is the fourth-consecutive time they led the state in boys cross country GPA, and the fourth straight year of an average GPA above 3.98.

College recruiting

Multiple area athletes have committed to colleges throughout the recruiting season and, and some have signed scholarships. A quick overview of where things stand in late November:

Vaun Halstead of Thurston has signed with Oregon State University for wrestling. Halstead won the Class 5A state title last season as a junior in the 220-lb. weight class, and will be one of the favorites again this year.

Gabi Gilbert of Thurston has signed with Lane Community College girls soccer. Gilbert, a goalkeeper, helped the Colts to the No. 2 seed in this year’s playoffs, and had 10 shutouts on the season.

Kassie McLennan of Springfield has committed to the University of Puget Sound for swimming. McLennan, a short-distance swimmer, finished sixth in the state in Class 5A as a junior in the 200-yard individual medley and finished seventh in the 100-yard backstroke.

Note: Committed to play college athletics but don’t see your name here? Send your info to [email protected] to make sure you’re included in the next recruiting listing.

ScorebookLive.com Top 100

At the beginning of the season, ScorebookLive.com released a list of “100 Oregon high school football players to watch this fall.” The Chronicle published the list in August and I thought it would be fun to see how the top five players on that list fared this season:

1. Joey Olsen, WR, junior, Lakeridge. Olsen perhaps underperformed this season based on the No. 1 ranking in the preseason, finishing the season with 583 yards on 32 receptions for 5-6 Lakeridge. The four-star recruit did commit to USC in September to play tight end.

2. Mark Hamper,WR/DB, senior, West Linn. Hamper so far this season leads the state in receiving yards with 1,380 and had 19 touchdowns. This includes six catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in West Linn’s semifinal win this past Friday. Hamper remains uncommitted for now, but has offers from Portland State and Air Force.

3. Teitum Tuioti, DL, senior, Sheldon. Tuioti has 11.5 sacks on the year while leading undefeated Sheldon’s defense, which is the best in the state and has allowed only 77 points all season. Sheldon plays for the Class 6A state championship this weekend, and Tuioti will be a big factor in that game. Tuioti, a four-star recruit, is committed to the University of Oregon.

4. Sam Leavitt, QB, senior, West Linn. Leavitt has thrown for 2,934 yards and 36 touchdowns this season, third in the state in both categories while leading West Linn into the Class 6A finals this weekend. Leavitt, a three-star recruit, had offers from Washing State, Arizona and Florida State, and committed to play at Wazzu.

5. Richie Anderson, DL, senior, Tualatin. Anderson totaled seven sacks on the season for Tualatin. He has performed well for Tualatin in the playoffs as a wide receiver, totaling 103 yards and three touchdowns while also securing four tackles for loss and four sacks. Anderson is a three-star recruit, and is committed to play at Colorado State next season.

Instagram

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

The Chronicle (@thechronicle1909) • Instagram photos and videos