Editor’s Note: These capsules are a part of The Chronicle’s 2024 Spring Sports Preview package.
COTTAGE GROVE LIONS
Head coach: Ricky Knutson … 11th year at CGHS
2023: Boys won league, 3rd at state. Girls 4th in league
Top returning boys
■ Carter Bengtson, Jr., 2023 3rd in 3000m at state
■ Elijah Williams, Sr., 2023 4th in shot put, 7th in discus at state championships
■ Hayes Valley, Jr., 2023 5th in 110m hurdles, 8th in high jump at state championships
Top returning girls
■ Maddison France, Jr., 2023 11th in 3000m at state
■ Tayler Bentley, Jr., 2023 10th in discus at state
2024 SCHEDULE
3/20: Cottage Grove Icebreaker (CGHS), 4 p.m.
3/23: Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational (Thurston), 9 a.m.
4/6: Prefontaine Rotary Invitational (Coos Bay), TBD
4/13: Philomath Invite Relays (Philomath HS), 11 a.m.
4/19-20: Oregon Relays (Hayward Field), TBD
4/20: Meet of Champions (Sweet Home HS), 11:30 a.m.
4/23: Sky-Em varsity meet (North Bend HS), 3:30 p.m.
4/26: Central Coast Invitational (Siuslaw MS), 4 p.m.
5/3: Wally Ciochetti Invitational (CGHS), 2 p.m.
5/10-11: Sky-Em district meet (North Bend HS), TBD
5/17-18: OSAA 4A state championships (Hayward Field), TBD
CRESWELL BULLDOGS
Head coach: Rachael Bailey … 1st year at Creswell
2023: Girls 6th in league, 20th at state. Boys 7th in league.
Top returning boys
■ Lance Risdal, So., 2023 3rd in javelin at league championships.
■ Darien Dewey, Jr., 2023 3rd in 110m hurdles, 7th in 300m hurdles at league championships.
Top returning girls
■ Vika Gabrio, Jr., 2023 4th in triple jump at state.
■ Kylie Leonard, So., 2023 2nd in high jump, 3rd in 300m hurdles, 4th in 400m at league championships.
2024 SCHEDULE
3/23: Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational (Thurston), 9 a.m.
4/6: Sisters Invitational (Sisters HS), 11:30 a.m.
4/13: La Pine Invitational (La Pine HS), 10 a.m.
4/17: 3A SD4 League meet (Elmira HS), 3:30 p.m.
4/19: John Oliver Invitational (Central HS), 2:30 p.m.
4/24: Mountain Valley Conference meet (Creswell HS), 3 p.m.
4/27: Junction City Invitational (Junction City HS), 10 a.m.
5/2: Frank Good Twilight (Sutherlin HS), 5 p.m.
5/3: Wally Ciochetti Invitational (CGHS), 2 p.m.
5/9-10: 3A-SD4 Special District 4 championships (Sisters), TBD
5/16-17: OSAA 3A state championships (Hayward Field), TBD
PLEASANT HILL BILLIES
Head coach: Kevin Smead … 3rd year at PHHS
2023: Girls 5th in league, 16th at state. Boys 5th in league, 20th at state.
Top returning boys
■ Jackson Weller, Sr., 2023 – 2nd in long jump, 10th in triple jump at state championships.
■ Zachary Seratte, Sr., 2023 – 3rd in high jump at league championships. Cleared 6 feet in high jump over the summer.
■ Andrew Taylor, Jr., 2023 – 6th in 200m, 8th in 100m at league championships.
Top returning girls
■ Dakota Hyland, Sr., 2023 – 2nd in 400m at state championships. 2022 state champ in 400m.
■ Soleis Jones, So., 2023 – 11th in 200m at state.
■ Ryan Thomas, So., 2023 – anchored the 4x100m team at state that finished 5th.
2024 SCHEDULE
3/20: Springfield meet (Springfield HS), 3:45 p.m.
4/6: Sisters Invitational (Sisters HS), 11:30 a.m.
4/12: Mountain Valley Conference (Pleasant Hill), 3:30 p.m.
4/17: 3A SD4 League meet (Elmira HS), 3:30 p.m.
4/19-20: Oregon Relays (Hayward Field, Eugene), TBD
4/24: Mountain Valley Conference meet (Creswell HS), 3 p.m.
4/26: Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays (Jesuit HS), 2 p.m.
4/27L: Amity Invitational (Amity HS), 10 a.m.
5/1: Willamette meet (Willamette HS), 3:30 p.m.
5/9-10: 3A-SD4 Special District 4 championships (Sisters), TBD
5/16-17: OSAA 3A state championships (Hayward Field), TBD
SPRINGFIELD MILLERS
Head coach: James March … 8th year at SHS
2023: Girls 3rd in league, 15th at state. Boys 2nd in league, 26th at state.
Top returning boys
■ Dylan Schifferdecker, Sr., 2023 2nd in 110m hurdles, 5th in 300m hurdles at league championships.
■ Landon Cowan, Sr., 2023 2nd in 300m hurdles at league championships.
Top returning girls
■ Elidia-Samantha Cervantes-Carlos, Jr., 2023 7th in 400m, 12th in long jump at state championships.
■ Eleanor Sperry, Sr., 2023 4th in 800m at league championships.
2024 SCHEDULE
3/20: Springfield meet (Springfield HS), 3:45 p.m.
3/23: Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational (Thurston), 9 a.m.
4/3: N. Eugene @ Springfield, 3:45 p.m.
4/10: Springfield at Crater Dual, 4 p.m.
4/13: Sherwood Need For Speed Classic (Sherwood HS), TBD
4/17: Sheldon, Churchill @ Springfield, 3:45 p.m.
4/19-20: Oregon Relays (Hayward Field, Eugene), TBD
4/24: South Eugene meet (South Eugene HS), 3:30 p.m.
5/9-11: Midwestern League Championships (TBD), TBD
5/17-18: OSAA 4A state championships (Hayward Field), TBD
THURSTON COLTS
Head boys coach: K.C. Gillespie … 15th year at Thurston
Head girls coach: Jesse Fipps … 1st year at Thurston
2023: Girls 1st in league, 3rd at state. Boys 4th in league, 22nd at state.
Top returning boys
■ Taylor Carpenter, Sr., 2023 7th in high jump at state.
■ Tyler Raven, Jr., 2023 7th in triple jump at state.
■ Ethan Burkhead, Sr., 2023 3rd in 100m, 6th in 200m at league championships.
Top returning girls
■ Brooklyn Anderson, So., 2023 3rd in 100m at state.
■ Bailey Tovey, Sr., 2023 3rd in javelin, 4th in shot put at state.
■ Macy Taylor, Jr., 2023 10th in 100m hurdles at state.
2024 SCHEDULE
3/20 Springfield meet (Springfield HS), 3:45 p.m.
3/23 Harvey Lewellen Throws Invitational (Thurston), 9 a.m.
4/3 Churchill & Crater @ Thurston, 3:30 p.m.
4/10 Sheldon meet (Sheldon HS), 3:30 p.m.
4/17 North Eugene meet (NEHS), TBD
4/19 John Oliver Invitational (Central HS), 2:30 p.m.
4/24 South Eugene meet (South Eugene HS), 3:30 p.m.
4/27 Grants Pass Rotary Invitational (Grants Pass), 10 a.m.
5/9-11 Midwestern League Championships (TBD), TBD
5/17-18 OSAA 4A state championships (Hayward Field), TBD
More Spring Coverage
■ Other official OSAA spring sports include boys and girls golf and tennis. Follow coverage of those sports in the HSSZ.
■ This is the first season of boys volleyball as an “emerging sport.” Creswell, Pleasant Hill, and Thurston are teams with boys volleyball this spring. Creswell and Pleasant Hill are coached by the schools’ girls coaches: Anna Baltrusch and Jessica Crawford, respectively. Thurston will be coached by the girls’ JV head coach Hannah Adams. More info at: oregonboysvball.org/
■ Thurston has a club boys lacrosse program, led by head coach Daniel Lindsey, and will have a girls flag football program this spring.
