SPRINGFIELD – If you’re driving by Meadow Park in Springfield, chances are you’ll hear local pickleball players thwacking away. Whether you’ve played pickleball or not, it’s impossible to deny the fact that America’s fastest growing sport is here to stay in Lane County. “A lot of the pickleball enthusiasts have[Read More…]
Author: PIERRE WEIL - [email protected]
SSZ Briefs: Week of Aug. 17
Fall high school sports start practice ■ The fall sports season officially began on Monday as high schools around the state started practice, though most will be scheduling around the heat this week. Multiple area teams will be on display before the season starts, mainly the Cottage Grove Lions. CGHS will[Read More…]
Standing Tall: Cottage Grove’s Bridgens rebuilding Lions athletics
COTTAGE GROVE – For someone who grew up dreaming of being a filmmaker, Garrett Bridgens sure has endured plenty of plot twists in life. The Cottage Grove High School athletic director has gone from a reluctant educator to substitute teacher to coach to overseeing the entire athletics department at his[Read More…]
Thurston’s Starck brings championship pedigree
SPRINGFIELD – Justin Starck. Thurston athletic director and head football coach. Husband and father. 1995 World Bowl Champion? After playing football at Walla Walla Community College and the University of Oregon, Starck took his talents to Europe. “I was fortunate to have an opportunity as a free agent with the[Read More…]
SSZ Briefs: Week of August 3
Challengers fall in state title game The Emerald Challengers, an American Legion baseball team made up of Springfield- and Eugene-area players, fell in the state championships last week in Swede Johnson Stadium at North Eugene High School. The Challengers were the top seed, earning their 50th win of the season[Read More…]
Creswell middle school students compete at Future Business Leaders conference
CRESWELL – Creswell Middle School sent three students to Atlanta, Georgia in late June to compete in the National Future Business Leaders of America Leadership (FBLA) Conference. FBLA is an American student organization that helps youth become involved in, and prepared for, a future in the business world. This year[Read More…]
Standridge: Culture first, the wins will come
Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a series of profiles on our area’s high school athletic directors. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for Parts 2-5. CRESWELL – Some people are born to walk down a certain career path, whether they know it or not. For[Read More…]
Summer Sport Zone Briefs: Week of July 27
Helicopter lands at Springfield camp The Valley Football Camp at Springfield High and sponsored by the Oregon Army National Guard, ended with a bang Friday as the Army landed a Black Hawk Helicopter at Silke Football Field. The three-day camp had two separate sections, a 4th-8th grade in the morning[Read More…]
SSZ Briefs: Week of July 20
Challengers reach 45 wins, eye state tournament The Emerald Challengers went 6-1 last week, moving to 45-5 overall on the season. Early last week the Challengers completed a four-game sweep of the defending state champion Medford Mustangs, winning Game 3 of the series 7-1 and Game 4, 7-6. On the[Read More…]
Drifters set to face Walla Walla Sweets in key six-game stretch
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Drifters continued their busy summer schedule last week, going 3-3 with two non-league wins. The Drifters went into the midseason break 12-15, and after a series against Corvallis, Springfield has six-striaght games against the last-place team in the South Division, the Walla Walla Sweets. First up[Read More…]
