The fall high school sports season is underway, with the first football games set for Friday, Sept. 2. But it’s been an offseason loaded with change for Stayton-area schools and teams.
Regis
It starts at the top for the Rams, with Jeff Chandler taking over as athletic director for Dave Johnson, who left to take a job in Salem that is closer to South Salem High and George Fox University, schools two of his sons attend. Johnson a four-time national champion in the decathlon and bronze medalist in the event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, helped “get fall sports going” until Chandler took over Aug. 1
Chandler, who has 23 years of coaching and ten years of AD experience, mainly in Washington state, told Our Town he was still engaged in familiarizing himself with the Regis staff.
“I do know we are playing 9-man football and I am excited to see how that develops,” he said. “I’ve seen 8-man football but never coached it. I can tell you the 8-man games I’ve watched are CRAZY FUN.”
Regis, like most of Class 2A, will be playing 9-man football starting with its opener Friday, Sept. 2 night at Gaston. The Oregon School Activities Association switched from 11-man to 9-man for Class 2A because of safety concerns driven by falling roster sizes.
Alex King and Joe Manibusan will be co-coaching the Rams, who will be playing in the Tri-River Conference with Blanchet, Colton, Culver, Gervais, Santiam and Willamina. The Rams were 6-4 a year ago under coach Brynie Robinson.
Cascade
The Cougars also are under new management, with James Rise moving from Silverton to take over as athletic director. The Foxes won state titles in football and boys track and field a year ago while finishing second in boys basketball and girls golf.
Cascade also will feature new coaches in the high profile sports of football, boys basketball and girls basketball. Tyler Turner will coach football. He replaces Brandon Bennett, who moved to Texas because of a position his wife took in the medical field. Bennett, who won or shared five league titles in his six years and had a 36-19 overall record, will coach a middle school team in Sherman, Texas.
Turner’s team opens Saturday, Sept. 3 against visiting Baker at Federico Field.
Justin Amaya takes over for Calvin Molan in boys basketball. Molan led the Cougars to a state title last winter, the first Cascade boys hoops championship since 1974. Nick Randall takes over Cascade hoops from the retiring Mark Stevens, who won 583 games in his 32 years, including a state title in 2011 and six runner-up finishes.
Stayton
The Eagles have two new coaches, reports AD Darren Shryock. Bree Hughes, an educational assistant at the middle school who also serves as a media consultant for the Eagles, takes over the Highlights dance and drill team.
Ryan Borde, meanwhile, takes over for Bill Baxter, who led Stayton softball to a 22-6 record and a slot in the Class 4A semifinals. Borde was 102-24 from 2016-21 at West Albany and won four league titles. Borde also serves as an assistant coach with Stayton football.
Facilities-wise Shryock noted the completion of the turf project at the softball field and thanked the boosters for painting the field house during the summer.
Shryock also said that he is “looking forward to a more ‘regular’ school year without massive restrictions.”
Amen to that!
