The Cascade High volleyball team captured the first state title in school history Nov. 6 by downing conference foe Sisters in 5 sets in the Class 4A championship match in Corvallis.
It was the third meeting of the season between the Cougars and Sisters, with the two squads splitting matches in Oregon West Conference play.
Juniors Meah Carley and Lucretia Benolken were named to the all-tournament team. Carley has nine digs in the title match, while Benolken contributed 18 kills and 10 digs. Kenna Coleman had 55 assists and Annabelle Peterson added 17 kills for the Cougars, who took the deciding set 15-7.
Benolken and Carly also made the all-OWC team, with Cristina Williams winning Coach of the Year honors. Coleman and Jadyn Daviscourt were named to the second team, while Peterson and Emma Gates received honorable mention.
Stayton libero Mary Weitman made the second team, while teammates Madelynn Mitzel and Jessica Leimbach were on the honorable mention list.
Football: Cascade advanced to the Class 4A quarterfinals before falling 62-35 on Nov. 12 against Marist Catholic at Scio High. The No. 2 Cougars finished 10-1 overall after going undefeated in Special District 3 play (Oregon West Conference).
Cascade led 28-26 late in the first half, but the Spartans regained the lead just before the half and dominated the final two periods. Cascade senior QB Jacob Hage rushed for 223 yards and 2 TDs, including an 86-yarder that opened the scoring. Blake Lewis ran for 107 yards for a score and Lance Van Hoose and 73 and a TD.
“This team was special,” Cascade coach Brandon Bennett told Our Town. “They are one of two or three teams in school history to have an undefeated regular season. They broke a ton of records. What made them special was their work ethic, awesome attitudes to be around, and their determination to be great. The season did not end how we wanted it to, but they will always be remembered for what they accomplished.”
Stayton, meanwhile, finished 4-6 after losing 37-0 to No. 3 Estacada in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles were 3-1 in the OWC, losing only to Cascade.
Cascade also dominated the all-district/Oregon West Conference team. Bennett was named Coach of the Year, Hage was named offensive player of the year and DL Isaac Schnepp was named defensive player of the year.
The first team offense featured Hage, TE Schnepp, RBs Lewis and Van Hoose, linemen Gavin Bond and Teagan Allen and place-kicker Colin Smittle. The second team featured Smittle as a WR and lineman Braxton Tucker.
The first-team defense included linemen Bond and Schnepp, linebackers Lewis, Kellen Sande and Van Hoose and DBs Hage and Rogue Newton. Shawn Kuenzi was a second-team DB, while Hage (punter), Kuenzi (RB), Smittle (DB) and Trenton Wymore (LB) received honorable mention.
For Stayton, Aiden Lulay was a first-team pick at offensive tackle as was wide receiver Nick Frith. QB Cody Leming, RB Eli Brown, TE Brock Hubert and linemen Owen O’Connor and Owen Schmidt were placed on the second-team.
Lineman O’Connor, DB Brown and punter Frith were on the first-team defense, with Hubert (DL), LBs Easton Hughes and Ty Borde and DB Frith on the second team. Eagles Jonathan Daniels (LB), Gabe Erickson (DL), Mason Maurer (OL), Mason Peronek (LB) and Ray Vincent (OL) received honorable mention.
Boys Soccer: Stayton, which tied Philomath for the Oregon West Conference title, entered the Class 4A playoffs as the top seed. However, the Eagles fell to No. 16 Ontario on penalty kicks in the opening round and did not advance.
Girls Soccer: Diana Burrell and Ariel Tobiasson of Cascade and Tori Nyquist of Stayton were named second team all-Oregon West Conference. Halli Nyquist, Alissa Humphreys, Jenica Trujillo, Adrianna Frank, Rian Hill and Christine McCants received honorable mention for the Eagles, as did Tatiana Yaknitsa of Cascade.
Cross Country: Junior Hope Bridge of Stayton took 27th in 21:09.70 at the Class 4A state championships Nov. 6 at Lane Community College in Eugene.
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