Live To Run, Run To Live And Don’t Be Late
By Trevor Smith
Cross country coach Mr. Rick Fordney has played a big part in the lives of the McNary Celtics cross country team. Fordney has been coaching McNary’s cross country team for two years now and sadly this is his last year here. Fordney has informed The Piper that there are a lot of new runners this year. Fordney said ”This year the cross country team is doing very well.” “The Celtics are a good team and have the potential to go to the state meet.” he said “If they make it to the state meet this year they will be the first to go two years in a row.” Junior cross country runner, Daniela Sanchez Rios, has been running for three years but this is her first year in cross country. She is very dedicated to her running, but she thinks she could push herself harder. she believes she brings positivity and encouragement to her team. Sanchez Rios said “To beat your personal best you need lots of hard work, sleep and encouragement.” She believes the seniors are the most experienced runners on the team. During practice the cross country team works on breathing and concentration. She says that the cross country pushes themselves really hard. Sanchez Rios plans on going to college after she is out of highschool but she doesn’t know what she wants to major in. “Work hard and do your best.” said Sanchez. Sanchez said that the coach is very encouraging to both her and the team. Sanchez said that she thinks the Celtics biggest rival is the North Salem cross country team. Sanchez plans to keep working hard and to get a good time on the 5k. Sanchez says her friends and family are really encouraging to her about cross country. Sophomore cross country runner, Jesse Honeyman, has been running since 6th grade. He says that this year is his best year. Cross country is Honeyman’s favorite sport. He says he is very supportive to his team and encourages them to try their best. He thinks that the Celtics have a chance to go to state. His best time for the 3k meter is 12 minutes and 20 seconds. “Every other school is a threat for our chance of going to state.” said Honeyman The cross country team runs everyday after school during practice. For Honeyman, keeping up with cross country and his schoolwork can be difficult. “Coach is like the best guy ever, except this is his last year.” said Honeyman. After cross country, Honeyman plans to do off season running. Honeyman enjoys cross country so much, he might even try for the olympics. |
Photo by Brandi Urban
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McNary celtics on a winning streak
By Ricardo Marquez
Five games into the season, the McNary Celtics football team is enjoying a slight winning edge, one they hope to expand upon. McNary has beat South Salem 31 to 15 to become 2-0 Central Valley League. Central Valley league is all of the salem schools football teams competing against each other.The Celts are also ranked 32nd in the state. They’re overall record 4-2. Lineman Jason Sperle has been playing football since the first grade he said. His strength in football is blocking Sperle said. The team has improved by playing better and what the team needs to work on is playing consistently. “Advice that coach gives us to let loose and not worry,” he said. If the team wants to finish out the season out successfully is that the team must play harder. His goal for the season is to win his games. The team has improved by playing better and consistently, said Linebacker Connor Goff, who has been playing since first grade. “My strength is catching passes,” he said. The coach advises the team by telling them to stay focused, he said. If the team wants to finish out the season successfully, they must play harder. Goff’s goal for the season is to win his games. According to quarterback and wide receiver Tanner Walker, the team has improved since last year by playing better. ”I have been doing this sport since the first grade,” Walker said.He said the team needs to work on being able to play as a team, and the coach advises them to not worry. |
Photo by Brittany Pasco
McNary’s newest football players at practice to do their best to keep the winning streak going. The Freshmen are hard at work with practice to fill the shoes of their prier successors. |
Girls volleyball team playing for the win
By Joshua Hakes
Varsity volleyball players Reina Strand and Kaelie Flores both sophomores at McNary High School, are two of the best players on the team. This year is hopefully a year of success for McNary volleyball but there are some tough teams they have to face in their upcoming schedule. Strand has been playing the since seventh grade and Flores has been playing volleyball since third grade.For both sophomores volleyball isn’t their number one sport, they both hope to become Division 1 basketball players at Oregon State University. Yet, while in high school they’re both going to keep playing volleyball. Both Strand and Flores are quite good at volleyball and they both agreed that the two best overall players on the team are Lexi Price and Madi Hingston. Maybe the two sophomores aren’t the best players on the team but they both show tremendous team spirit and when playing have good team communication skills. Both bring height to the team which is very important in the game of volleyball. Strand and Flores both have goals to accomplish during the season, Strand hopes to conquer digging the ball off the net, or as they say, transferring off the net. Flores is focusing on serving better because she has been having trouble due to her shoulder bothering her at the moment. Flores’ strength is blocking other opponents hits at the top of the net. Strand’s strengths are spiking and blocking. According to both Strand and Flores the team has improved a tremendous amount from the year before. “There’s better team chemistry and more of a family flow than last year,” said Strand. Flores agreed with the statement made by her teammate. The team needs to work on calling the ball, having a winning mentality and more overall confidence. Flores said they do lack in confidence at times. A team isn’t a team without a coach, and head coach Kellie Scholl often preaches words of advice. Scholl always tells her players, “Never get down on yourself and keep your head high.” Those may not be movie inspiring words, but those ten words can do a lot for a high school student on and off of the court. McNary volleyball hopes to have a very successful year, they’re already good and have the potential to be great. |
Photo by: Brittany Pasco
Above are two outstanding varsity volley ball players, Reina Strand and Kaylee Fores playing some ball in the gym. |
Freshman varsity girls join soccer team
By Paige Ryan
You would think many freshmen wouldn’t make a varsity team, but six freshmen proved that wrong. The girls McNary varsity soccer team has six new freshmen girls on the team. Kayla Evans, Kolbie Kopp, Annie Purkey and Isabella Heath are four of the ninth grade varsity players. Kayla Evans has played for six to seven years of soccer throughout her life. She is extremely fast and supportive of her other teammates. She brings a different pace to the varsity team, speed wise and in general. But she lacks stamina, so plans on staying fit and train constantly. Soccer has taught Evans to control her emotions in winning, losing and everyday life situations. Whenever the team is losing, her coach tells her to play like they’re not losing at all, and to do their best. “It really helps because he pushes us harder and harder each game,” said Evans. Her proud soccer moment was when she was playing rec soccer and headed the ball in for “the first time ever,” she said. After she graduates, she plans on going to college and joining the U.S. women’s national soccer team. Kolbie Kopp has been playing for about six years. She just goes with the flow on the team. “A team isn’t just one person, you all help each other,” said Kopp. She is good at every position, but her strongest position is forward, and her weakest position is playing defense. She constantly strives to do her best on the team, and makes sure to listen to the upperclassmen advice. Kopp said her best goal was a goal off a corner kick while playing soccer a couple seasons ago. After high school she wants to go to college and also accomplish playing soccer. Annie Purkey always brings happiness and kindness to the team. Purkey has been playing soccer since kindergarten and is very experienced at mid-field because she’s played it most of her life, but Purkey’s weakness is playing forward. “I mostly just assist, pass and give help to the forwards,” said Purkey. She tries her best to be a leader on the team. She shows it by hustling in between drills and cheering on for her teammates. She also tries to put herself out there more and practice even more each day. “I always try to be an encouraging, joyful player and teammate,” said Purkey. Soccer has taught Purkey to become a better person who never gives up when she is tired, and to keep pushing through the pain. Purkey said her parents and family always support and help her with soccer and she highly appreciates it. She plans to go to college at Oregon State and play soccer and wants to go to medical school in Portland. Lastly, Isabella Heath accomplishes playing midfield and passing the balls to her teammates. Heath has been playing since she was five years old and is very encouraging. “Keep it up!” is what she shouts to push her teammates. Her main weakness is playing forward and shooting goals because she doesn’t have much kicking power. That didn’t stop her from scoring an amazing goal last spring, she kicked it in the top right corner and was so proud of herself. Heath is always pushing to try harder and give one hundred percent. Soccer taught her to push herself and never give up. This season she really wants to play a lot and help assist goals. Heath’s family always goes to her games and her siblings help her practice to get better. Heath plans to go to Oregon State to become a teacher after high school. These four girls could be the next legends of the soccer world for being aspiring and hard working. They will go far on the girls varsity team. We never know who might make it big someday. |
Photo by: Brandi Urban
Kayla Evans has been playing soccer for about six to seven years. Above is Kayla Evans, one of the Freshmen Varsity soccer players hanging out by a goal post. |