Junior Joe Barnes and sophomore Ana Candanoza represented the Philomath High Alpine Ski Team March 7-8 in the High School Alpine Championships at Mt. Hood Meadows.
Barnes qualified in both the slalom and giant slalom and had respectable finishes in both events. Meanwhile in the girls competition, Candanoza had a top-25 appearance in the slalom.
Barnes finished ninth in the slalom with a total time of 1:26.34. He was sitting in fifth with a time of 41.81 on the first run but slipped down to ninth after a 44.53 on the second run. There were 92 competitors in the event.
In the giant slalom, he finished 11th in 1:10.58. He had a time of 36.86 on his first run and followed with a 33.72 on the second run. There were 104 skiers competing in the event.
Candanoza finished 25th out of 72 entries in the slalom. Candanoza had times of 49.81 seconds and 49.28 seconds for a combined total of 1:39.09.
PHAST had three competitors this season. In addition to Candanoza and Barnes, sophomore Monty Jones took the slopes this winter.
A week after state wrapped up, Barnes headed to Mammoth Lakes, California, to compete with an Oregon team in the Western Regional High School Championships. The Oregon team placed fifth out of the seven participating.
Barnes was 21st in the giant slalom with runs of 1:00.57 and 56.60 for a total of 1:57.17. He was the top finisher in the event from among Oregon’s team members.
In the slalom, he was 24th with a time of 53.42 — that event limited to a single run.
Shining Stars compete at state
Philomath High’s Shining Stars, competing in the 1A/2A/3A/4A/5A division, finished 11th in traditional dance and fifth in hip-hop Saturday at the Oregon School Activities Association’s Dance and Drill State Championships at the Salem Pavilion.
Philomath’s roster includes seniors Kaylie Blake, Alexa Eckhold, Jadyn McMullen and Abigail Workman, junior Elizabeth Burriel, sophomores Astrid Cropp, Ginnah Hopper and Adriana Nanoski, and freshman Katherine Burriel.
Stefanie Larson is the head coach and Michelle Park serves as assistant coach.
McMullen and Blake were among those recognized for making the 1A/2A/3A/4A Dance Drill Coaches Association of Oregon’s all-state team. Blake was announced as the winner of the DDCA’s scholarship for Dance Talent.
Valley Catholic won the traditional category, which represents a blend of modern and/or contemporary styles and often has a range of unique approaches. Astoria was first in hip-hop. Valley Catholic also won the jazz routine and Parkrose had the top pom squad.
In the drill down competition, first place in 1A/2A/3A/4A went to Valley Catholic’s Zoe Lucas. Wilsonville’s Onika Hernandez was the 5A winner. (OSAAtoday contributed to this report).
PMS wrestler wins state
Philomath Middle School’s Olivia Hernandez won a state title at the Oregon Middle School State Wrestling Championships on March 9.
Hernandez rolled through her first three matches in the 90-pound weight division with pins in 38 seconds, 34 seconds and 1:48 to reach the championship round. There, she won on an 8-0 major decision over Crook County Middle School’s Lauren Echeverria.
Hernandez was one of three Philomath wrestlers to advance to state. For the boys, Teagan Luna placed second in the 85-pound division. Luna won his first three matches on a technical fall, pin in 1:23 and on a 9-5 decision. In the championship match, he lost by decision to Samuel Greenstreet of Madison Middle School (Eugene).
Makinzey Harrington also competed for the girls and placed sixth at 135 pounds. She opened with two victories on a pin and 9-3 decision to reach the semifinals to set up a run at a medal.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).