The Advocate- Raider grads lead the way for cross country

Cross country runner Brandon Raleigh has consistently competed at a level higher than expected this season. The Saints freshman has been Mt. Hood’s frontrunner this year on the course, the team’s top finisher in all six meets.

“I like it and I’m good at it,” said Raleigh. “Usually when you’re good at something, you keep doing it.”

Raleigh attended nearby Reynolds High School and graduated last spring. “I ran all four years there,” he said. “My older brother talked me into joining. So, I just kept at it.”

In his senior year, he set a Reynolds school record for the 3k steeplechase event, which includes hurdling and water hazards.

To date, he has finished first for Mt. Hood in every meet this season. His best time came in Charles Bowles invitation in Salem, where he covered the 8-kilometer course in 26 minutes, 23 seconds (26:23.45).

Raleigh has been battling a calf injury the last couple of weeks, but says he’s been happy with the season and his goal is a new personal record by season’s end next month.

“I want to place top seven in the NWAACC championships and get my time under 26 minutes,” he said.

Away from running, Raleigh said he enjoys writing and sees it as a future. He hopes to earn a transfer degree and then to pursue a sports journalism career. He wants to find a university with a good journalism program where he can continue to run.

“I love sports. I’ve been involved with sports my whole life. It would be pretty cool to work at ESPN and be an analyst,” he said.

Raleigh said he is a big Portland Trail Blazers fan. “I’m excited to see what they do this season. They have made some good acquisitions this summer and I expect them to be better than last season, he said.

He listed basketball icon Michael Jordan and Oregon running legend Steve Prefontaine as his favorite athletes.

“Jordan was the kind of player that would do anything to win and I like that,” Raleigh said. “Prefontaine was gutsy and he put his sweat and blood into everything he did.”

In his spare time, Raleigh likes to hang out with friends and play basketball. He also works part-time at Levi’s and Toys “R” Us outlets.

This season, Raleigh gives Saints cross country head coach Matt Hart credit for being a good mentor. “He’s a funny guy and he knows what he’s talking about,” Raleigh said. “He is knowledgeable. He can be intense at times, but he’s a good guy.”

Saturday morning, the Saints travel to Clackamas Community College for the Southern Region championships. Raleigh will be seeking another peak performance.

“I want to go into the race and run without any regrets,” he said. “I want to help my team and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with.”

The Advocate- Buckaroo crew making an impact

The Mt. Hood softball program has a history of strong players coming from the eastern Oregon city of Pendleton, and it shows this season for the undefeated Saints, now 26-0, as three more women have made a major impact.

Sophomore pitcher Kristen Crawford (2012 Pendleton High School graduate) and two freshmen, second baseman Kasidee Lemberger and outfielder SheaLee Lindsey (2013 Pendleton High graduates), have kept the Pendleton pipeline strong as they have made huge contributions.

“There’s just something about them: They always play all out, they’re aggressive and (they) are eager to learn,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter about Pendleton athletes.

The pipeline opened back in 2002-2003 when Chelsie Speer, another Pendleton graduate and former MHCC head volleyball coach and assistant softball coach, came to Mt. Hood to play those two sports.

“I made my decision based on the feeling that I got on my recruiting trip. I liked the atmosphere at Mt. Hood, the coaches, and the school itself,” said Speer, now head volleyball coach at Walla Walla Community College. “It just felt right after visiting a few other schools.”

After Speer, next came Jill Quesenberry (2004-2005), Genna Melton (2004-2005) and Jessi Lindsey (2011-2012), SheaLee’s older sister.

Now Crawford, Lemberger and Lindsey have added their names to the list.

“I have known Kristen the longest out of all three,” said Speer. “Her dad, Randy Crawford, coached me in basketball and softball my freshmen year of high school (1998). I remember her running around, a tiny little blonde. It’s awesome to see the person and player that she’s become since then.”

Crawford and SheaLee Lindsey set softball records at Pendleton High that stand today.
Crawford holds the Buckaroos’ record for most innings pitched in a season (183) and most wins in a season (23). Lindsey holds the record for most at-bats (108), hits (45) and singles (40) in a season.

In her second season with the Saints, Crawford, 20, is arguably the best pitcher in the NWAACC this spring, with a 14-0 record and a 1.05 ERA (earned run average) through Thursday. She is tied for first in wins and her ERA leads the league. Last season, she finished 15-2 and was awarded South Region First-Team recognition.
Lemberger, 19, leads the Saints in hitting with a .578 batting average in 23 games played, third best in the NWAACCs. She is first on the team in hits, with 48, and doubles, with 15.

“She (Lemberger) is a great player, wearing the jersey number in softball that I wore at Mt. Hood (N0. 2) and playing the same position that I played my freshmen season,” said Speer, a former second baseman.
Lindsey, 19, a two-sport athlete for Mt. Hood (volleyball), has been one of the Saints’ most consistent hitters (.390 batting average) while batting at the top of the order. The speedy outfielder leads the team in stolen bases with 12.

“SheaLee was a great player to coach in volleyball at Mt. Hood this last season. (A) very respectful player and great person overall,” said Speer, who departed MHCC at season’s end.

Lindsey said Crawford helped recruit her to Mt. Hood, which was already on her mind.
“Kristen talked about how competitive it is here. My sister also played here so I knew how successful the program was,” said Lindsey.

Lindsey’s friend and Pendleton teammate would soon follow. “I really liked my visit and I already knew Kristen and SheaLee. It was a good fit,” said Lemberger.

“I told them (Lemberger and Lindsey) they would grow as players and would be able to use the talent that they have. It’s a good program,” Crawford said.

With Pendleton being a small town (population: 16,800), the women said they originally met around middle school but became close friends in high school when playing sports. Crawford and Lemberger both played softball all four years at Pendleton High, while Lindsey played three years.

At MHCC, Crawford had been majoring in nursing but has switched to speech and language science. “ I could either do nursing and not be able to play softball or do speech/language science and be able to play,” she said. “It’s something I could be good at. It’s an overlooked program.”

Last week, Crawford signed her letter of intent to play softball at Portland State University for next year. “It was the best overall fit for me. My parents can also come and watch me play. (Division-I) softball will be fun, especially getting to travel,” she said.

Lemberger is majoring in business at Mt. Hood and is interested in cosmetology and wants to be a hair stylist. “I’ve always liked hair, I use to play with people’s hair when I was younger,” she said.

Lindsey is currently undecided. She has contemplated different majors, including sports medicine and physical therapy, but her most recent interest is marketing.

This term, all three friends say their favorite class is Human Sexuality which all of them happen to be in because of the “interesting topics” it covers.

Lindsey says playing under McWhorter, who is leading the Saints for an 11th season with three NWAACC championships (2009-11) so far, has been nothing but positive.
“She’s wants us to be the best we can be and wants us to progress,” Lindsey said. “She puts everyone before herself and cares about us on and off the field.”

Lindsey played volleyball for Speer this past fall and said both she and McWhorter have impacted her life. “They have similar coaching styles and they are both concerned for our well-being. They want us to be better players and human beings,” she said.

Lemberger also credits McWhorter for her focus on individual improvement.

“She pushes us to get better and gives constructive criticism. It’s weird, but I like coaches like that,” said Lemberger. “She isn’t cocky at all when she for sure could be.”

Even though she’s a pitcher, Crawford said her favorite baseball player is future Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. “I grew up watching him; he made amazing plays out there,” she said.
Lemberger mentioned a fellow second baseman, Boston Red Sox all-star Dustin Pedroia. “Everything he does, he makes it look natural,” she said.

The Saints have been at the top of the totem pole this season and the goal is, of course, to win the NWAACC title. First, the three women agree, the goal is to win the South Region. At 8-0 in the region, the Saints are tied with rival Clackamas (27-1 overall, 8-0 South). Mt. Hood will play the Cougars today in a double-header, at Clackamas, in a battle for the South lead.

“We all have the same common goal and everyone’s here for the right reasons,” said Crawford.
McWhorter says the Pendleton trio has had a tremendous impact this season, and each woman is very competitive.

Speer added, “I was really looking forward to coaching all three in softball this year,” before she left for Walla Walla. “They are all having a great season and I am proud to know that they are from Pendleton and representing well.”

Speer continued, “She (McWhorter) runs a special program because of who she is as a leader and that attracts great kids like Kristen, SheaLee and Kasidee.”

The Advocate- Saints ‘Big Three’ have eyes set on NWAACC Championship

Unhappy with a 2012-13 season in which Mt. Hood finished 11-15 overall and failed to qualify for the NWAACC playoffs, returning  players Mac Johnson, Brock Otis, and Landon Rushton vowed to come back stronger and better this winter.

That motivation and effort has paid off, leading to the Saints back to winning ways.

“We have a sense of urgency this year and we want to win it all for sure,” Rushton said. “My other goal is to bring home the South Region title.”

All three players said last season was hard for them and they knew that they needed to come into this season ready to go.

“I was in the weight room this whole off-season,” said Otis. “The way we prepare, we think that we can compete with anyone in the NWAACC (playoffs).”

With seven players returning from last season, Mt. Hood holds high expectations for the new year, and even hopes to grab an NWAACC championship in early March.

Johnson, Otis, and Rushton have stepped up as leaders in their last chase for the title, gaining attention and praise. “All three of these guys have impacted our program in such a positive way,” said Geoff Gibor, the Saints’ head coach. “Especially the way the season went last year. Along with the coaches, they (the team) were not very happy.

“They came into (this) year with a great sense of what we are trying to get done as a team. They have embraced the newcomers and become good leaders… (and) have provided stability,” he said.

The Saints are currently 14-5 overall and have a 3-3 conference record, sitting in fourth place in the South Region. With eight regular season games remaining, playoff hopes remain bright.

Johnson said the three veterans are single-minded, fueling the team’s success. “We’re all unselfish, work hard and we trust each other,” he said.

“We all have the same ultimate goal, and that’s to win,” Otis said.

Johnson said the weight room was a big part of his off-season routine. “I worked hard in the off-season lifting weights and with this season having more guys that have been there (experience wise), it makes it easier for me to be a leader,” he said.

All three players have played in all 16 games so far and the chemistry between them extends beyond the basketball court, they said.

They just like to hang out and have fun whether that’s just “chilling” and doing homework or even going out to eat, they said.  “I don’t know anyone who hates (and) loves me more than these two (Otis and Rushton),” said Johnson.

Gibor has noticed. “They have a trust in one another that stems from spending so much time together…  They understand what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are and work well together,” he said.

Johnson, Otis, and Rushton originally lived in Washington state. MHCC’s big man, Johnson is a Spokane native and attended Gonzaga Prep High School.

“It was a spirit of the moment to come here (MHCC). I liked the campus and the program,” he said.

In his final season, Johnson has been a leader on the court in practice and again come game time. He averages a double-double, at 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories.

“I’m a lead-by-example type of player. I am a grunt guy, I just keep my head down and work hard,” said Johnson.

His work ethic and play style has impressed his teammates. “Just his presence in the post has been key for us. We wouldn’t be the same team without him,” said Rushton.

A starting guard at point and the “two” position, Rushton came to Mt. Hood from Olympia, graduating from North Thurston High School.

“I liked the campus and I felt like the program here was family oriented, and financially it worked out well,” Rushton said.

Otis, a 2011 Sam Barlow graduate, previously lived in Everett, near Seattle. But he chose nearby MHCC because it was close to home.

Heading into the heart of the season, the trio believes the Saints’ team defense and rebounding has been strong, but that the squad still must improve on finishing games and maintaining a mental edge at all times.

All three standouts express interest in continuing to play at a four-year university. For now, they are focused on their academics and basketball. Johnson and Rushton are interested in criminal justice and are intrigued by becoming police officers in the future. Otis is undecided but has one eye on business, plus an interest in physical therapy.

“All three of these guys, along with others on this team, will play at the next level (four-year school),” said Gibor. They have great individual skill sets, work hard, and are good students. That is a good recipe for success moving forward.

“They have become the leaders of the team, which will help them at the next level as well,” he said.

The Advocate- Saints found their pair of aces in the east

Ann-Marie Guischer and Kristen Crawford may have just finished their first MHCC softball season, but don’t let the word “freshman” mislead you — these two are veterans in the sport.

Both started playing softball at age 5 and competitively at the ages of 7 and 8.

Guischer, 18, is from The Dalles, which has nearly 14,000 residents, and attended The Dalles-Wahtonka High school. Crawford, 19, is from Pendleton, a town of nearly 17,000 people and attended Pendleton High School. Both played softball all four years at their schools.

The Dalles-Wahtonka and Pendleton are rivals in the 5A Columbia River Conference. In their senior years of high school, Guischer was awarded pitcher of the year in the conference and Crawford was named player of the year. Each was named to the all-conference first team.

“Born and raised” in Pendleton, Crawford led her Pendleton Buckaroos to a state championship in 2012 as they defeated Silverton, 6-1. Guischer, who also has lived in her hometown her whole life, led her Eagle-Indians into the state semifinals last season but her team lost to Silverton 1-0 in extra innings.

“We knew of each other while we were both in high school but we became friends this year,” said Guischer.

Crawford said she felt Mt. Hood was the best program for her and found her friends had only positive things to say about the school. Guischer attended Oregon State University for fall term, then transferred to MHCC in the winter.

“I felt like overall, it was the best fit for me,” said Guischer.

Mt. Hood head coach Meadow McWhorter said she had the two high school aces on her radar before they came to the program.

“I have known Kristen since she was 10 years old, when she used to come to Gresham for pitching lessons. I recruited Kristen when she was in high school and watched her lead her team to the 5A state championship last year,” said McWhorter. “I saw Ann-Marie pitch last summer at the Valley Invite but at that time she was already heading to Oregon State.

Crawford and Guischer each contributed to Mt. Hood’s tremendous season this year, in which the team finished 39-7 and won the Southern Region in NWAACC competition.

Crawford finished the season going 15-2 with 88 strikeouts and a 2.17 ERA and was named to the Southern Region’s first team. She led the team in innings pitched, with 112.

“This year was successful, overall. There’s nothing to complain about,” said Crawford.

Crawford credits her father for her drive. “My dad has been my inspiration since Day One, growing up after watching him coach,” she said.

Guischer finished 12-5 in 24 games this season, with a 1.45 ERA. She was fifth in the NWACC in strikeouts with 151. In a 10-0 victory on March 8 against Blue Mountain Community College, she threw a no-hitter and added 11 strikeouts.

Guischer was named Southern Region pitcher of the year and also was named to Southern Region first team, along with All-American honors by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

“It was exciting to win the awards. I felt like I accomplished something,” said Guischer.

McWhorter sees similarities between the two young pitchers and herself when she pitched.

“They both thrive under pressure. I always pitched my best when the pressure was on,” said McWhorter. “Both Ann-Marie and Kristen turn their game up when the game is on the line. They are the type of pitchers who want the ball when we are in tough situations.

“Both Kristen and Ann-Marie are so different in the type of pitchers they are, yet they are so consistent. They complement each other so well,” she said.

McWhorter said one moment stands out most for the duo this year.

“I will never forget our Sophomore Day double-header against Chemeketa,” she recalled. “Ann-Marie had just thrown six innings in the rare 85-plus degree May heat and we had to pull her due to her showing signs of fatigue.”

Crawford pitched in the second game and showed similar signs of fatigue.  “Ann-Marie put down her cold towel and said, ‘I need to go warm up up for Kristen.  She is pitching her heart out for me, I need be there for her.’

“It’s that type of camaraderie between those two that has lead to their success,” said McWhorter.

Outside of softball and classes, both women enjoy spending time with friends and hanging out.

“There’s a lot more to do here than in Pendleton, especially shopping. It’s fun and cheap,” said Crawford.

Guischer likes the scenery around town and enjoys hiking, especially in the Columbia River Gorge.

A nursing major, Crawford is taking her prerequisites and hopes to graduate next year. “I’m taking my classes very seriously,” she said.

Guischer is a general studies major but wants to get her associate degree in science and to pursue radiology.

“I like the campus. It’s not too big and it’s pretty. It’s easy to get around,” said Guischer.

Besides working out and keeping up with softball, the players expect a busy summer.

Guischer said she hopes to take an online math class while she heads back to The Dalles, “working at a cherry orchard and a local coffee shop.”

Crawford also will return to her hometown to take classes – 13 credits – and to work, she said.

The Saints fell short of a NWAACC Tournament title, falling to eventual champion Wenatchee Valley and to Douglas College squads, but captured third place.

“It was fun to play. It was an overall good experience. I just have to slow down, relax, and not rush myself when I’m on the mound,” said Guischer, recounting her season.

With exceptional stats from the two ace pitchers this year, they will be expected to be team leaders from the very start of next season.

“I expect them to lead by example in games and in practice,” McWhorter said.  “They are both very reliable and to have that in the (pitching) circle is so important.  You can count of both of them.”

Just as in high school, both Guischer and Crawford are high-profile players.

“With both pitchers not being a secret next year, teams will know what to expect. I will look to them to set the standard with their work ethic and their drive to improve daily,” McWhorter said.

Oregonian Journalism Institute- OSU coach Scott Rueck feels comfortable with discomfort

Scott Rueck likes for people to feel uncomfortable.

 “When people are uncomfortable they learn to grow and try new things,” said Rueck, Oregon State’s womens basketball coach. “It changes them positively.”

That’s what has been happening to Rueck since he took over the women’s basketball program in the summer of 2010.

Before Oregon State, Rueck was head coach at Division III George Fox University in Newberg, where he coached for 14 years and compiled a 288-88 overall record. His best season came in 2009, when George Fox won the D-III national championship with a perfect 32-0 season.

In June 2010, Oregon State fired then-coach LaVonda Wagner. The Beavers then hired Rueck, an OSU alum. Rueck said he felt it was “the right opportunity” to come back.

“It was an easy decision in my eyes, but also hard,” he said. “I was not sure what to expect coaching-wise.”

In just his second year, Rueck earned the Pacific-12 coach of the year award after OSU’s surprising 20-13 season.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Rueck said. “ It feels great to be honored, especially with all the great coaches in this conference. It truly shows the effort and desire this team showed this season.”

There was work to be done right away when Rueck got to Corvallis. First task: complete the roster, which only had two players left from the Wagner era.

“It felt like a clean slate but also we started from ground zero, which was difficult,” he said. “We basically had to start all over.”

One thing Oregon State lacked was a practice facility when Rueck arrived, which meant teams were constantly fighting for court space. That’s about to change.

With the help of donations, the Beavers broke ground on a facility June 21. Expected to be completed next spring, the facility will be shared by the mens and womens basketball teams. It will be on campus behind the Sports Performance Center, just steps from Gill Coliseum, where games are played.

“We are getting a new home,” Rueck said. “This will help a lot with recruiting and it gives us a ton of energy. We now have a place to play 24/7, and it’ll help our players reach full potential.”

According to OSU’s website, “the 34,500-square-foot, four-story, $15 million structure will feature two regulation basketball courts, locker rooms, training facilities and staff offices.”

The extra courts will allow for more basketball-related activities, including camps.

The last week of June, Oregon State is hosting high school team camp, and no practice facility means that teams are overflowing to the Dixon Recreation Center.

Despite a lack of space, players seem to be having fun.

“I expected lots of practices, tons of exercising,” said Cailey Beckett, a junior at Ballard High School in Seattle. “It was more than that. It definitely has helped our team grow effectively.”

Claudia Morrison, also a junior at Ballard, agrees.

“This camp has definitely helped our team bond more than we could ever imagine,” Morrison said. “It is inspirational. The energy level is high, it’s a great place to be.”

Rueck says he expects his team to advance in the postseason frequently and to continue to improve.

The practice facility should help.

“The first two years I felt like we were swimming upstream,” Rueck said. “Now I feel like we are catching up.”

The Advocate- Competitive drive brings out ‘Seattle’s’ best

If you don’t already know who Mt. Hood freshman track and field athlete Devon “Seattle” Larson is, you will soon enough.

In his first season with the Saints, Larson has made his impact with his impressive performance this season on the running track. With a PR (personal record) time of 15.62 seconds in the 110-meter high hurdles, achieved April 11 during the John Knight Twilight Meet at Western Oregon University, the 19-year-old from Seattle, Wash., is one of the top freshmen in the NWAACC for the event. Through Thursday, Larson’s PR is sixth best in the NWAACC, third among freshmen and fourth best, overall, in the South Region.

“Not too many people want to do hurdles. A hurdler has to be gutsy and fearless because you have to sprint and there’s an object in your way,” said Larson.

Larson has also competed in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, the 400-meter high hurdles, the long jump and the 4 x 100-meter relay with fellow freshmen Brock Otis, Colum Cusick and Janaree Porter. But, the 110-meter high hurdles and 4 x 100-meter relay are his main events.

His path to MHCC started when he first emailed former head coach and current assistant coach Matt Hart while still in high school, and from there it was all positive.

“Me and Hart clicked right away. He’s a Jedi master and I’m his apprentice,” said Larson. “He’s teaching me and coaching me up to be as good as him or even better. He’s my guy — I can ask him anything. He’s been a positive role model since I came to Mt. Hood.”

Hart says that Larson has made a habit of getting advice, any time he can.

“Devon has taken advantage of my open-door policy, as we have had numerous discussions about anything that is on his mind at the time,” said Hart. “He is a highly talented young man and is still working hard on trying to find more effective ways to succeed. I am honored that some of our men and women confide in me with so much trust.  Devon is one of those who seek advice or counsel from me.”

Larson said he has enjoyed the Saints program and his teammates and coaches.

“Overall, the team is supportive (both men’s and women’s squads). The coaches push you to be the best you can be,” he said.

Larson is focused on getting his two-year transfer degree. He is still undecided on a career, although he is interested in the medical field and perhaps physical therapy, because he loves sports and likes helping people. This spring, he is registered for 12 credits and said his favorite class is sociology.

“I’m learning to look at the world as a whole and not just individually,” he said.

He  enjoys the MHCC campus, saying “There’s good scenery and we just got a new track, so that’s always good.”

When he’s not grinding it out on the rubber-asphalt oval, Larson said he likes playing video games with friends, especially NBA 2K14 on the PS4. He also enjoys drawing and doing journal work, self-reflecting.

Anyone who knows Larson knows about his nickname “Seattle,” and how it started back in high school while he lived in California.

“People would say I dress like I’m from Seattle and one time when I had a birthday party, some friends took my phone and changed my Facebook name to Seattle,” he said. Ever since, he has kept the name. In fact, he is originally from Seattle and moved to California in the eighth grade. Then, after his sophomore year of high school, he moved back to Washington and graduated from Auburn Riverside High School last year.

Larson admitted at the beginning of this season his goal was just to make it to the season-ending NWAACC championship tournament – “the NWAACCs” – but because of how well he’s performed this season, he now says he’ll be devastated if he doesn’t make the top eight in the 110-meter high hurdles at the NWAACCs, come May 19-20 in Spokane, Wash.

Larson’s selfless passion goes towards putting it all out there for Mt. Hood.

“I compete for my team, it’s my goal to preform well. I love Coach Hart to death, so I want to perform well for him, too,” he said.

Before his meets, Larson likes to listen to RnB slow jam music.

“ It helps relax me and calms me down,” he said.

Larson grew up in a family with two sisters and one brother and said he’s close to them, especially with the younger siblings.

“I have a great relationship with my youngest sister (10 years old), and my youngest brother (10 years old), he misses me the most. He loves coming to my meets and cries when he has to leave,” he said.

Times were tougher for Larson when he was younger, starting around the age of 10 when his father got into criminal trouble.

“My dad got in trouble with the law. It made me upset that other people got to see both their mom and dad, and I didn’t,” said Larson.

Their relationship now is good, even though his father is still locked up. “He calls me two to three times a week, he writes me and I send him pictures to let him know how I’m doing and what I look like,” said Larson. “Because I didn’t have my dad, it helped me come to the reality that I can’t go to jail like him and I can’t be like him, so (it is) kind of like an example of what not to do.

‘It helped me stay focused more not having my dad around.”

With his mom practically raising him and his siblings as a single mother, Larson says she is his everything.

“Without my mom I don’t know what I would do. She played both parent roles,” he said.

Larson said the tough circumstances made him work harder. “I knew I had to try harder and get good grades,” he said.

His ultimate goal is to provide for his family.

“My dream is to make it to a four-year college and get a good enough job that my mom and siblings don’t ever have to worry about money ever again,” he said.

Larson said that Hart has been a strong mentor at Mt. Hood.

“He tells me what I need to do, he doesn’t sugar coat at all,” he said. “Sometimes we butt heads because he’s hard on me, but he has been a father figure for me in my life.”

This off-season, Larson says he plans on hitting the weight room to build more strength.

“This year I slacked off. I need to hit the weights harder and train more on sprints; my body needs to get stronger, especially with endurance,” he said.

On Saturday, Larson will compete in the South Region championships, which will be held here at Mt. Hood’s own Earl Klapstein Stadium.

The men’s 4 x 100-meter relay begins at 1 p.m., and the men’s 110-meter high hurdles event starts at 1:50 p.m.

“I just want to go out and run my best and focus on me, and the clock placement doesn’t matter,” Larson said. “It’s all about improvement and focusing on me.”

The Advocate- Volleyball coach will be missed by colleagues, players

Chelsie Speer, highly successful volleyball head coach at Mt. Hood, has taken the same position at Walla Walla Community College.

The announcement last week was big news in the athletic community here as the Saints have shined brightly under her reign, often dominating their league competitors.

 In five years as head coach, Speer’s overall record at MHCC was 175-43, which included a 2011 NWAACC championship, five straight South region titles and four South region coach-of-the-year awards. The Saints twice finished second in the NWAACC playoffs, and in fourth place once.

Mt. Hood will conduct a national search to replace Speer. She assumes a full-time faculty position at Walla Walla, an opportunity too good to pass up despite mixed emotions about departing.

“I have learned the value of creating a ‘second family’ while being here at Mt. Hood. This is the hardest part about leaving,” said Speer.

She also served as assistant softball coach at MHCC the past three years, including a third-straight NWAACC championship in 2011.

“The other programs and coaches have become my second family. This environment has been created in my own personal program as well,” she said.

Speer has a deep connection to MHCC, attending school and playing volleyball and softball back in the early 2000s.

“I have so much pride in Mt. Hood. I have loved this place since the day I came on my recruiting visit in June of 2001,” she said. “I will miss all of the relationships that I have built with employees and faculty members who once taught me and now who mentor me in my professional career.”

Kim Hyatt, Mt. Hood athletic director, said Speer will be missed after “continuing the great legacy of volleyball at MHCC” and putting a positive stamp on the entire athletic program.

Meadow McWhorter, Mt. Hood softball head coach who first coached Speer in softball in 2002-2003, said she knew her player was destined to coach.

“I’ve known Chelsie for 12 years. She displayed great qualities and was a student of the game. She led by example,” said McWhorter.

“She genuinely cares about her student athletes. I’m going to miss my best friend. We’re always on the same page and even finish each other’s sentences. I can always go to her for support, advice, and motivation,” McWhorter said.

Speer also said that she would miss her close friend and former coach.

Mt. Hood volleyball players had nothing but positive things to say about playing under her, and the impact she had on them.

“The only reason I transferred to Mt. Hood was to play under Chelsie,” said sophomore Shawna Smith, who played her freshman year at Eastern Oregon University. “The legacy she created as well as her passion for the game, compassion for her players, and the excellence she demanded on and off the court was truly admirable.

“Mt. Hood is losing a phenomenal person and coach, but she will carry her competiveness and love to Walla Walla,” Smith said.

Sophomores Lihau Perreira and Carrie Haguewood said it was a great decision coming to MHCC to play for Speer.

“Coming to Mt. Hood was the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Perreira said. “She (Chelsie) changed my life for the better and not only taught me how to be a better volleyball player but also to be a better person.”

Said Haguewood: “Chelsie taught me so much not only as a coach, but as a friend, too. I’m sad to see her leave but I know that she will continue to impact other player’s lives the same way she did mine.”

Speer graduated from Pendleton High School in 2001. With Walla Walla being relatively close, her move amounts to a homecoming, she said.

“My family still lives there and they are extremely excited about us, especially now that we have Aiden, our 1-year old son,” said Speer.  “Since I had my first child, I have thought quite a bit about wanting him to grow up in a small town. I am excited to be close to my family and our cabin in the Blue Mountains.”

She will inherit a contending team in Walla Walla. This last season, the Warriors finished third in the Eastern region with a record of 26-15 overall, 10-4 in conference play. The team had eight freshmen last season, meaning a wealth of experience on hand for 2014.

“I am excited about what my new team could accomplish this upcoming fall. I am always excited about that,” said Speer.

“I love coaching and I love the challenge of reaching any athlete and helping them become the best that they are capable of becoming. Plus, I am confident in my ability because I work hard at what I do,” she said.

Speer said she will always have love for Mt. Hood and the people here.

“I will miss my team dearly. The returning girls here mean the world to me. My players are like my own children. I care so much about them beyond the court and game of volleyball,” she said.

“I have developed relationships with all of them, sophomores and freshmen, that I hope will last a lifetime. This next season will be hard because of that.”