TDHS Riverhawks jumping into Spring Sports on Tuesday, March 15

Notes from the Nest

By Billy Brost

Spring sports are upon us! Riverhawks’ athletics kicks off the 2022 spring season this week with a flurry of games and matches.

Before we get to that, it is time to review the end of the Winter season, one that witnessed the very best of our TDHS athletes in both team and individual performances. This is going to be a longer than usual NFTN, due to having posted the last edition more than a month ago. Let’s get to it…

The Season That Was:

Our boys’ basketball team completed their best season in several years, placing third in the IMC in their final season at 5A, earning a #15 seed into the OSAA 5A State Basketball Tournament. The Riverhawks’ season ended with a 59-24 loss to Churchill, and a final record of 11-11. The Dalles was well represented in IMC All-Conference voting, as Styles DeLeon, Henry Begay, and Andre Nike all received recognition.

Our girls’ basketball team, was extremely young this season, finishing with a 4-16 mark. The team showed flashes of what should be a very competitive team for Coach Darcey Hodges next season. Zoe LeBreton and Sydney Newby received IMC All-Conference honors at the season’s end.

Our varsity wrestling team qualified three wrestlers for the 5A State Meet this season. Maisie Bandel-Ramirez placed third at districts, and wrestled at the Girls State Meet in Culver. On the boys’ side of the ledger, senior Taylor Morehouse and freshman Silas Parsons wrestled at the 5A State Meet in Ridgeview. Congratulations on your season accomplishments!

Our Riverhawks’ ski team not only qualified multiple athletes for the State Meet this season, but they played host at Mt. Hood Meadows. Congratulations to Grey Roetcisoender who placed 20th, Bucky Jacobson who finished 50th, and Lucy Booth who finished her State Meet in 21st place.

A phenomenal IMC District meet for our varsity swim team that witnessed 8 of 14 Riverhawks’ swimmers qualify for the State 5A Swimming Championships in Beaverton, also saw the Girls 200-meter medley relay break the school record not once, but TWICE! The members of that record-setting team include Kendall Webber, Hannah Haight, Lydia DiGennaro, and Kennedy Abbas. Lydia DiGennaro also placed 4th in her individual event, the 50-meter free. Great job to Coach MacNab and his staff for putting Riverhawks’ Swimming back on the map!

 Our defending state champion cheer squad battled through injuries prior to the start of their State Meet, and fought to place sixth in this year’s competition! Way to show the spirit of the Riverhawk and keep going!

The Season Ahead:

TDHS Athletic Director Billy Brost

Boys’ golf kicks off the official start to our Spring Sports season, heading up the river to Indian Creek for match play at noon.

On Tuesday, March 15, Girls’ golf hosts their first match of the season at The Dalles Country Club.

Also on Tuesday, Riverhawks’ Boys’ Tennis host St. Helens with matches beginning at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile at Bob Williams Field, varsity baseball take their first hacks of the new season, hosting Rex Putnam in non-conference action on Tuesday as well.. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.

JV baseball also hosts Putnam at Kramer Field, with their game also starting at 4:30 p.m.

Girls’ tennis hits the road, visiting our friend Daunte Gouge, in St. Helens, with matches starting at 4:00 p.m.

Moving on to Thursday, March 17, our softball teams take the diamond, hosting Bend in varsity action at 16th Street Ballpark, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m., while the JV team also begins their game on the JV field at The Dalles Middle School at 5 p.m.

Also on Thursday, Boys’ tennis hit the road and travel to Parkrose, with matches starting at 4 p.m.

The girls’ tennis team open their home schedule at The Dalles High School, hosting Parkrose, with matches beginning at 4 p.m.

Closing out Thursday action, the girls’ golf team head to Pendleton for early season action with match play beginning at 11 a.m.

On Friday, March 18, we host the annual Mullen Leavitt Invite, with 17 teams visiting Sid White Field. Field events begin at 2 p.m.

Baseball travels to Gresham for varsity action, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.

Softball also is on the road, travelling to Liberty High School for varsity and JV action. First pitch for both games is 5 p.m.

The Boys’ golf team host at The Dalles Country Club on Friday, with match play beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Rounding out the sports week for our Riverhawks, the JV baseball team travel to Pendleton for a non-conference game against IMC rival Pendleton. First pitch is slated for noon.

Odds and Ends:

Mr. Al Wynn will be broadcasting many of the home baseball and softball games on KODL radio. We are currently examining options to live stream games for the community to enjoy.

On Sunday, March 6th, we said goodbye to longtime volunteer, booster club member, local media personality, and former school board member, Mr. John Fredrick. Several speakers shared stories and fond memories of Mr. Fredrick and what he meant to Riverhawks’ athletics and the community.

We are still looking for volunteers to assist us with home athletic events this season. Currently, we are in search of a scoreboard operator for softball games at 16th Street Ballpark, a PA announcer for a handful of varsity baseball games, and a starter for the Mullen Leavitt Invite, volunteers for the long jump pit, one volunteer to assist with discus, volunteers for the shot put event, a volunteer for the pole vault, and a couple of volunteers for the high school. If you are available and willing, please contact AD Brost at brostb@nwasco.k12.or.us.

Student-athletes can still sign up for a spring sport using Family ID. The link to sign up can be found here.

Congratulations to our varsity cheer coach, Kelsey Wallace, as she’s been nominated for the OCCA Coach of the Year Award! Great job Coach!

DISTRICT POLICY REGARDING MASK MANDATES:

As of Saturday, March 12th, masks are no longer required to be worn for any athletic event for players and spectators in North Wasco County School District #21.

Concessions will be open and available at baseball and softball games.

As with all of our activities both at home and on the road, we continue to represent our community and our school at all times. Please keep good sportsmanship at the forefront when attending events.
Feel free to contact the athletic office if you have any questions.

That’s what’s coming up in Riverhawkland! I encourage you to come out and support our student-athletes, be safe, stay warm, and as always, GO RIVERHAWKS!