Alumni seventh at mat nationals
White River High graduate Justin Purves became a two-time all-American and Enumclaw High graduate Jason Gray earned his first post-high school all-American honors at the 2010 National Junior Collage Athletic Association Wrestling Championships Feb. 26 and 27 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Purves and Gray, wrestling for Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash., both finished seventh.
Purves, a state place winner for the Hornets, earned his 125-pound seventh-place finish with a 7-0 decision over Jesse Barber of Pratt.
Gray, a former two-time state champion for Enumclaw, earned his 149-pound state championship with a 10-5 win over Nicholas Clark of Waubonsee.
Iowa Central won its fifth straight team title, while Highline finished ninth. Entering the tournament, Gray was ranked No. 2 and won the western district title.
Highline coach Scott Norton was named NJCAA Region 18 Coach of the Year.
City opens softball registration
The city of Enumclaw spring/summer United States Specialty Sports Association adult softball registration deadline is April 30.
Teams, made up of players 18 and older, will be offered in coed, men’s and church. Teams fees for men’s league are $700. Coed and church league fees are $592. An unofficated church league is available for $375.
All leagues play a double-header format. Team trophies will be awarded to the top three teams. T-shirts will be awarded to individuals on the first-place team. Games will be played at Boise Creek Park.
The registration deadline is April 30. Fees must be paid in full. Games begin in June.
For information, call 360-825-3594.
Junior football sets sign up dates
Registration dates have been set for Wolverine football players and cheerleaders.
Returning players and cheerleaders will sign up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at KeyBank in Enumclaw. New players and cheerleaders will sign up from 1 to 4 p.m. March 27, also at KeyBank.
Football players are divided by age and weight and full pads and uniforms are provided under strict safety regulations.
Both the football and cheer programs have limited spaces available and will accept participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
For information, call 360-802-6411 or visit www.wolverinejuniorfootball.com.
Bannerot scores gymnastics gold
The Peak Experience Gymnastics girls team tumbled and flipped to numerous medals at the Pajama Classic Feb. 27 and 28 in Federal Way. Leading the way for the Enumclaw contingent was Olivia Bannerot’s gold medal, piked-tsukarhara vault, which garnered an 8.925 score, and her silver medal on the bars at Level 9.
Michelle McKinlay, in her first competition this season, qualified for the state championships in late March in Level 8 with her third-place finish in all-around and a silver/bronze medal combination on vault and bars. Kelly Coyle had season-high bests with a fourth-place finish on vault and narrowly missed bronze on the beam with an 8.1 personal best. Victoria Hernandez, already qualified for the state meet, scored better than 8 in all four events, highlighted by an 8.775 floor exercise.
“Just about all the girls had their best competitions of the year thus far at this meet,” coach Jim Holt said. “Hannah (co-coach and wife) and I asked an awful lot of these young ladies going into this year. They’ve done a great job adapting to new levels and we think it’s starting to come together as we gear up for the postseason.”
Tianna Johnston, who made the jump from compulsory Level 5 to optional Level 7, had a season-high 30.05 al-around. Taylor Amsbaugh and Monica Estes continued to make progress as new Level 5s, hitting routines consistently. Newcomer Natalia Medrano impressed her coaches in a number of areas.
Peak’s Level 4 squad – Elizabeth Bozich, Elise Dunning, Erin McGuinnes, Hannah McGuinnes, Leah Perry, Willow Perry and Ting Pan – continued to gain experience with a number of the girls competing all-around for the first time. The highlight was McGuinnes’ second-place finish on vault, her fifth-place finish in the all-around and Bozich’s seventh-place medal in the all-around.
