Hot weather, tough teams make for challenging games

Pass the ball but not the virus.

“Take 20 seconds, 30 if you really need it.”

Lacrosse players and Little Leaguers enjoyed the grassy environs of Jim Winter Field and the St. Mary’s Catholic Church playfields June 17, activities that were among the first organized competition and practice sessions in Hood River since COVID restrictions and closures started in mid-March.

Three seniors and a junior received honors as May 2020 Student Athletes of the Month at Hood River Valley High School. Coaches, teachers and advisors nominated the students and commented on their accomplishments and contributions.

Four seniors are honored as April student-athletes of the month at Hood River Valley High School.

The Hood River Yacht Club’s high school sailing coaches paid honors to the 13 graduating seniors from both Hood River Valley High School and Columbia High School. Coach Lars Bergstrom said the team had a reduced schedule but they did compete at the Island Cup Regatta in Oak Harbor.

With social distancing rules in place, families were on hand for the lacrosse senior night May 21 at Hood River Valley High School.

Three seniors and a junior have been named Student-Athletes of the Month for March by Hood River Valley High School.

Maverick Geller, a senior at Hood River Valley High School, has accepted his appointment to, and has committed to play lacrosse at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Hood River Valley High School has announced the February Athletes of the Month. Athletic Director Trent Kroll passed along these notes about the athletes, courtesy of coaches and teachers:

From March 23-26, Hood River Valley’s boys varsity baseball team will compete in the Coach Bob National Tournament Invitational in Phoenix. Head coach Erich Harjo said the team has taken an annual spring break trip for the past seven years.

Hood River Valley’s varsity softball team swings back into action next week. The team has two games before heading to Portland for the Rex Putnam Softball Spring Break Tournament starting on March 23.

Cooper Spur Alpine Team racers Kai Shay, Hanni Sreenan, Izzy Bielen and Sutton Lefevre qualified to represent the Pacific Northwest Ski Association at the Western Region Junior Olympic in Mammoth Mountain, Calif., March 18-21.

Hood River Valley’s girls basketball team wrapped up their home games Friday, Feb. 21 as they were defeated by Redmond 52-38. The team also honored their senior players in a pre-game ceremony.

The Hood River Valley swim teams wrapped up their incredibly successful 2019-2020 season with strong showing at OSAA 5A Swimming State Championships in Tualatin Feb. 21-22.

With bleachers nearly full and an electric atmosphere at Vannet Court, Hood River Valley’s varsity boys basketball team defeated The Dalles 64-55 in the season’s final game. Christopher Dirks, Eagles’ head coach, said the crowd’s energy played part in Tuesday’s victory.

Last Saturday, the Hood River Valley Eagles flew into the Intermountain Conference Wrestling Championship at Ridgeview High School. Eight HRV Eagles qualified for state: Lauraine Smith, Carson Farlow, Jaime Rodriguez, Chad Muenzer, Javier Galvez, Maverick Geller, Abraham Tinajero and Cody Durham.

Blue skies and warm temperatures provided perfect conditions for the OISRA Nordic State Championships Feb. 21-22.  Races were held at the Mount Bachelor Nordic Center. The team left early Friday morning after preparing their gear at the wax barn the day before.

Hood River Valley High School’s January athletes of the month are Aryn Dahlstrom, Madaket Greenleaf, Javier Galvez and Maverick Geller. All are in the wrestling program except Greenleaf, who swims for the Eagles.

Hood River Valley’s swim team hosted The Dalles High School in its final home meet Thursday, Feb. 6. The girls and boys teams defeated the visiting team 104-62 and 111-50, respectively.

Horizon Christian School’s varsity boys basketball team denied Condon High School in a close game Saturday afternoon. The Hawks defeated the Blue Devils 43-42 in Hood River.

In a nail-biting Friday night game, Hood River Valley’s varsity boys basketball team defeated Pendleton High School 64-56. Christopher Dirks, head coach for the Eagles, said the team has found its stride late in the season.

The conditions were this: 25 degrees, 25-mph wind with gusts to 50, wind chill 11 degrees — just another day for the Hood River Valley Nordic team.

Ridgeview High School’s varsity girls basketball team hustled, swarmed, and defeated Hood River Valley 59-30 Tuesday night at Vannet Court. This win pushed the 10th-ranked Ravens’ record to 14-6

Dufur High School came back from a deficit and upset Horizon Christian School’s varsity boys basketball team 44-39 Saturday, Feb. 8 in Hood River. At one point, the home Hawks had a nine-point lead over the Rangers.

In a dual between the birds of prey, The Dalles High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Hood River Valley 61-18 Friday, Feb. 7 at Vannet Court. Brian Stevens, head coach for the Riverhawks, said the team worked on their defense in order to get Friday’s win.

Inaccurate shooting was the Hood River Valley girls varsity hoops team’s Achilles’ heel Tuesday night against Crook County High School. The Cowgirls defeated the Eagles 53-32 in Hood River.

Hood River Valley’s varsity boys basketball team fell short against Redmond High School 49-39 Friday, Jan. 31. This marks Redmond’s fourth consecutive win.

The Hood River Valley Eagles boys and girls swimmers took on Intermountain Conference teams Ridgeview and Redmond in a double dual meet last Thursday at the Hood River Aquatic Center. The girls came out ahead in both duals: 119-41 against Ridgeview and 139-26 against Redmond.

The Hood River Valley boys varsity basketball team clinched wins against Ridgeview on Jan. 23 and McLoughlin on Jan. 27. The Eagle boys flew past the Ravens 60-53 and over the Pioneers 61-36.

Fourteen teams convened on Saturday for the Hood River Elk Memorial Tournament. Barlow, Bend, Centennial, Cleveland, Forest Grove, Grant Union, hosts Hood River Valley, Lincoln, Mountain View, Riverside, Scappoose, The Dalles/ Dufur, Thurston and Columbia High School competed in the meet.

The Hood River January Duals were held Sunday, Jan. 12 at the Hood River Aquatic Center. This was the first swim competition for Lyla Mall, Griffin Mueller and Madelyn Anderson.

Hood River Valley’s varsity girls basketball team battled hard but was defeated by Tout Lake High School 43-36 Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Vannet Court in Hood River.

Every Friday in January, the Hood River Valley swim team holds swim lessons for kids aged 5-11 at the Hood River Aquatic Center.

With the lead traded 10 times, Horizon Christian School defeated South Wasco County High School 53-49 Tuesday night. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 14 but was postponed due to inclement weather.

The HRV Nordic ski team spent Saturday on its home turf at the Teacup OISRA Nordic race.

Hood River Valley’s varsity boys wrestling team hosted, but was defeated by, Culver High School 52-27 Thursday, Jan. 9. The bout featured weight classes ranging from 106 to 285 pounds.