September 7, 2012 issue sports pages

12 ▲ West YelloWstone neWs Friday, September 7, 2012

Sports

Mike Moore/WYNewsSophomore Amber Dorich slams the ball over the net last Friday evening against Sheridan. Dorich finished the match with eight kills and three blocks.

Lady Wolverines edge Sheridan in thrillerBy Mike Moore

West Yellowstone News

The West Yellowstone Lady

Wolverines were firing on all cylinders during their home opener

against Sheridan last Friday, Aug. 31. Game time experience from the tournament in Ashton, Idaho one week earlier seemed to light a spark for the team, who

defeated Sheridan 3-1.“I was really pleased

with our effort on the court,” head varsity coach Lanie Gospodarek said. “Right now upper-classmen have joined

the team late, so all the sophomores had to fill in for the varsity, and (Sheridan) had more seniors. Between our sophomores stepping up and the experience of

the other team I’m really happy.”

It was a full-on battle throughout the match, with all of the sets coming down to the wire. The Lady

Wolverines were down 18-13 in the first set, but rallied late to win 27-25.

West extended it’s momentum into the

volleYBAll| continued on page 13

West YelloWstone neWs ▲ 13Friday, September 7, 2012

beginning of the second set, going on a 5-0 run. Sheridan then went on a run, coming within four points, with a score of 12-8. The Lady Wolverines then exploded offensively, going on a 9-1 run and eventually winning 25-14.

The Lady Panthers didn’t let up in the third set, however, and battled West Yellowstone to the bitter end, winning 30-28.

The Lady Wolverines came back with a vengeance in the fourth set, as junior Kelsey Young served up eight straight points to give her team an early 8-0 lead. Sheridan rallied to come within four points, but it wasn’t enough as West Yellowstone capped off a solid victory with a 25-17 advantage.

Young led the Lady Wolverines with nine aces, six kills, eight assists and two blocks.

“Kelsey was our overall stat-getter,” Gospodarek noted. “She played great.”

Teammate Amber Dorich finished with eight kills and three blocks, while Bridgit Prichard tacked on 15 assists. Jasmine Salinas had three digs, while Kyla Binfet finished with four aces.

“Prichard played extremely well,” she said. “She rose to the occasion. She’s still learning but she put up a lot of balls.”

For Sheridan, Johnnie Lee led her team with five aces and Brooke Lueck had seven kills.

West Yellowstone

will host Shields Valley tonight, and the team travels to Twin Bridges this Saturday, Sept. 8.

Gospodarek said in the past, her team has been able to climb up to Shields Valley’s level of play, but Twin Bridges will be a tough battle for her team.

“I’m going in cautiously,” she said. “Both teams have strong programs, and Twin Bridges will be a tough one for us.”

To prepare for the difficult weekend ahead, Gospodarek says her team needs to improve in certain areas.

“We need to work on our serve/receive, spik-ing, hitting and offense,” she noted. “We also need

to build up our confi-dence. Last week we had opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on.”

SUMMARYWest Yellowstone 3, Sheridan 1WEST YELLOWSTONE - Kills (22) — Amber Dorich 8, Kelsey Young 6; Assists (31) — Bridgit Prichard 15, Kelsey Young 8; Blocks (5) — Amber Dorich 3, Kelsey Young 2; Digs (5) — Jasmine Salinas 3, Kelsey Young 2; Aces (19) — Kelsey Young 9, Kyla Binfet 4.

SHERIDAN - Kills (16) — Brooke Lueck 7; Blocks (1) — Johnnie Lee; Digs (12) — Jordan Evans 4; Assists (13) — Brittany VanDyck 8; Aces (17) — Johnnie Lee 5.

Volleyballfrom page 12

Mike Moore/WYNewsJunior Kyla Binfet blocks a shot from April Degel of Sheridan. The lady Wolverines picked up a 1-0 record with the victory.

Mike Moore/WYNewsJunior Kelsey Young digs a serve in the fourth match. Young had an impressive game, leading West Yellowstone with nine aces, six kills, eight assists and two blocks.


Wolverines fall to Roy/Winifred in season openerBy MIKE MOORE


The West Yellowstone

Wolverines’ football squad fell during their season debut against Roy/Winifred last Friday on the road.

Despite losing 52-19, head coach Nate Slaughter is proud of the fight and determination his boys displayed.

“I’m proud of their hard work,” Slaughter said. “I saw a lot of good from my younger players.”

The Wolverines first scored when fresh-man Jared Barney scored on a 40-yard rushing touchdown. Senior leader Asael Vazquez had his hand in two touchdown scores for his team, first with a 40-yard pass completion to sophomore Tristen Burden, followed by a kickoff return for a touchdown.

“We had some really good senior leadership from Asael,” Slaughter noted. “Everything went through him.”

Vazquez finished the game with 6-of-8 passing for 70 yards, and rushed for 110 yards to lead the Wolverines.

In order for the Wolverines to remain in the hunt for a playoff berth, there are many areas that need improvement, Slaughter added. The improvements he says he’d like to implement this week include better block-ing and tackling,

along with putting in new offensive plays and working on pick-ing up the blitz on defense.

“We made a lot of rookie mistakes, which you expect in a young team,” Slaughter noted about the season opener. “I saw a lot we need to work on this week in practice before play-ing Alberton.”

Alberton is the reigning confer-ence champion, and defeated West Yellowstone 52-28 last season.

“I’m excited to see what we can do with them at home this year,” he added.

The Wolverines host Alberton in West Yellowstone at home this Saturday, Sept. 8. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the West Yellowstone School field.

SUMMARYRoy/Winifred 52, West Yellowstone 19Jared Barney - 40-yard rushing touchdownTristen Burden - 40-yard touchdown reception from Asael VazquezVazquez - kickoff return for touchdown

Mike Moore/WYNewsA fellow teammate tackles junior Ritchie howe during an afternoon practice Sept. 4 in West Yellowstone. The Wolverines take on a talented Alberton team this weekend at home.

More photoson page 15


Mike Moore/WYNews

Head coach Nate

Slaughter puts his team

through various tackling drills

during an afternoon

practice in West Yellowstone

earlier this week. Slaughter

says his team needs to be

more physical with their

fundamentals to hang with

upcoming opponent

Alberton this weekend at

home.


Local rodeo wraps up season, hands out year-end bucklesBy MIKE MOORE


Cold and rainy conditions

couldn’t dampen the spirits of contestants and spectators on the evening of Sept. 1, as the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo wrapped up the 2012 season.

Shortly following the rodeo, the cowboys and cowgirls cleaned them-selves up and headed to Wild West Pizzeria and Saloon to attend the awards ceremony, where the top riders and wran-glers in nine categories were awarded with cham-pion belt buckles.

“I think we had a pretty successful season,” rodeo owner Georgia McMillan said. “The dry weather made it nice, except for Saturday night.”

The local rodeo has been around for 10 years, with this season being the sixth year at the location off of Highway 20.

This season provided contestants with up to 50 performances, which McMillan says is a good way for local contestants to perfect their abilities. All entrants must be 18 or older, with many of them coming to the region from different states to work and rodeo in West Yellowstone for the summer.

“We have a lot of contestants come and stay here for the rodeo season,” McMillan added. “We’re kind of off the beaten path for a rodeo, so many stay for the summer and work in town or at guest ranches.”

Second-year contestant Hank Kerr of Star Valley, Wyo. took top honors for

the 2012 rodeo season, winning first place in the all around category, with Ashlee Barrington taking the 2012 reserve champion.

Ky White took first in bareback riding, while Barrington took top honors in breakaway roping. Jasper Eshelman was awarded the buckle for saddle bronc riding, while Brianna Overdorf took first in barrel racing.

Kerr also took first as the header in team roping, while Jay Broncho was the overall leader in the heeler position. Youngster Tim Finney showed he’s an up-and-

coming force to be reck-oned with in the rodeo circuit, winning first in the junior bull riding division, while Mark Phillips took first in the adult bull riding competi-tion for the season.

McMillan said there will likely be a rodeo season next year, but it might be a little different than in the past.

“We may not go as late into the season as we did this year,” she said. “And we’re probably going to be in a new location.”

The rodeo owner never

Mike Moore/WYNewsCold temperatures and sporadic rain couldn’t dampen this cowboy’s spirits as he splashes down in the mud during the Saddle Bronc event during the final Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo night of the season last Saturday.

Mike Moore/WYNewsLocal cowboy Ky White displays his 2012 Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo belt buckle for bareback riding.

RoDeo| continued on page 17


believed the rodeo would grow into the prominent summer activity it has over the years, stating it provides visitors from Yellowstone National Park an opportunity to experience a western rodeo.

“I feel like the rodeo provides an activity to keep people in the area,” McMillan noted.

She added that the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo would like to extend a special thank you to all the sponsors and supporters.

“This rodeo series would not be possible without the support of the local community,” she said.

Rodeo ResultsWeek #11Bareback Riding:1, Richard Wilson, 77 pts2/3, Ky White, 75 pts2/3, Richard Wilson, 75 pts4, Ky White, 73 pts5, Richard Wilson, 69 ptsBreakaway Roping:1, Bobbe McMillan, 3.132, Bobbe McMillan, 3.193, Ashlee Barrington, 3.474, Hank Kerr, 12.585, Bobbe McMillan, 12.71Saddle Bronc Riding:1, Jasper Eshelman, 762, Jasper Eshleman, 72Barrel Race:1, Brianna Overdorf, 15.852, Brianna Overdorf, 15.933, Bobbe McMillan, 16.164, Bobbe McMillan, 17.365, Ashlee Barrington, 18.14Team Roping:1, Hank Kerr/ Jessica Clark, 7.63

2, Hank Kerr/ Jay Broncho, 11.42Bull Riding:no qualified rides2012 Year End StandingsBareback Riding:1, Ky White2, Richard WilsonBreakaway Roping:1, Ashlee Barrington2, Hank KerrSaddle Bronc Riding:1, Jasper Eshelman2, Ky WhiteBarrel Race:

1, Brianna Overdorf2, -Ashlee BarringtonTeam Roping - Header:1, Hank Kerr2, Jessica ClardTeam Roping - Heeler:1, Jay Broncho2, Hank KerrJunior Bull Riding:1, Tim FinneyBull Riding:1, Mark Phillips2, Justin SaulAll Around:1, Hank Kerr2, Ashlee Barrington

Rodeofrom page 16

Mike Moore/WYNewsAshlee Barrington was awarded with reserve all around honors from the 2012 Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo immediately following the final rodeo of the season last Saturday, Sept. 1 at Wild West Pizzeria and Saloon.

Mike Moore/WYNews

Cowboy Mark Phillips is awarded first place for the 2012 season in bull riding.

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September 7, 2012 issue sports pages