Are you up to the challenge?

Pigskin Picks contest one of new items on our Website||

So, you think you can do better than us?

Here’s your chance to prove it.

If you’ve ever wondered how those numbskulls down at the paper could pick So-and-so to beat Such-and-such in prep football, show us that you know better.

And snatch some prizes along the way.

The Yakima Herald-Republic sports department is opening up its Pigskin Picks to its readers online. After quckliy logging in and creating an account, each week entrants will enter their picks and go against the Herald-Republic sports staff and other entrants.

The top picker of the week will not only earn invaluable bragging rights, but also a prize from Ron’s Coin & Book. The season winner will get an Xbox 360, also courtesy of Ron’s.

Log on to sportsyakima.com, click on the Pigskins Pick, sign up and start picking.

But that’s not all the winning we’re offering our readers.

We also will be debuting Prep Insider this week on sportsyakima.com. It will feature a short video giving you an inside look at the YH-R Sports department and what coverage will be coming in the upcoming week.

Insider will also feature Yakima Valley sports trivia. Viewers can log on to answer the question.

Of all the correct answers, one will be randomly picked to receive a gift card from the 2nd Street Grill in downtown Yakima.

It’s our hope that these contests as well as our online feature help supplement your reading experience.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out Kickoff 2010, our annual prep football preview in today’s newspaper.

And good luck picking.

Local report — Wyckoff steps down at WV

YAKIMA, Wash. — After 16 consecutive years in the West Valley baseball program, the last nine of which were as head coach, Klayton Wyckoff is making a “bittersweet” move away from the sport.

Wyckoff, previously a teacher in the district, is moving into administration, accepting the position of athletic director and student activities coordinator at West Valley Junior High. The time commitments of that job led him to resign as the Rams’ head baseball coach.

“This is an opportunity that I always wanted to pursue, and the timing feels right in my career,” Wyckoff said. “But at the same time it’s bittersweet to walk away from something I absolutely love.”

Wyckoff compiled a 155-64 record in his nine seasons, with two state trophies — second in 2003 and third in ’09 — and was the Class 3A coach of the year in ’03.

“We’ve have had such massive support out here from parents, the community, staff and administrators — that made my experience very positive,” added Wyckoff, a 1987 West Valley graduate. “It was a great situation to be in as a head coach and I would have liked to continue on, but this move is better for me in the long run.”

Kevin VanDeBrake would be a strong candidate to replace Wyckoff. Not only was he an assistant throughout Wyckoff’s nine seasons but he preceded him as head coach.

Siebol leaves RC for Highland

Bruce Siebol, who directed Riverside Christian’s boys basketball program to 170 wins in 10 seasons, has left the Crusaders’ program to take the head boys job at Highland.

In those 10 seasons at RC, Siebol posted a 170-69 record and led the Crusaders to three Class 2B state trophies.

“I had 10 great years at Riverside with great kids and wonderful parents,” he said. “I accomplished what I set out to, building up the program, and I guess now I was ready for a new challenge.”

Siebol will replace Josh Borland, who resigned after six seasons.

“I’m excited to coach in the SCAC,” he added. “The Riverside program is in good shape (all starters return), so this was a good time to pursue another challenge.”

COLLEGES

CWU ranked 5th by D2 website

Central Washington has been ranked fifth by D2Football.com in a preseason poll released Tuesday.

The Wildcats, who were 12-1 last season and lost 21-20 to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri in a playoff quarterfinal, followed, in order, Northwest Missouri, Grand Valley State, North Alabama and Abilene Christian.

Minnesota Duluth, Central’s season-opening opponent at home on Saturday, is ranked sixth.

Cadets dominate first cross country poll

While in a fog of working on our annual preseason prep football section, there’s big news to report on other fronts. The preseason cross country coaches poll is out and Eisenhower appears poised for a double dose of dominance. The Cadets are ranked No. 1 in 4A boys and No. 2 in girls. The boys, in fact, are ranked 22nd in the Harrier Magazine’s national poll. Here’s the state poll:

BOYS
Class 4A: 1, Eisenhower; 2, Jackson; 3, Lewis & Clark; 4, Mead; 5, Ferris; 6, Auburn Riverside; 7, Walla Walla; 8, Issaquah; 9, Gig Harbor; 10, Skyline. Others: Wenatchee, Olympia, Redmond.
Class 3A: 1, North Central; 2, University; 3, Kamiakin; 4, Seattle Prep; 5, Mt. Spokane; 6, Blanchet; 7, Everett; 8, Bellevue; 9, Shorecrest; 10, Peninsula. Others: Columbia River, Camas.
Class 2A: 1, Sehome; 2, Mark Morris; 3, Lindbergh; 4, Ellensburg; 5, Bellingham; 6, Interlake; 7, Cheney; 8, Chehalis; 9, Lakewood; 10, Cedarcrest. Others: Selah, Kingston, North Kitsap, Squalicum.
Class 1A: 1, Port Townsend; 2, Nooksack Valley; 3, Lakeside; 4, La Center; 5, Riverside; 6, Lynden Christian; 7, Charles Wright; 8, Meridian; 9, Cashmere; 10, Seattle Christian. Others: Royal, Toledo, Freeman.
Class 2B-1B: 1, Northwest Christian (Lacey); 2, Republic; 3, Mossyrock; 4, Mt. Rainier Lutheran; 5, Tri-Cities Prep; 6, North Beach; 7, Northwest Christian (Spokane); 8, White Pass; 9, Waitsburg-Prescott; 10, St. John-Endicott. Others: Bear Creek, St. George’s, Davenport.

GIRLS
Class 4A: 1, Stanwood; 2, Eisenhower; 3, Bellarmine; 4, Eastlake; 5, Gig Harbor; 6, Tahoma; 7, Central Valley; 8, Redmond; 9, Richland; 10, Lewis & Clark. Others: Davis, Stadium, Arlington, Auburn Riverside.
Class 3A: 1, Glacier Peak; 2, Shadle Park; 3, Kamiakin; 4, Peninsula; 5, Lakeside; 6, Mt. Spokane; 7, Prairie; 8, Enumclaw; 9, Camas; 10, Columbia River. Others: Bainbridge, Seattle Prep, Capital.
Class 2A: 1, Sehome; 2, Kingston; 3, Lindbergh; 4, Cedarcrest; 5, Cheney; 6, Ephrata; 7, Bellingham; 8, Interlake; 9, Lakewood; 10, Deer Park. Others: North Kitsap, Squalicum.
Class 1A: 1, Northwest; 2, Riverside; 3, Lakeside; 4, Omak; 5, La Center; 6, Nooksack Valley; 7, King’s; 8, Chelan; 9, Meridian; 10, Cashmere. Others: Seattle Academy, Bellevue Christian, Ilwaco.

Class 2B-1B: 1, Northwest Christian (Lacey); 2, White Pass; 3, Northwest Christian (Spokane); 4, St. George’s; 5, Crosspoint Academy. Others: Asotin, Waitsburg-Prescott.

Kittitas County roundup set for Saturday

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The first Kittitas County Roundup, a football exhibition involving Cle Elum, Ellensburg and Kittitas high schools and Central Washington University, will be held Saturday at CWU’s Tomlinson Stadium.

Each team will stage a 30-minute scrimmage, starting with Cle Elum from 11-11:30 a.m. Kittitas will follow from 11:40 to noon, Ellensburg will go from noon to 12:30 p.m. and the Wildcats will take the field from 12:30-1 p.m.

Admission is free. Also, all participating high school players will be admitted to Central’s season opener against Minnesota Duluth on Aug. 28 at no charge.

“We’re hoping this will become an annual event,” said Central coach Blaine Bennett. “We’ll feed all the kids, and hopefully the players from the different schools will get to know each other and watch our scrimmage.

“It’s less of a recruiting thing for us than it is just to provide people in the area with exposure to our program. Some of them, whether they’re players or parents or whatever, might be coming to Tomlinson Stadium for the first time.”

Returning to the fields of fall

YAKIMA, Wash. — The thermometer still says summer, but activity on the fields Wednesday signaled fall is around the corner.
Football practice began statewide on Wednesday. Monday the rest of the fall sports — cross country, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swimming — get under way.
The Yakima Herald-Republic sports staff is busy putting together Kickoff 2010, this year’s edition of its annual prep football preview. The 48-page section is due to hit doorsteps Thursday, Sept. 2, the eve of the first Friday night of football.
Following Labor Day, previews of the rest of the fall sports will be featured.

YAKIMA, Wash. — The thermometer still says summer, but activity on the fields Wednesday signaled fall is around the corner.

Football practice began statewide on Wednesday. Monday the rest of the fall sports — cross country, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swimming — get under way.

The Yakima Herald-Republic sports staff is busy putting together Kickoff 2010, this year’s edition of its annual prep football preview. The 48-page section is due to hit doorsteps Thursday, Sept. 2, the eve of the first Friday night of football.

Following Labor Day, previews of the rest of the fall sports will be featured.

Local Report: Willmarth to lead Ike girls

YAKIMA, Wash. — Seeking to bring stability to a program that has seen five head coaches since 2004, Cris Willmarth has been hired as Eisenhower’s girls basketball coach.

Willmarth, who replaces Dennis Richardson after a one-year stint as head coach, has also been hired as a social studies teacher at Eisenhower.

“It is a program that needs some stability and for that to happen it’s important to be in the building,” said Willmarth, who previously taught and coached at Naches Valley. “There are some challenges but I like these kinds of challenges.”

Namely, bringing a cohesion and consistency to the program. And then building a winner.

At Naches Valley, Willmarth in 2002-03 took over a program that was winless in the previous season and he directed the Rangers to state-tournament appearances in 2006 and ‘07. Having coached as many as three sports in a school year at NV, Willmarth resigned as coach after the 08-09 season.

“That got tiring, and I decided some time off was important,” he explained. “After a year away, I figured to play it by ear. When this opened up, I was very excited about it.”

The Cadets graduated eight seniors off the 09-10 squad so there’s rebuilding to do.

“I hope to bring everybody together and get us all on the same page,” Willmarth said. “It’s a challenge I look forward to.”

Cadets seeking new AD

Eisenhower’s John Gonzales, the school’s athletic director for the last five years, is switching his vice principal emphasis to student services director for the coming school year.

Gonzales is taking over for Jim Wright, who is moving to the Yakima School District office to help oversee the upcoming construction projects in the district.

Eisenhower is currently interviewing to fill its athletic director position.

GOLF

Anderson bags Mount Adams ace

Randy Anderson scored his second career hole-in-one last Thursday, acing the 139-yard 16th hole at Mount Adams Country Club.

Anderson used a 6-iron for the shot, which was witnessed by Ron Eakin, Mark Malland and Tony Whitley.

Schultz will coach Ike boys

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eisenhower did not venture far to find its new boys basketball coach.

After eight years as the Cadets’ junior varsity coach, Brad Schultz will take over for Hall of Fame coach Pat Fitterer in the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

“It’s my dream job,” said the 36-year-old Schultz. “I know the expectations will be high coming off what Pat Fitterer was able to accomplish here, but I thrive off that. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Schultz, a first-grade teacher at Nob Hill Elementary, has not previously been a head coach but he’s banking on eight years in the program as being an ideal internship. And seven of those seasons were spent under Fitterer, who directed the Cadets to 141 of his 664 career victories.

“I’ve been very fortunate to coach along with Pat and pick up on his philosophy,” said Schultz, who is Fitterer’s son-in-law. “He is so good with the power of positive thinking and instilling a mental toughness. He also reminds me: Keep it simple.”

Two other CBBN boys basketball positions were filled this summer — Ron Stone at Wenatchee and Charlie Villanueva at Pasco. Stone was the Panthers’ girls coach for the last 10 years.

YVCC inks Ike’s Bonser

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eisenhower’s Robert Bonser, a first-team CBBN Cascade forward-post, has signed a NWAACC letter of intent with Yakima Valley Community College.

The 6-foot-5 Bonser averaged 15.7 points for the Cadets during his senior season. He earned second-team CBBN honors as a junior.

YVCC’s women’s basketball program has signed Alex Brewster of Alaska’s South Anchorage High (5-10 post) and Sade Elliott of Oregon’s Century High (5-7 wing).

Local report — Baze rides 11,000th winner

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Granger’s Russell Baze has ridden the 11,000th winner of his career.

The 52-year-old jockey won the fourth race at the Sonoma County Fair aboard Separate Forest on Saturday to reach the milestone.

Baze was already North America’s winningest thoroughbred jockey, having surpassed Laffit Pincay Jr.’s record of 9,530 winners in December 2006.

Baze rode his 10,000th winner in February 2008 at Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay area, where he has spent most of his career.

VOLLEYBALL

Officials meeting Monday

The Central Washington Volleyball Board of Officials will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16 in the Parker Room of the Deccio Building at Yakima Valley Community College.

Anyone interested in officiating school volleyball this fall should attend. New officials are always needed.

For more information, contact Dick Brown at 509-952-7357 or Liz Gilbert at 509-945-6391.

FASTPITCH

UW returning to Selah

The University of Washington fastpitch team will be making its annual trek to Selah’s Carlon Park Sept. 25-26. The Huskies will play Central Washington at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, before a dinner and auction at Selah Civic Center Starting at 6. Two camps will be held Sunday.

For more information about the dinner and auction or to purchase tickets, call Bill Harris at 509-961-1588. The phone number was incorrect in Page 1B of Saturday’s Sports section.

High schools — Davis, Ike fall meetings Thursday

YAKIMA — Fall sports meetings for parents and athletes at Davis and Eisenhower high schools will be Thursday at the respective schools.

Davis’ meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will be in the cafeteria.

Ike’s meeting begins at 6:30, also in the cafeteria.

Selah fall meeting Monday

Selah High’s fall sports meeting will be Monday, starting at 6 p.m. in the high school commons.

The meeting is for parents and athletes turning out for football, volleyball, cross country, girls soccer, and girls swimming and diving.

Local report — Lamb wins Junior Invite

YAKIMA — Kameron Lamb closed with a 2-over-par 72 at SunTides Golf Course to win the Boys 16-17 Division of the inaugural Yakima Junior Amateur on Tuesday.

Lamb, a recent West Valley graduate, carded a two-day score of 143 to best runner-up Eric Gravbrot by four strokes.

Goldendale’s Bree Wanderscheid shot a 74 at SunTides and won the 14-15 girls division with a 157 total.

FINAL RESULTS

Boys

8-9: 1. Jackson Nettleship 101, 2. Ethan Breymeyer 113, 3. Reid Donaldson 114.

10-11: 1. Holden Backes 78, 2. Travis Kay 84, 3. Jaime Campos 87, 4. Dylan Apodaca 91, 5. Dylan Bissell 92, 6. Kaelan Nettleship 93, 7. Adam Raab 100, 8. Tyler Fitchett 103.

12-13: 1. Nathan Nulliner 180, 2. Andy Mellotte 200, 3. Colton Dally 209, 4. Michael Smith 213, 5. Caleb Belton 235.

14-15: 1. Andrew Raab 154, 2. Beau Wangler 165, 3. Dustin DiBenedetto 175, 4. Logan Helgeland 196, 5. Wesley Powers 200.

16-17: 1. Kameron Lamb 143, 2. Eric Gravbrot 147, 3. Matthew Mickelson 166, 4. Chad Cameron 175, 5. Alex Wilson 181.

Girls

12-13: 1. Bailey Wangler 203.

14-15: 1. Bree Wanderscheid 157.

16-17: 1. Brianna Nelson 187.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Wapato fall meeting slated

Wapato’s fall sports meeting is set for Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. All parents and prospective athletes should attend.

Sports physicals are available at the high school on Aug. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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