Season of Potential

Alexa Aki, Sports Editor

Spring sports are in full swing at YC. Head coaches Brennon Mossholder, Tracie Looney, and John Kuehnel have been working with their student athletes for everyone’s main goal, having a successful sports season. Teams for baseball and softball are a bit different this year compared to previous season. There is only a varsity softball team and there is only a JV baseball team.

Seniors Shane Davis and Andie Jo Whitlow are both varsity track athletes who have the same goal of making it to the state meet. Davis is looking forward to getting more PRs(personal records) and seeing the other athletes progress. After high school there is a lot in store for Davis, “I will be going to Corban University and competing with the Warriors, starting varsity my freshman year and working my way up to get more scholarship money.”

A big goal of Davis’s is to make it to the state meet in the 800 meter and he also hopes to go in the 1500 meter, 4×1 relay and the 4×4 relay. The events that Davis participates in are the 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter, 1500 meter, 4×1 relay, and the 4×4 relay.

Whitlow’s thoughts on how this season is going to differ compared to last season, “We definitely have a chance to take a lot of people to state, like hopefully the girls 4×4 relay team, a few kids from pole vault, some distance runners, and a few sprinters. I think we have a really good chance this year to make a stand.”

Whitlow’s biggest goal for her senior year of track and field is to beat the current female school record of 9ft hoping to vault a 9’6” and just overall make it to state. The events that Whitlow participates in are the 800 meter, 1500 meter, 4×4 relay, and pole vault.

Jon and Joey McGhehey and Sam Dixon have all been on the baseball team as at the varsity level and also the JV level. With there only being two seniors on the team and having a pretty rough preseason, coach Mossholder and athletic director Matt Wiles made the decision of dropping to the JV level for the 2018 season. Jon’s positions on the team are centerfield and he also pitches. From a seniors standpoint he knows this season is going to be different than any other season as they are playing a JV schedule. As one of the two seniors his main goal is to be a good role model and show the younger athletes what they can be. To keep the program alive, Jon says that if the younger kids dedicate themselves they will be able to keep YC’s small baseball program alive. Joey plays shortstop, second base, and he also pitches for the team. Joey’s main goal for the season is improving as a team; “after dropping down to the JV level after starting as a varsity team, it’s all about improvement.” Dixon loves the coaching staff, Mossholder is one of his favorite coaches and alongside assistant coach Andrew Stanch. According to Dixon they both are great coaches.

One of the most successful sports teams at YC is the softball program, who have coached by Kuehnel for several years. Senior first baseman, Megan Gaibler’s goals for this season are to help lead the team to league champions, be player of the league and be a top finalist for state player. Gaibler’s favorite parts of Kuehnel’s coaching is that he can be a little crazy, but he loves to have fun, and she said that it is fun to see him so pumped up. After high school Gaibler said that she wants to continue playing softball at either Linfield or George Fox. Junior Jo Rivas’s favorite part of the program is how everyone is so close and we all can make jokes and such and then her least favorite part is the little things such as missing an easy ball.

All three spring sports teams are giving their all to help continue to bring a name to YC high. Come out and support the baseball, softball, and track and field teams to see students success not only in the classroom but on the field!!