2024 in Sports: Gold medals and Gorge champions

Published 3:00 am Tuesday, December 31, 2024

It was a banner year in sports for the region, with school record holders, state champions, historic feats, gold medals, and more.

Here are some of the top sports stories from 2024:

Estacada’s Behrman earns school record

Story: tinyurl.com/yc2dbk83

Last spring an Estacada junior accomplished a goal — with a huge toss she became the best discus thrower in school history. Abby Behrman etched her name into the record books during last season’s home opener meet in March, tossing the discus 134-1.5 feet. That bettered the mark set by Marcia Mecklenburg (131 feet and 11 inches) in 1974. There was no ill will between the pair — following the record Mecklenburg penned a letter of congratulations.

“Now it is ‘your’ school record, what a great accomplishment as a junior,” she wrote.

Springy senior leaps to third-best mark at Reynolds

Story: tinyurl.com/5n7ednfp

Salahedin Callier set records during the Mt. Hood Conference district championships. The Reynolds senior long jumper exploded off the runway on his final attempt during day one of the meet, notching a gold-medal-winning mark of 22-feet and 6.5-inches, his personal best and the third best in school history.

“The jump felt good, and hearing that mark it was pure excitement,” Callier said.

“I was just thinking about Allah, I try to keep my religion sacred,” he added of his Muslim faith. “That inspired me to jump today.”

Barlow’s Abby Richard makes history

Story: tinyurl.com/bdz8sph9

Wrestling as just a sophomore last year, Barlow’s Abby Richard made history. She was the Bruins first-ever girl to place at that state tournament, finishing her weight class with a bronze medal. She bounced back from an opening loss, cruising through the consolation bracket, including a victory over the No. 2-seeded wrestler.

Rangers wrestlers earn silvers

Story: tinyurl.com/2t93rp7r

A pair of Estacada wrestling seniors, who have been competing on the mat for nearly their entire lives, both stood on the podium last spring and basked in that silver glow. Kirsten Delazerda and Cohen Schleich both battled through the brackets to finish as runners-up at the 2024 Wrestling State Championships last February. The No. 3-seeded Delazerda (who was wrestling last season at a new weight class) got to the finals through an upset in a nail-biter, ultimate tie-breaker — first to score a point wins.

I just wrestled smart and kept going for things even when I thought I couldn’t do it,” she said. “I pushed through and kept learning.”

No. 2-seeded Schleich got to the finals by surviving a long match with a 12-7 decision.

“Pretty proud of myself, I have been working all my life for this, wrestling since I was 5 years old,” Schleich said.

A state championship for the Gorge

Story: tinyurl.com/3s8d3yvb

Corbett girls basketball winning the 2024 State Championship was best encapsulated by an embrace at center court. After four years of hard work, including twice settling for runners up, seniors Ally Schimel and Ella Howlege earned that trophy. In celebration, as the final whistle blew, the pair held each other, foreheads pressed together, marking their final time on the court together.

“It was a lot to take in — my last game as a Cardinal, last time playing with my sister and for my dad, last time playing with Ella and all my other friends,” Ally said. “We just looked at the clock, looked at each other, and knew.”

“Watching those final seconds tick down, it was happy and sad tears,” Ella added.

The No. 1 undefeated Cardinals beat No. 3 Amity 77-51. Ally had 42 points to smash the modern-day record for most points in a title game. Younger sister Lilly Schimel added 30 points in the win.

Another gold for the Boring kid

Story: tinyurl.com/mw5w8cwe

A kid from Boring hoisted not one, not two, but three golden fingers while draped in the stars and stripes and celebrated for his athletic achievement across the globe. Ryan Crouser, a Barlow grad, secured history for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a winning toss of 22.90 meters (75.13 feet) in the shot put. That secured his third Olympic gold medal in the shot — something no other man has ever accomplished. At 31 years old, Crouser is also the oldest man to win the shot since 1972.

Play pickleball!

Story: tinyurl.com/yc4pxh7s

The largest indoor pickleball court facility in Oregon celebrated a long-awaited grand opening in October. East County Pickleball Courts, located at 27100 S.E. Stark St. in Troutdale, has 12 temperature-controlled indoor courts open daily, with a speaker system for music and plans for future additions like a robust food court and more.

“We had this vision of a welcoming space where players of all skill levels could come and enjoy the sport,” said Stayce Blume, who owns the courts alongside partner Amelia Salvador.

Barlow boys soccer snap postseason drought

Story: tinyurl.com/ynzf9ns2

It was a return 9 years in the making. Barlow boys soccer was laser-focused on earning a spot back in the postseason, and the talent on the pitch matched that ambition (headlined by junior forward Matty Callison being named Mt. Hood offensive player of the year). To secure their spot, the Bruins beat Reynolds 3-0 in the penultimate match of the season.

“It feels amazing, we haven’t been in such a long time,” said senior goalie Niko Hoffman. “I’m so glad to take our team there, this is the best group I have ever had.”

Volleyball players of the year

Stories: tinyurl.com/mu9xyc87 — tinyurl.com/y59zy8x6

A pair of East County stars were honored with end-of-year awards for their respective dominance on the court. Barlow senior Addi Knight was the Mt. Hood Conference player of the year; and Centennial senior Katie Brewer was the Northwest Oregon Conference player of the year.

Pioneers get second-ever win at state

Story: tinyurl.com/3fska8wc

Twenty six years, that is how long the Sandy football faithful had to wait to celebrate in the postseason. But this year was a special team, and in November they made history against visiting McMinnville. The No. 20 Pioneers won 39-16 over the No. 21 Grizzlies.

“We have been so close — I read off to my guys all the captains that have been here in the last four years and the legacy they left,” said Coach Josh Dill. “All the people, the family atmosphere we have created, and how close we have been for so long.”

“To break through that means the world, I love these kids,” he added.

While plenty of Pioneers got involved in the victory, a lot of the spotlight rested upon star senior running back Mataio Olomua, who had 230 yards rushing and 2 TDs.

“We won a playoff game and made history,” he said.

Beavers pipeline

Story: tinyurl.com/4e2y4n7w

As if locals needed any more reason to cheer on their Beavers, a pair of East County hoops stars have been making a big impact on the court for Oregon State women’s basketball. Barlow’s Kennedie Shuler, a sophomore starting guard, and Corbett’s Ally Schimel, a scorer off the bench, are both getting significant minutes at the collegiate level.

“The scoring is emerging (and) she’s just finding her way,” said Coach Scott Rueck of Shuler during her first season. “Her capacity mentally to absorb our playbook and get us into offense is high level for a first-year player.”

So far this season Shuler is averaging 7.5 PTS, 4.3 REB, 3.2 AST; and Schimel 2.2 PTS and 1.6 REB