Are you sitting at the bottom of your fantasy football league, or fighting to stay the top dog? Now that Week 6 of the NFL season has wrapped up, some players have emerged as fantasy superstars, while others have left managers frustrated and scrambling for trades.

Quarterbacks are one of the most important positions in fantasy football. They earn points through passing yards, touchdowns, and sometimes rushing stats. This year, several QBs are averaging around 25 points per game, including Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, and Lamar Jackson. A few surprise performers have also stepped up, such as Daniel Jones and Dak Prescott, both putting up solid fantasy numbers. However, the true stars so far are Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert, who continue to lead the pack with high-scoring performances of around 25 to 30 points each week. The number one ranked QB is Josh Allen, Number 2 is Patrick Mahomes, and third but not least Baker Mayfield.

The Flex position allows you to play a running back, wide receiver, or sometimes even a tight end, depending on your league’s rules. Top flex players right now include Bijon Robson, who put up 35 points, Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Puka Nacua, and Josh Jacobs. There’s a clear trend among top fantasy managers: most prefer to use a running back in the flex spot. Running backs typically get more touches and opportunities to score, giving them the best chance to rack up fantasy points and carry your team to victory. Some sleeper picks at the flex position are Quentin Johnston, averaging 15 points; Garrett Wilson, putting up an average of 20 points; Rico Dowdle, who put up 33 points this week and last but not least, Kimiani Videl, putting up 22 points.

This week, all of these players have made a huge impact on fantasy rosters across the league. If your lineup isn’t performing as well as you’d like, consider trading for one of these standout players to strengthen your team for the rest of the season. Also, keep on the lookout for sleeper players that will take your league by storm.

If you live in Washington and are a fan of college football, you know about the Apple Cup, one of the state’s most heated and historic rivalries. Each year, the University of Washington Huskies UW and the Washington State University Cougars WSU battle it out for bragging rights, tradition, and pride.

This year’s matchup was one that Husky fans will not soon forget. The Huskies overpowered the Cougars with a commanding 59 and 24 victory, the highest point total ever scored in Apple Cup history. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, UW showcased its depth, speed, and precision on both sides of the ball.

The Huskies’ offense was unstoppable, marching down the field almost at will. Big plays through the air and strong runs on the ground kept the Cougar defense scrambling all night. Every time WSU tried to build momentum, the Huskies answered right back with explosive scoring drives. The Cougars fought hard and had a few bright moments, but turnovers and defensive struggles made it nearly impossible to keep up with UW’s pace.

For Husky fans, this game was more than just another win; it was a statement. Breaking the Apple Cup scoring record adds another chapter to UW’s proud football tradition and gives them bragging rights across the state until next year’s rematch. For the Cougars, it’s a tough loss in a rivalry that always stirs up strong emotions, but one that will continue their drive to bounce back.

The Apple Cup has always been about more than just football; it’s about community, competition, and the pride of two schools separated by less than 300 miles. This year, the purple and gold came out on top in dominating, leaving fans already counting down the days until these two programs clash again.

It’s the 2025 men’s state cross country meet. The runners stand tense at the line. “Runners, take your mark… set… BANG!” The pack surges forward. Will Selah be there—and will they win it all?

Selah Cross Country is no stranger to big moments. With state titles in its history and alumni now competing at the Division I level, the program has long been a contender. But this year’s team might just have the speed and commitment to make a serious run at another state victory.

Freshmen are already shaking things up, showing speed and promise that could carry Selah well into the future. Names like Orrin Gamache, Hudson Sager, Trent Schmierer, and Nathan Lund have emerged early as ones to watch because of their speedy times. All getting in the top 20 for this halftime dash.

But it’s not just about the incoming talent. The varsity squad brings a balanced mix of experience and grit: Josh Strand, Pavlo Rodriguez, Jaxon Mouw, Seth Lorton, Justus Cutter, and Lucas Kalaba. In their opening home meet, Selah’s top athletes set the tone for the season. Pavlo Rodriguez grabbed 2nd place, Jaxon Mouw followed in 3rd, Orrin Gamache impressed with a 4th-place finish, and Joshua Strand finished in 6th, with many others finishing in the top 20.

Coach Polly summed it up, “We have a good team and a lot of people have put in work in the summer. We’re gonna put in a lot of good work.”

That hard work will be essential. Cross country is as much a mental grind as it is a physical one. Former Selah standout and current Washington State University runner Eric Swedin encouraged, “This team has the physicality to win state, now it’s all about putting in the work and being disciplined mentally. That’s how you will win.”

With the rising freshmen, experienced varsity leaders, and a strong tradition to lean on, Selah’s 2025 team has everything it takes to make noise this fall. Whether they can turn that potential into another state trophy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: they are ready and they won’t be overlooked.

Spring is coming, and that means more sports at Selah High School. Notably, Selah baseball has been practicing for about a week now. I got to ask a few of the players some questions about their goals for this season and how they will accomplish them. 

When asked about their goals for the season, Rowdy Mullins and Evan Ancira, both seniors, had the same thing to say: Consistently getting better and being a great teammate. The way they said they were going to accomplish these things? The obvious answer… Hard work. Another statement Rowdy and Evan had that matched up was “working for the guy next to you because the most important guy on the team is your teammates”. 

Looking into the Vikings schedule in a tough Central Washington Athletic Conference, Evan said there were no “gimmies.” Rowdy and Beau Benjamin, another senior, thought East Valley and Othello would be games they needed to be locked in for. Rowdy also said that they would need to be prepared for Ellensburg's peak at the end of the season. Dylan Kingston, a junior, had a lot of confidence, saying that he expects the Vikings to be at the top of the league and also have the best defense.  

The Vikings will host Sehome on Saturday, March 15, for their first doubleheader of the season. All 4 of these key players expect to start the season off 2-0 with confidence. Rowdy and Evan both said, “The games this Saturday should go very well…our defense will always be great” and “we’ve been putting in high-intensity work at practice, and I think it will pay off on Saturday”. The Vikings' first game is at 12, and the second will be at 2. Show some support and come out and watch the season opener at Archer field! 

Selah has been successful the last few years on track in a few different events. Caleb Williams placed 5th in the district as a junior in the 300m. Selah has two great hurdlers returning to track for their junior year;  Seth Lorton and Luke Anderson were top 5 in the district for the event. Senior Owen Moultray was the best pole vaulter, who placed 2nd in the district and 8th in state.

Our girls' softball team was young last year, with only 1 senior on the entire team and only 3 upperclassmen. Despite this, they still finished 4th in the Cwac. Kyra Rudrick, who was only a sophomore, managed to lead the team in home runs with 5. She also led the team in hits and had the highest slugging percentage. Freshman Elliott McLaughlin helped the team with a .923 fielding percentage and led the team in triples. Ellie Urlacker, one of the juniors on the team, showed her experience as she led the team in base percentage and hit 7 doubles. The Vikings softball team will have 3 returning captains: Avery Brewer, Ellie Urlacher, and Laci Ross. 

Although Selah had plenty of great seniors last year, there are plenty of juniors and underclassmen who are ready to fill in for them. Braxton Young, who was just a freshman last year, almost led the team in hits, proving to be reliable in big moments. Beau Benjamin, Rowdy Mullins, and Keaton Pitzer are all returning for their senior year and are going to be a necessity for the Selah team. Rowdy, the team's leading pitcher, was able to strike out 43 people while only having 15 walks. Beau was an amazing 2nd baseman, having only two errors, a .345 batting average, and 22 RBIs. 

Selah’s boys' soccer team finished 4th in the Cwac last year, but with young talent coming up, they have room to improve. Senior Colton Shea was a great center back for Selah last year; he was a great leader of the team and was selected for honorable mentions at the end of the season. Another senior, Rylan Tilley, is a great right wing who not only was 2nd in goals with 7 for the team in goals but also has great crossing abilities to get other strikers some goals. Carlos was selected for the 2nd team and was only a sophomore, and he is a great team leader. Baltimore, another senior who helped the team last year, will be returning; his speed as a left winger helped the team get great scoring opportunities.

This Thursday through Saturday, the boys' basketball team is heading to state and looking to bring home a State Championship. Selah has not been to state since 2019, five years have passed, and Selah is ready to come back and make a name for itself.

Selah is led by starters: Jackson Pepper, Eli Wright, Beau Benjamin, Rylan Tilley, and Jaiden Alexander. Over the year Selah has been consistently dominant; this has been shown with their impressive record of 20-4 and two very important wins over teams like Prosser, and West Valley(Spokane).

Selah is one of two teams from the CWAC to make it to state. Throughout the year it was a battle between Grandview, Selah, and Prosser; the two in the end that punched their ticket were Selah and Prosser. Grandview was ranked 2nd in the state throughout the season but had a few rough losses at the end that sealed their season.

After a blowout victory over 4 seed West Valley Selah earns themselves a first-round bye and is looking at a matchup against either Lakewood or Columbia River. Both are very respectable teams.

Lakewood is the only team this year to hand a loss to defending state champ Lynden. Who averaged almost 63 points a game, Lakewood kept them under 50 points.

Ultimately, Selah has a great chance of winning a State Championship and to do this they need the starters to keep playing amazing. Over the year everyone has played a detrimental part in succeeding. Jackson Pepper has led the team and continues to be a force on the court, alongside players like Beau Benjamin and Eli Wright have shown impressive grit which has led to the team's success. You can check out how Selah is doing this Thursday at 9:00 am when they take on the winner of Lakewood, Columbia River.

This past week, Washington's wrestling season ended as the State tournament took place at the Tacoma Dome last weekend. With this being said, the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) has released its All-League Awards. Selah had one girl on the team and three boys on the list, one of whom was named Wrestler of the Year. 

Junior Mario Lamas finished the season as the CWAC UpperWeight Wrestler of the Year. He won districts in the 165 lb weight class and had a 4th place finish at the state tournament. 

Sophomore wrestler D’Anthony Garcia Reyes had a standout year with a 3rd-place finish at the Tacoma Dome. Not only did he reaffirm himself at the state tournament, but he also earned First-Team All-League honors for the 106 lb weight class. He was one of two sophomores to make this list in the 2024-25 season. 

Junior Shaun Lay was one of the 4 boys with a state appearance this year. Not only did he make a run at state, but he also got Second-Team All League honors for the 175 lb weight class. 

On the girl's side of things, Senior Anna Rodriguez earned an Honorable Mention from the CWAC All-League honors. Not only did she have a good season in conference play, but also had a standout finish in the postseason placing 4th in the state tournament for the 125 lb weight class. 

The 2025-26 season is looking strong, as many All-League recipients are returning next season. The Vikings look strong and are ready to compete for more state placings and district titles. 

The CWAC is one of the most competitive 2A Conferences in the state of Washington when it comes to boys basketball and that brings us a very entertaining tournament to watch. 

The seeding for the district tournament was:

1 - Grandview

2 - Prosser

3 - Selah

4 - Ellensburg

5 - East Valley

6 - Toppenish

7 - Ephrata

8 - Quincy

In the opening round, East Valley beat Quincy in a loser-out game where East Valley won, they were led by Senior guard Eli Esquivel who would put up 23 points in a 79-58 victory for the Red Devils. In the other elimination game, Toppenish held off Ephrata 46-43 led by 19 points from Alex Bazan, meaning East Valley and Toppenish would both survive and advance to the next round.

In a placement game, Ellensburg would travel to Grandview who had an undefeated run throughout conference play and they would continue their winning ways winning this one 68-48, advancing straight to the semi-final. In the other placement game, Selah would travel to Prosser and this game was a nail-biter. Coming down to the final seconds where the Selah Vikings came out on top in this one 70-69. This was a very controversial game which led Prosser to protest and appeal the game to the WIAA. Prosser ended up losing the appeal meaning Selah would advance to the semi-finals.

In the next round, Ellensburg would host East Valley in a loser-out, winner to the semi-final game. East Valley would come out on top upsetting Ellensburg and ending their season 12-10. In the other matchup, Prosser would dominate the Toppenish Wildcats 82-58. Toppenish ended their season with a 9-13 record. Setting the semi-final matchups as 5-seed East Valley at 3-seed Selah and 2-seed Prosser at 1-seed Grandview.

Selah would continue their winning ways against the Red Devils in a dominant fashion with a commonding 87-59 win to advance to the championship. Senior guard Jackson Pepper´s 24 points led four viking scorers indouble digits. On the other side of things, Prosser would shock Grandview handing them their first loss in league play. The Mustangs came out on top 86-83 led by 31 points from back to back CWAC MVP Koby McClure.

This lined up a rematch of the closest game in the district tournament between the 3-seed Selah Vikings and the 2-seed Prosser Mustangs. After a slow first quarter, the scoring picked up quick with Selah up 39-30 at halftime. The Vikings would keep this pace in the second half ending the game with a nice finish from Jackson Pepper and a deep three from his younger brother Oliver in the final seconds to secure the win 81-70. 

33 points from Koby McClure was not enough as the Pepper´s led the charge for the Vikings, Jackson finished with 28 points and Oliver followed with 17. This gave the Selah boys their first district title in 6 years. In the third place game, Grandview breezed past East Valley 84-50 led by 25 points from senior Cameron Draculan and another 19 from junior Frankie Medina. 

Since the Vikings claimed first place in the district, they would advance straight to the state tournament while Prosser and Grandview would have to play a crossover to prove that they deserve a spot in state. The CWAC´s 2nd place, Prosser would face the GSL´s 2nd place Pullman Greyhounds and after being down 42-26 at halftime, The Mustangs looked like a different team in the second half. After cutting the lead to nine after three quarters, They outscored Pullman 27-3 in the fourth quarter to cap off a 72-57 win to clinch a state berth. Prosser was once again led by Koby McClure with 32 points.

In the other District 5/6 crossover, Grandview went up to West Valley (Spokane) in a winner to state, loser out and after being ranked in the top 3 all season, Grandview was shocked by West Valley. The West Valley Eagles took a 40-26 lead into the break and Grandview started to claw back into the game but it just was not enough. The Eagles topped the Greyhounds 75-70 as Grandview´s season ended with a 21-4 record.

On February 19th, the Selah Vikings were able to upset the 2nd-seeded Prosser in an 81-70 victory to advance to the state tournament. Selah came into the district tournament as the 3rd seed, but throughout the tournament continued to prove why they are one of the best teams in the state. Through Selah’s remarkable 3-point shooting and a defense that has proved to be the best in the district, they could win games when it mattered the most.

The first game in the district tournament was a rematch against Prosser, the same team they lost to just a week before by double digits. Even with this big loss, Selah didn’t let this affect them and came into the game struggling, missing multiple outside shots and having a poor defensive performance.

Despite this, they only trailed by 2 going into the second. From here the Vikings would pick it up, limiting turnovers and holding their own at the defensive end, taking a 5-point lead going into the half. It was a back-and-forth from there into the fourth, until Selah managed to pull ahead with only a few minutes left in the 4th, even capturing a double-digit lead with only 2 minutes remaining in the game.

Prosser kept fighting their way back into the game, pressuring the ball and causing Selah to have several turnovers. With under 10 seconds left, senior Koby McClure hit a three, making it a 1-point game, but due to Prosser not having a timeout, Selah let the clock run out, ending the game 70-69. Selah had a very dispersed scoring game, but seniors Jackson and Eli led the scoring total with 16. Eli also recorded an impressive 14 rebounds, and Beau Benjamin led the team with 6 assists.

After a big win for Selah, they had to beat 5th-seeded East Valley, who's coming off a big win against 4th-seeded Ellensburg. East Valley is led by 1st team member Eli Esquivel and second team member Chase Staymates. Selah started off the game strong, capturing a 14-point lead in just the first quarter, led by the Pepper brothers outside shooting. Selah would maintain this lead from the 2nd–3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Selah would add to the league, doubling East Valley's point total in the 4th capturing an 87-59 win and making their way to the district championship. 

After an upset that had Prosser beating Grandview, Selah would have to play Prosser for the 3rd time in a month. Selah started the game strong, with good outside shooting; they led going into the second, where it was a similar story of good shooting with Oli, Rylan, and Jackson all hitting threes. The third quarter looked promising for the Vikings, gaining an 18-point lead due to great pressure on defense, causing turnovers that led to points on the offensive end. Koby McClure for Prosser was able to keep them in the game, scoring a deep three and a shot while being fouled, adding another 3 points. With a few more buckets from Prosser, they cut it to an eight-point game before the 4th

The 4th quarter started with Prosser looking for a comeback, getting the score difference to only 4. With 3 minutes remaining, seniors Jackson and Eli Wright weren’t going to let Selah lose, scoring clutch buckets down the stretch, leading to an 81-70 win. The Peppers lead the team in scoring with Jackson having 28 and Oliver having 17, and right behind him was Eli Wright with 15 and 10 rebounds. Beau Benjamin helped distribute the ball around with 6 assists, and Rylan Tilley contributed on the defensive end with 4 steals.

After an impressive showing during the district tournament, Selah will now have to compete in the state on March 3rd for the first time in 5 years. Throughout the season Selah has fought through adversity and combatted all types of challenges. The Vikings have been getting better all season, and now they have a chance to prove to the state why they're one of the best teams in Washington.

College softball season is up and rolling as the first weekend has just ended. Division 1 teams will be traveling to tournaments throughout the month to showcase their talents during preseason games. With the reigning 4-peat National Champions graduating many key players last season, the softball world is ready to see if there will be a new team at the top this season, or if the Oklahoma Sooners will hold their title for a 5th time. 

Last season, the Sooners graduated 5 girls who made history. Tiare Jennings, Nicole May, Kinzie Hansen, Jayda Coleman, and Riley Boone made history by winning a national championship in all 4 years of their collegiate career. Many fans wonder if the loss of 5 key players will impact their winning streak. With 14 new Sooners and only 8 returning players, the question still remains unanswered. After the opening weekend, Oklahoma remained undefeated. As the season goes on and the competition gets tougher, the truth will unfold for the Sooners to see if they will clutch a 5th national title. 

The Texas Longhorns came up short last year of a national championship. Although they gave Oklahoma a run for their money, they ended up losing to them for a second-place finish in the World Series. Thankfully Texas is a young team and still has many key players that will make an impact in the 2025 season. Players like Katie Stewart, Reese Atwood, and Teagan Kavan are key pieces of the puzzle, and the start of the season shows that the Longhorns should have a chance at a national title this season. 

Texas Tech is a new addition to the top teams this year. Nija Canady, the top pitcher in the nation, transferred to the Red Raiders this season. Canady is a high threat not only on the mound but at the plate as well. She should bring Texas Tech to a new level this season and make them a large threat to high-level schools. 

Many more teams are rising on the rankings this preseason, but the question still remains of who will win the national championship. Will Oklahoma win it for the 5th year in a row, or will a new team bring it home? 

The NFL Honors ceremony is Thursday, February 6th and the MVP race has come down to the wire to this point with there being 5 finalists. Let´s look at what sets these five players apart from the rest of the league.

The First finalist is Detroit Lions Quarterback Jared Goff. Goff led his Lions to a record of 15-2 and the best team in the NFC throughout the regular season. Detroit´s high-powered offense was led by his 4,629 passing yards which was good for the 2nd most in the NFL along with his 37 passing touchdowns, good for 4th in the league. He played a big part in the Lions´ highest-scoring offense, making him a good candidate for the award.

Next is Cincinnati Quarterback Joe Burrow. After a slow start, Burrow led the Bengals to a 9-8 record, winning each of their last five games. Unfortunately, it was too late and they couldn´t make it into the playoffs, but Burrow finished 1st in Passing Yards (4,918) and Passing Touchdowns (43) giving him some impressive individual stats. 

Saquon Barkley had a career-making year in his first season as a Philadelphia Eagle. Barkley simply could not be stopped this season and still hasn´t. He´s played a significant role in the Eagles Super Bowl berth as he finished 1st in the NFL in rushing yards with 2,005 he also tallied 15 total touchdowns. His best game came against the Rams where he put up an astonishing 302 total yards and 2 touchdowns. This is one of the best seasons we have seen from a running back in recent history which gives him a good canadite for the MVP.

Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson was nothing short of great this season, as the 2-time winner of this award finished 1st in total yards (5,087) and tied for 1st in total touchdowns (45). Lamar led one of the most electrifying offenses to a 12-5 record and first in the AFC North. Jackson is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen and he is consistently putting himself in the MVP race.

Finally, we have Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills quarterback who led them to another AFC East title with a 13-4 record. He finished the year with 40 total touchdowns and only 6 interceptions despite losing his best receiver last offseason. He had some remarkable performances this season including their matchup against the Rams where he found the endzone 6 times, 3 passing and 3 rushing and recorded over 400 total yards. 

Currently, Josh Allen is the frontrunner with the best betting odds at -450 and Lamar Jackson sits at +320. Lamar could and many would argue he should get his 3rd MVP and second consecutive, But the Individual dominance of Josh Allen and the win over Lamar in the playoffs makes it tough to deny him.

In Super Bowl 59 we have the rematch from two years ago between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these teams are dominating this year with the Eagles going 14-3 and the Chiefs going 15-2 and will fight it out in New Orleans on February 9th. The Chiefs are looking to 3-peat which has never happened before. With Mahomes having the advantage in this area, the Eagles need to find a way to stop him if they plan on stopping him from making history with three Super Bowls in a row.

The Eagles just came off a big win against the Commanders winning 55-23. Saquon Barkley had 118 yards and three rushing touchdowns and Jalen Hurts had 246 passing yards with three rushing touchdowns himself. The Eagles run game is very scary with Saquon having over 2,000 rushing yards this season and is not slowing down this postseason.

The Chiefs just beat the Bills for the 3rd time in a row in the playoffs, winning a close battle by three points. All Star Travis Kelce only had two catches with 19 yards last game and has not had a great season so far but has played great in the last two Super Bowls so we might see him come out to help them win Super Bowl 49.

At halftime we have Kendrick Lamar performing. Kendrick has won 22 Grammy awards throughout his career, including 5 this year for “Not Like Us” This is sure to catch the attention of younger viewers.

The Eagles did not start off the season very well; they had a 2-2 record but have gone on a 15-1 streak since week four. Adding Saquan was a great addition to the team as he has over 2,000 rushing yards and almost broke the record for rushing yards in a season. This is the stranger the eagles have looked in many years with a great offensive line, Jalen Hurts in his prime and one of the best defenses in the league.

This Super Bowl will be a thrilling contest, with both teams bringing great competition and some of the wildest fans in the country. You can bet this game will not disappoint like many Super Bowls have in the past.

“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” A quote by Simone Biles that explains her life completely. At 27 years old, Biles has 11 olympic medals to her name and 30 world championship medals, earning herself the title as the “GOAT.” 

After a field trip to the gymnastics center, six-year-old Biles embarked on her journey in gymnastics. Biles has competed in three Olympic Games. Her first being the 2016 Rio Olympics, which caused quite the stir when she took four out of the five gold medals possible. Unfortunately, during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, after just the first event (vault), she stopped herself from competing after developing a mental block called the “twisties.” The “twisties” is when a gymnast loses all sense of where they are in the air and is unaware of their landing, resulting in the skill being risky. After mentally preparing and altering her routines, she decided to come back for the last day of events and compete on the beam, on which she won a bronze medal. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, she dominated the competition once again, gaining three more gold medals and one more silver. 

An average day would consist of Biles waking up at 7:45 AM. If she has time, she will eat breakfast that generally consists of protein waffles, cinnamon rolls, or eggs. Next she heads to training at the World Champions Center, where she trains for three hours and then heads home. She eats lunch and takes a nap for about an hour. Biles again heads to the gym for another three hours of training. With all the calories she burns, she then heads for dinner, going for a little bit of a more unhealthy meal: pasta or pizza. 

Biles has a very grueling schedule and the medals to prove it. She has dedicated her life to gymnastics spending at least six hours in the gym per day, with the exception of Sunday being a rest day. She has been determined since six years old and worked incredibly hard to get herself where she is today. Biles has proved herself time and time again, unquestionably earning herself the title as the “GOAT.”

Wrestling season has started at Selah High School. With multiple state participants the last couple years, Selah Boys Wrestling has a big reputation to uphold. One of the biggest pieces to the vikings team is junior captain Mario Lamas. 

Lamas had a standout sophomore season in 2023, wrestling at the 165 weight class. He finished the season as a district champion, and a regional champion. This allowed Lamas to qualify for state. He ended the season on a high note with a 4th place finish at state. 

Head Coach Enrique Gudino has high hopes for Lamas this year. Coach says, “I think Mario has a good chance at being a state finalist this year. We hope to see him in the state championship this February.”

Lamas’s stats this season speak for his skill. With a current record of 11-1, he is already one of the best competitors at the 165 weight class in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. He says he is most excited to wrestle at state this year, and hopefully win a state title. 

You can watch Mario and the rest of the Vikings Wrestling team this Thursday as they take on the Ellensburg Bulldogs. The girls start at 5pm and the boys start at 7pm at Selah High School. 

Determination is one way to describe Chase Bugni. Chase is a three-sport athlete and excels in each sport, but wrestling sticks out. He has had a great career so far and plans to keep it going this year. Chase is a heavyweight wrestler, and his goal is to win state.

After a difficult junior year, Chase has forgotten the struggles and prepared himself for this year. After some tough losses to rival opponents, Chase has trained harder and harder, preparing himself for when he faces these opponents again. 

This year Chase has started hot; he has a record of 7-2 and is a force to be reckoned with. Most notably when he was wrestling against Quincy and picked up his opponent and slammed against the mat. Even though he was deducted points he still ended up taking the W home. Bugni is a standout heavyweight at Selah and after making it to regionals last year he plans to make it to state and win. 

Coach Enrique Gudino has high hopes for Chase and believes he should have a great year. While not just coaching, Gudino will also inspire kids. For example, Chase recalls his coach often said, “Wrestle smart, don’t be dumb”. These simple words are what Chase bases his wrestling career on.

For the first time in the history of College Football, the playoff features 12 teams. The College Football Playoff, otherwise known as the CFP¨ previously featured just 4 teams which means there would only be a total of 3 CFP games which are usually some of the most entertaining games in all of sports. However, with the new format, there are a total of 11 games.

Last year's national championship game featured 2 undefeated squads between Michigan and Washington. Both teams came into this game 14-0 and ranked number 1 and 2 and coming off of close wins to get there. However Michigan dominated on both sides of the ball and ran away with a 34-13 victory to complete their undefeated 15-0 season. The script has flipped this year though, with Michigan finishing the regular season 7-5 and Washington 6-6 Neither team will be making their return to the CFP this year.

The first game will be played on December 20th as the 7 seed Notre Dame will host 10 seed Indiana, Both teams entering this game with an 11-1 record. Notre Dame is heavily favored to come out on top in this matchup but Indiana is a very resilient team so this game should be a battle.

Next we have 6 seed Penn State hosting 11 seed SMU. This will be the first of 3 CFP games played on December 21st and Penn State is favored to win with their home field advantage. Penn State has only lost 2 games, both to other teams that made it into the CFP, but SMU has proven to be a tough team to beat as they won 9 in a row before falling to Clemson in the ACC Championship.

After that we have the 5 seed Texas Longhorns hosting the 12 seed Clemson Tigers. Texas is favored in this game and is also one of the favorites to win the national championship. Texas only has 2 losses on the season, both to a tough Georgia team who earned a first round bye. As Clemson has a 10-3 record with the ACC Championship. 

Finally to wrap up the first round, we have what should be a very good game between 9 seed Tennessee and 8 seed Ohio State. Both of these teams come into this game with a 10-2 record. Tennessee had a few ranked wins over 7th ranked Alabama, 15th ranked Oklahoma, and 24th ranked NC State. Ohio State has ranked wins over 3rd ranked Penn State and 5th ranked Indiana. These teams have both proven they can beat some of the top teams which makes this a great matchup.

With the new CFP format, the top 4 highest ranked conference champions were granted a first round bye. The Big 10 champions were the Oregon Ducks after an incredible season going 13-0 in the regular season in their first season in the new conference, earned the top seed and will play the winner of Tennessee vs Ohio State. Oregon beat Ohio State at home earlier in the season 32-31 and a rematch between the two would be a great game

The 2nd overall seed went to the SEC Champions, The Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs beat Texas twice this year while the Longhorns were ranked 1 and 2. Georgia with an 11-2 record fell short to two other ranked teams, 4th ranked Alabama and 16th ranked Ole Miss. Georgia will play the winner of Indiana vs Notre Dame on New year's day.

The 3 seed goes to the Boise State Broncos, after a 12-1 season with their only loss to 1st ranked Oregon, The Broncos cruised through conference play and easily won the Mountain West Conference. Led by junior running back Ashton Jeanty who is chasing Barry Sanders´ single season rushing yard record, Boise State will play on New years eve against the winner between the Penn State vs SMU matchup.

The 4 seed and final first round bye was granted to the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Sun Devils pulled off 4 ranked wins this year and dominated in the Big 12 championship game beating Iowa State 45-19. Senior running back Cam Skattebo totaled over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns to help lead them here with an 11-2 record. Arizona State will play on New Years the winner of Texas vs Clemson. As all these teams fight for the college football playoff national championship trophy, The national championship game will be held on January 20th in Atlanta, Georgia.

Over the last year, the Selah Vikings program has significantly improved, going from a 2-8 record up to a 5-5 record. With the hiring of Greg Haste, a new light has started to spark in the program. However, this is just the beginning of the fire in the years to come for Selah, as the upcoming sophomore class has some special athletes who showcased their talents this year. Running back Calen Wuitschick, corner Hayden Nelson, and linebacker Clayton Bucknell are just a few players of this promising young class for the Selah Vikings.

Linebacker Clayton Bucknell showed potential throughout the season with his outstanding playmaking ability. Clayton first got his chance against the league champions, the Othello Huskies, due to a position change where he proved that he was capable of playing against great competition. When Clayton was asked why he cares about Selah football, he stated, “I care about the unity of the Selah football team; I love the game and everyone around it. Although the past few years haven’t been special, we’ve been working hard and improving every single season. I’m confident that we will grow as a team and soon become league champions.”

Greg Haste, Selah’s new coach, is not new to the program. He’s advised the high school program on multiple occasions and also coached the middle school 8th-grade team for several years. Haste brought energy to the team and his overwhelming passion for the game made Selah a better team. He said, “I think ‘winning’ is more about the process and the mindset behind it. I believe having a winning mindset or process is about finding a way to be successful in life or in sports. It's about understanding the reality of your current circumstances and finding a way to be successful. It is definitely a mindset surrounded by optimism, purpose, and faith. Winning is doing the best you can with what you got and knowing how you can get better. That's why winning matters.”

Going into the year, Calen Wuitschick was an already proven player, being one of the two freshmen on varsity. He came into this year with motivation and determination to win games and to raise the expectations of Selah football. When questioned about why he puts in so much effort, he stated, “I have endless love for the game and a passion to win with my team. I’m so grateful for my teammates, and they’ve made this past year great; they give me motivation to get better each day.”

The last player that stood out in the sophomore class this year was corner, Hayden Nelson. Hayden immediately made a great impact on Selah's defense, making a great interception against Quincy in only his first game. Hayden led the team in picks and demonstrated elite ball skills as well as being an elite open field tackler. Hayden said in an interview, “The reason I care so much about the team is because family is everything, and the connections I’ve had with my brothers the past years have been everything to me; that’s why I do it.”

In an interview about the upcoming Selah football season, Hayden Nelson says, “The Selah Vikings football program took a huge step up this season compared to the other years; this has to do with players gaining a strong passion to be great.” These three young stars are an example of how effort and a love for the game can change the course of a team and even the whole program.

The Lady Vikings opened their season at Eisenhower, where they got the scoring going early and often, jumping to an early 16-7 lead after the first quarter. The Vikings kept it rolling in the second quarter, taking a 29-17 lead into halftime.

 They would then enter the fourth quarter with a comfortable 37-29 lead—or so they thought. In the fourth quarter, the Cadets stormed back and went on a huge run at the end of the fourth quarter, tied the game up at 46 with less than a minute left. As time expired, the Vikings committed a foul, sending Eisenhower to the free-throw line with no time on the clock. The Ike guard knocked down her first free throw, and the game was over.  

Sophomore Elise Kingston was the Vikings' leading scorer with 16, and Freshman Makenna Pepper added 15 in her debut. Eisenhower then brought a rowdy crowd for the boys' game. They were coming off a 67-61 victory against East Valley, which boosted their confidence for this game. They started off the game with a 24-21 lead on Selah after the first quarter. Juelz Terry started, with 9 of their team's first 13 points.

The game went back and forth bucket for bucket. The Vikings went into halftime down by two points as the Cadets led 35-33 and Selah eventually took the lead at the end of the 3rd 54-50. The Vikings, who fell a game short of a state playoff berth, were looking to start their season off with a win

The Cadets start to rally back but then Jackson Pepper demands the lead back with a 3-pointer, Vikings now up 66-65. Then, with 16 seconds left trailing by 1, Ike junior Lucas Stevens hits a fade-away jumper to win the game 67-66 bringing Eisenhower to a 2-0 start to their season. Juelz Terry leading the way for the Cadets with 25 points and Stevens with 20. Selah had the Pepper brothers lead the charge Senior Jackson went for 22 points and Sophomore Oliver added 16

Selah is taking on 2-1 Grandview who is coming off back to back wins and also got 2nd place in state last year on this next friday at Selah high school on December 13. Eisenhower will be heading to Hermiston to face the 1-0 Bulldogs.

Selah-Jackson Pepper 22, Wright 13, Oliver Pepper 16, Alexander 8, Benjamin 4, Tait 2, Tilley 1 Eisenhower-Juelz Terry 25, Lucas Stevens 20, Michael Serna 13, Davis 4, Colunga 2, Elmore 3

With winter right around the corner, it is almost time for the high school basketball season, and the Selah Vikings have their eyes focused on something bigger than what they got last year. After a 12-12 finish a year ago with the new head coach, Jordan Starr, the Vikings came up just one game short of making it to state. However, something uncommon about the Selah roster is that nobody in the starting five last year was a senior. This year, the Vikings roster will bring more experience, which is an important factor in high school basketball.

6´3 senior guard Jackson Pepper leads the Vikings. Jackson has been a varsity starter since the first game of his freshman year and played a big role last year as the team's leading scorer having a career-high in an early season game against Southridge, scoring 42 points. Pepper, who received first team all conference honors in each of the last two years, scored his 1,000th point in a district playoff game against the Ellensburg Bulldogs in which he scored 35 and led the team to a win to advance a round further in the district playoffs.

Another star for the Vikings will be 6´5 senior forward Eli Wright. Eli has also been a varsity player in the Vikings basketball program since his freshman year and can be a bully in the paint. Wright was the leading scorer in the season opener for the Vikings last year, Scoring 25 of the 50 team points against Toppenish. He also added 11 rebounds that game, making it one of his many double-doubles from last year. Eli made 2nd team all-conference last season and honorable mention the season before that, he looks to add to his resume this season. 

Selah´s squad this year certainly doesn´t lack size to go along with Eli, the Vikings also have 6´8 senior Jaiden Alexander. Jaiden broke onto the scene last year earning him a spot in the starting lineup in the middle of last season. His best game came last year was at home against Ephrata where he put up 14 points to go with his 15 rebounds and three blocks. When asked what his main goal for the year was Jaiden simply said ¨Win…Everything¨

Selah guard Beau Benjamin is another one of their 4-year varsity players. Benjamin earned an all-conference honorable mention last season and is a pest for opposing offenses. Not only does Beau tally up a lot of steals but he is also one of the top options on offense. Efficiency is the name of his game as he has one of the highest field goal percentages on the entire team. Beau is aggressive on both sides of the ball. A standout game he had last year was in East Valley where he had 19 points, all of which came in the second half as he helped the Vikings claw back into the game erasing a five point deficit going into the fourth quarter. Beau is setting the bar high for his final season as his goal is to ¨go 24-0 in the regular season¨ This would be historic as Selah´s best season in recent history they finished 24-2 in 2018.

Another Viking senior Rylan Tilley took a big leap last year becoming a Varsity starter. The 5´10 guard is a sharpshooter and also received all-conference honors last season as an honorable mention. Rylan jumped onto the scene last year and brought some great energy to the team. He is an aggressive playmaker and a great player to have as point guard. Tilley is a hustler and had many solid games last season. Rylan said his goal for this season is to ¨help lead his team to the state tournament¨ The Vikings have not made it to the state tournament since 2020 where they lost in the first round to North Kitsap. Selah will face North Kitsap this season in the annual SunDome shootout on December 27th.

Another Viking Oliver Pepper, a sophomore who has made a big leap from last year is the brother of Jackson. The two Pepper brothers look to tear up the CWAC competition in their final year as teammates. Selah has another pair of seniors, Jackson Decker and Rowdy Mullins who look to make a big impact and fill their roles when needed. 

Coach Starr said ¨The expectation for the season is to focus on one game at a time and win those and make it to the end, win league and get us a spot at state.¨ The Vikings look forward to the season opener this Friday, December 6th at Eisenhower as they will face the Cadets in hopes of starting their season off right, with a win.

The new look for the Selah Vikings in 2024 got off to a hot start on the season. With a 59-0 week one win and three receiving touchdowns from Keaton Pitzer, the Vikings had no problem in Quincy. The Vikings came back to Selah the following week to host the Ellensburg Bulldogs. This game ended up being a defensive battle as it was a scoreless first half for both teams. The Bulldogs came out of the break and scored a field goal to take a 3-0 lead and took it into the fourth quarter. As the Vikings were running out of time to retaliate, Colton Shea scored on a Quarterback sneak up the middle on a fourth down to take a late 7-3 lead which would ultimately be the final score after a clutch interception by Markie Gallegos to stop the Bulldogs from marching down the field.

After a 2-0 start, Selah traveled to West Valley to face the Rams as it would be their on their brand new field. The Viking's new star edge rusher, Dorian Ortega, was chasing down the Rams ball carrier and unfortunately suffered a season-ending ankle injury and was taken to the hospital. After Ortega's injury, the Vikings struggled to stop West Valley’s run game which resulted in a Vikings loss of 28-7 with the lone Vikings touchdown coming on a 23-yard connection between Quarterback Dylan Kingston and Wide Reciever Keaton Pitzer in the 4th quarter.

The Vikings then went back home to host the top team in the CWAC, the Othello Huskies. All they could get was three points against the tough Huskies defense and dropped their second straight game, this one with the score of 10-3. Although the Huskies came out on top, the Vikings showed that they can hang in there with some of the great teams the CWAC has. 

After falling to 2-2, Selah traveled to Toppenish to face the 4-0 Wildcats. The Viking's ground attack featuring Calen Wuitshuck and Colton Shea could not be stopped in this game. Shea rushed for 108 yards and Wuitshuck, the sophomore running back added 147 more yards on 22 carries and each of the two Viking touchdowns. Selah ran away with a 14-6 win over the Wildcats in bounce-back game to get them back on track.

Next, The Vikings would host the 0-5 Grandview Greyhounds. The Vikings didn’t waste much time getting points on the board this game as Keaton Pitzer caught a 52 yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Dylan Kingston. Kingston would then scramble 25 yards for the touchdown on a 3rd &11 on the following drive for the vikings as they would head into the half with a 12-0 lead. In the second half, the Greyhounds scored their first touchdown and the Vikings snagged a pair of interceptions by Junior Trevor Parke and Sophomore Clayton Bucknell. Neither team managed to score after this and the final score ended 12-7 in favor of the Vikings.

The next matchup for the Vikings would be no easy task as they would face the East Valley Red Devils In Selah for the Viks’ senior night. The Selah Vikings would open up the Scoring with a 9-yard touchdown rush by Colton Shea. The Red Devils would then get on the board with a 68-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up at 7. Each team would drive down the field but fail to find the endzone and settle for a field goal knotting the game up at 10-10 going into halftime. It would be the Red Devils that scored first coming out of the half as they stormed down the field and ultimately ran it in for a two yard touchdown and followed that up with an 84-yard pick-six to take a 10-24 lead. However, The Vikings were still fighting as Clayton Bucknell ran it 38 yards to the endzone to cut the lead to eight. The Vikings, back on defense couldn’t stop the Red Devils as they marched down the field and found themselves inside the ten looking to extend the lead back to two scores. Still, Senior Safety Tucker Stephens had other plans as he intercepted that pass at the goal line and took it to the endzone for a 100-yard pick-six, which would end up cutting the lead to two points. However, the run game was working too well for the Red Devils and the Vikings would ultimately drop this game with a final score of 22-31.

The Vikings now with a record of 4-3 would head to Ephrata to face the 3-4 Tigers. As a whole, Selah struggled throughout the entirety of this game as they couldn’t get much going on offense as well as the defense struggling to keep the Tigers out of the end zone. They end up falling short for the second consecutive game by a final score of 13-34.

The last CWAC opponent the Vikings would face this season would be an away game against the Prosser Mustangs. Prosser came into this game riding a winning streak as they beat each of the last five CWAC teams they played. The Mustangs came out firing as they scored the first two touchdowns to put the Vikings down 0-14. Selah then answered with a 4-yard touchdown run, gave up another touchdown and then Colton Shea took a 50-yard touchdown run to the house and Calen Wuitshuck caught a pass from Shea and ran 47 yards to the endzone, tying the game at 21 points a piece. However, as the Vikings offense was completely shut out after this, it would be a different story for Prosser as they scored 27 unanswered points after this to hand the Vikings their 3rd straight loss, 21-48.

Selah Football would wrap their season up against North Central in Spokane. The Viks would open up the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run by Colton Shea. Wuitchuck added a 37-yard touchdown, and even Jakob Greene got a three-yard rushing touchdown. Later in the game Colton Shea and Keaton Pitzer would connect on a deep ball one last time as Selah Vikings, going for 71 yards. Selah ran away with a 43-7 win and would end up with a 5-5 record which is a huge improvement from last year's 2-8 season. Even after a bumpy season, They ended off on a high note, showing us what we have in store for the years to come with new head coach Greg Haste. 

Halfway through the College Football season, the race for the prestigious Heisman trophy is really starting to heat up. The Heisman Trophy is awarded each year to the most outstanding player in College football. The award was given its name in 1936 after the death of John Heisman, the clubs' athletic director. Last year's winner was LSU Quarterback Jayden Daniels who was drafted with the 2nd overall pick to the Washington Commanders. This Year there are 4 candidates who have been standing out above all else throughout the first half of the season

#4: Dillon Gabriel 

The Oregon Ducks Quarterback, Dillon Gabriel is off to a very hot start in his senior season. Gabriel has always been a great quarterback no matter what school he is playing for. He began his college career at UCF in 2019 and eventually ended up transferring to Oklahoma in 2022. He had a great 2 seasons at Oklahoma racking up a total of 73 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Right after the 2023 season came to an end, he knew he wanted to take his talents to the University of Oregon where he just took the college football world by storm after leading the ducks to a 7-0 record with a crucial 32-31 victory against the #2 team in the country, Ohio State.

#3: Cam Ward

The new quarterback of the Miami Hurricanes has fit into their offensive scheme perfectly. The transfer from Washington State University decided he wanted to take his talents to the University of Miami for his final season of college football and has been fantastic to start the year tallying 27 touchdowns to 5 interceptions along with being 1st in the nation in passing yards, but most importantly he has led the Canes to a 7-0 record and the 6th ranked team in the nation. Ward is projected to be one of the top picks in the first round of next years NFL draft. 

#2: Travis Hunter

What Travis Hunter has been doing this season is remarkable. Hunter plays both sides of the ball as he is the best wide receiver on his offense and a lock down Cornerback on defense. Through 7 games this year Hunter has hauled in 51 Receptions for 604 yards and 6 touchdowns. On defense he has forced a fumble and picked off 2 passes. What makes Travis Hunter so special is he is playing almost every snap of every game which is so rare to find. While Hunter is only a Junior, he is projected to be one of the first names taken off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

#1: Ashton Jeanty 

Ashton Jeanty is a standout running back for the Boise State Broncos and has had a historic first 6 games to start the year. He started off the year by rushing for 267 yards and 6 touchdowns against Georgia Southern. There hass been no answer to Ashton Jeanty, he is seemingly unstoppable. Through the first half of the season, he’s rushed for 1,248 yards averaging 208 yards per game and 9.9 yards per carry. He has found the Endzone a total of 18 times which is good for an average of 3 a game. Jeanty is just a Junior and has a chance to break some of Barry Sanders’ records such as his 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns that have stood since 1988. Ashton Jeanty has better stats through his first 6 games than Sanders. If Jeanty continues running like this and catches up to Barry’s records, it is hard to make a case for anybody else but Ashton Jeanty to run away with the Heisman Trophy.

College Football is known for its Infamous venues, rich traditions, and intense rivalries. College Sports fans in general are some of the most passionate and enthusiastic fans you’ll ever see, making rivalry games even more entertaining. 

College Football is exciting and when these wild fans are cheering their teams on, It makes each one of these meetings that much more interesting. These big rivalry games can get heated with both sides focused on one thing, winning. Let’s take a look at some of the best and most Iconic rivalries in the sport.

#5 - Miami Vs Florida State

After 68 meetings, the Miami Hurricanes lead this rivalry 35 wins to Florida State's 33. These two teams are always competing with each other whether it’s for recruiting or winning the rivalry game. Both of these programs have extremely rich histories with Miami being crowned the national champion five times, and Florida State being three-time national champions. 

In 2006, This game broke ESPN’s viewership record with 6.33 million people watching the game on ESPN, which at the time, was the most watched college football game in history. Florida State ran away with a 13-10 victory over the hurricanes. These two teams will face off once again this year on October 26th in Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. 

#4 - Army Vs Navy

The first meeting between these two teams was in 1890 which ended with a 24-0 shutout by the Navy. This game brings an incomparable atmosphere each year when the two service academies go head to head. The current series record is 62-55-7 in favor of the Navy Midshipmen after 124 total meetings. 

This rivalry is so entertaining that it is now the only game played in week 16 of the college football season, a week before the bowl games begin. The next meeting between these two is set for Saturday, December 14th at FedExField in NorthWest Stadium, where the Washington Commanders play their home games.

#3 - Alabama Vs Auburn

The rivalry popularly known as The Iron Bowl has featured some of the most Iconic moments in the history of College Football. With a series record of 50-37-1 Alabama leading, they have won each of the last four meetings, but the game between these two programs is usually a good one, coming down to the wire. 

The two universities are just 159 miles apart in the state of Alabama, meaning they are constantly in a battle for the top recruits in the state. With Alabama being hard to compete with for any team, the winners of 16 national championships rarely find themselves ranked outside of the top 10. Auburn has 6 national championships in their history, their most recent being in 2010 with star Quarterback Cam Newton. The tradition of the Iron Bowl will be continued this year on November 30th in Tuscaloosa, home of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

#2 - Texas Vs Oklahoma

This game is known as the “Red River Rivalry” between The University of Oklahoma Sooners and the team down south, the Longhorns at the University of Texas. The Red River Rivalry between the two schools that border each other is almost always played in Dallas The Cotton Bowl is packed with over 96,000 people half of them in red, and the other half in burnt orange. 

Texas leads the series 63-51-5 with the Sooners bringing a win, and the Golden Hat back home to Norman. These two teams were introduced to the toughest conference to succeed in, moving from the Big 12 to the SEC, making the stakes higher and making the rivalry that much more important. The annual battle for the Golden Hat will be held in the Cotton Bowl on October 12th.

#1 - Michigan Vs Ohio State

This Big Ten Matchup is one of the most heated rivalries in American sports. Two of the biggest powerhouses in the sport meet in the last week of each regular season for a rivalry simply known as “The Game.” These two programs seem to hate each other every time they match up against each other, many Ohio State players and fans will not even say the word “Michigan,” simply referring to them as “the team up north.” 

These teams alternate hosting “The Game”, but regardless of where the game is played, there will still be lots of attention to the matchup. “The Game,” always has a sold-out crowd, and both Stadiums hold over 100,000 people. On top of that, this is annually one of the most-watched college football games throughout the entirety of the season. To this point, Michigan has Ohio State's number, leading the series 61-51-6.

 Ohio State will have the home-field advantage this year paired with an extremely talented team, It will be a tall task for Michigan to extend their lead in this series and continue their winning ways. Michigan also lost their Legendary Head Coach Jim Harbaugh who Coached the Wolverines from 2015 to 2023 and found himself a new gig coaching the Los Angeles Chargers. Be ready for “The Game” this year on November 30th.

As the new football season kicks off, the Vikings are looking for redemption. After a tough season last year finishing 6th in the CWAC league out of seven teams with a record of just 2-8. However, the Vikings have made some big changes during the offseason including a new head coach, Greg Haste. Haste brings high energy and a love for the game the Vikings will need this season. Haste also brings coaching experience; having coached at Selah Middle School for the last five years, he knows many of the current players. 

The team's current roster has 24 seniors with some key senior returners including QB Colton Shea, WR/DB Keaton Pitzer, lineman Chase Bugni, and Inside linebacker, Jakob Greene all of whom received all-conference honors last season. Sophomore Calen Wuitschick, who received all-conference honors as a cornerback last year as a freshman, Is expected to take on more responsibility this season as a running back.

Selah has also taken on a couple of transfers this year who are expected to make an impact. Junior tight /defensive end Dorian Ortega, who transferred from Eisenhower, brings good size and speed for his position. Senior transfer from Naches, Tucker Stephens received first-team all-league awards last year, second-team all-league in his sophomore year, and won freshman of the year. Tucker plays WR/DB and he brings some impressive speed to the table.

Selah’s first game of the 2024 season was smooth sailing. The Vikings traveled to Quincy to play the Jackrabbits and came home with a 59-0 Victory on Friday, September 6th. The Vikings totaled 786 yards of offense against Quincy with 421 through the air, and 365 on the ground. The Viking's defense also put on a show and held the Jackrabbits to just 126 yards. When asked about his goals for the season, quarterback/safety Colton Shea said, “A Big goal for this season is to make it to the playoffs.” The Vikings have not made the playoffs since the 2017 season, and have set the bar high for this season. Senior Wide Receiver Keaton Pitzer says, “You have got to stay focused on the most important thing you know, winning games.” Pitzer did his part in the week one win in Quincy, hauling in seven receptions for 127 yards three of them for touchdowns. Pitzer is on track to have a great season this year filling in the role as the wide receiver on the team.

Another face we will see on the Vikings sideline this season is new C-team Head coach Dominic DeClaire. Coach Declaire says, “The reason I started coaching football is because I love coaching, I coached C-team basketball last year and loved it but I’ve always liked football more than basketball.”

Selah will be hosting the Ellensburg Bulldogs for their home opener this Friday, September 13th, at 7:00pm. The Vikings will use their strengths and talent throughout the year as they continue their journey to make it back into the playoffs. 

From 2013-2018 the Seahawks fostered excitement surrounding the Super Bowl. Aided by the trash-talking persona of some key players, the team restored Washingtonian faith in their beloved team. Richard Sherman, one of these key players once said, “When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you’re gonna get.” This signaled the beginning of the legion of boom. 

The Seahawks were dubbed the legion of boom early in the 2013 season when they only allowed 14.4 points per game, which was 1st in the NFL and led them to a run in the playoffs. Before the Legion of Boom, the Seahawks struggled with a weak offensive line. 

New additions to the team such as Sherman and Chancellor, combined with the defensive line overhaul coach Carrol brought, the Seahawks began to dominate. The next season the team advanced to the Super Bowl against one of the best offenses in the era, the Denver Broncos led by Peyton Manning. During the game, the Seahawks embodied the cliche, “defenses win championships.” The Seahawk's defense dominated the Broncos offense causing four fumbles and ultimately winning with a score of 43-8.

Unfortunately, the era ended in 2018 when Kam Chancellor retired due to a neck injury, Richard Sherman signed with the 49ers, and later in the season, Earl Thomas signed with Baltimore. This began a downward trend for the Seahawks over the following years. 

There is optimism this year for them to turn things around and focus on their defense again with a new coach Mike MacDonald taking over for Pete Caroll.  They are off to a 1-0 start early in the 2025 season.

CWAC All-League achievements have officially been announced for spring sports. Here is the complete list of Selah’s all-league athletes.  Congrats on a great season!

BASEBALL: 

League MVP: 

Eian Peralta, Senior 

First Team: 

James Hull, Senior 

Second Team: 

Mason Bailey, Senior 

Rowdy Mullins, Junior 

Braxton Young, Freshman

Honorable Mention: 

Beau Benjamin, Junior 

Keaton Pitzer, Junior 

SOFTBALL:

First Team: 

Maddie Telles, Senior 

Second Team: 

Ellie Urlacher, Junior 

Kyra Rudick, Sophomore  

Honorable Mention: 

Taylee Gonzales, Sophomore 

SOCCER:

First Team: 

Nico Rodriguez-Burdeaux, Senior 

Second Team: 

Miles Case, Senior 

Rylan Tilley, Junior 

Carlos Cardenas, Sophomore

Jack Nuemeyer, Senior 

Honorable Mention: 

Colton Shea, Junior 

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD: 

First Team: 

Madi Huri, Senior 

Allyson Garza, Senior 

Chloe Myers, Freshman

Clara Holmes, Senior 

Honorable Mention:

Isabella Escamilla, Senior

Mallory Keller, Sophomore

Kadence Goldberg, Sophomore

Chloe Myers, Freshman

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD:

First Team: 

Nicolas Spencer, Senior 

Owen Moultray, Junior 

Second Team: 

Nathan Shipley, Senior 

Noah Lorton, Senior 

Hayden Gill, Senior 

Honorable Mention: 

Caleb Williams, Junior 

Hayden Gill, Senior 

Josh Borchert, Junior 

GIRLS TENNIS: 

Singles Player of the Year: 

Macie Ladd, Senior 

Second Team: 

Kendra Adams/Janae Hall, Senior

BOYS TENNIS:

Second Team: 

Ben Michael/Caleb Adams, Senior/Freshman

Honorable Mention:

Ethan Sausen, Junior 

GIRLS GOLF:

Second Team: 

Kaylee Putnam, Junior 

Kaylin Warner, Senior 

BOYS GOLF:

Honorable Mention:

Drew Lucas, Junior 

BOYS TRACK       GIRLS TRACK

League: 2-4           League: 5-1

BOYS TENNIS       GIRLS TENNIS

League: 3-9            League: 5-7

SOFTBALL           BASEBALL

League: 5-7          League: 11-1

Spring Sports post-season is here! As the competition rises, many wonder where Selah stands among the other schools. Here is an end-of-season update on Selah High School’s spring sports

Starting off strong, Selah Baseball has had a fantastic season so far. With an 11-1 record and a state qualification, the boys are ready to make a run for a state title. Led by Senior pitcher Eian Peralta, the team is sure to have a great ending to their season. They play their first round of state games this upcoming weekend in Anacortes. 

The softball team is making its way to the end of districts. With a 5-7 record, they have made it through the first 2 rounds of districts. With a district championship on their belt from last season, they are hopeful that they will head to state for the second year in a row. They play Tuesday in a winner-to-state, loser-out game against East Valley at Carlon Park. 

The boy's soccer team's season has come to an end. Even though they did not make it to state this season, they still had a great season with an 8-8 record. 

The Vikings Tennis team has had a good season so far. Their dedication to the sport is evident, and their victories prove their hard work and commitment. Remember to cheer for them as they go to East Valley to compete in districts.

The Track Team continues to shine as they make their way to districts. With each meet, their dedication to the sport and teamwork demonstrates the athlete's deduction. Make sure to cheer for the Track team as they journey to Prosser for the CWAC district champion's meet.

For many, baseball season is the most exciting time of the year filled with spirited competition and impressive displays of athleticism. Last season, Selah was one of the best in Washington with a fourth-place finish at state and a 19-2 record. However, this leaves many wondering what this year will look like for the Vikings with many starters last year not available.  

They will need to replace starting pitcher Carter Seely, catcher Grant Chapman, and first baseman Ryan Bair who all graduated last year.  They will also be missing left fielder Evan Ancira who is out for the year and DH/pitcher/catcher Justin Busey who transferred to Ike.

This year, Selah has 3 returning starting seniors, starting pitcher Eian Peralta, shortstop James Hull, and right fielder Mason Bailey all of which will have a big impact on the Viking's season. 

Junior Rowdy Mullins is sure to have an impact on Selah this season. He is the likely candidate to fill the 2nd starting pitcher role after taking over the relief spot last year.  He showed competitiveness on the mound and Selah will need him to step up this year if they are going to make another run.  

Beau Benjamin, another Junior infielder for the Vikings who started at 2nd base last year will be coming back to keep some consistency in the infield. Benjamin’s athleticism and quick reaction time makes for him to be a great help in the infield. 

Selah should get some big help from incoming freshmen this year. Braxton Young should see the field quite a bit this season. With quick hands in the infield, and a strong bat at the plate, he should be a great addition to the team this year. 

Other players who will be crucial to the success this year are Keaton Pitzer a junior who started in center field last year, Lucas Williams is set to take on the catching role filling the big shoes left by Grant Chapman, and Dylan Kingston who will be a utility player that brings a ton of athleticism and he will fill in where he is needed.

Senior Mason Bailey says, “I’m excited to play Lynden this year considering we lost to them last year during the state tournament. I feel like this year we will compete and have to work even harder for a winning spot.”

This season, the Vikings will compete for the District title once again. This season's biggest rivals will be Ellensburg. Although Selah beat them in the 2023 season, Ellensburg was second in the CWAC, falling behind the Vikings. Ellensburg and Selah should create a competitive atmosphere, and make for a fun game when they play. 

The Vikings first game this season is the jamboree on March 8th, against Eisenhower at home. They then play Nooksack Valley, Saturday March 9th, at home at 11:00 and 1:00.  Selah should have a good year, utilizing key returning players and a few underclassmen to create another great team. 

Ricky Carmicheal gets the title Greatest Of All Time due to his talent on a dirt bike. With 67 amateur motocross championships, 9 of them being at the prestigious Loretta Lynns Ranch, he has proven himself as an incredible rider. In 1996, Carmicheal attended his first professional race in motocross, where later in the year he was awarded Rookie of the Year. Going into the ‘97 season, riding on a pro circuit Kawasaki bike, he achieved his first professional championship.

Going into the ‘98 season, Carimicheal had an undefeated season winning every round in the 125cc class. In 1999 he started to race the 250cc in Supercross but had a bad start due to the new bike. Ricky Carmicheal returned to the 125cc class for motocross and was able to get his third championship and last championship with Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

The 2000 season was off to a great start with a win at Daytona and an additional five podium finishes. On the 250cc, he was on Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki and was able to get yet another championship and his first in the premier class (250cc). In this season he also got to ride alongside Travis Pastrana and Ryan Hughes in the Motocross of Nations.

In 2002, Carmicheal switched to Honda before another championship in Supercross. Going 24 out of 24 with an undefeated season Carmicheal holds the record of winning every race, a perfect season. In the 2003 season, there was no surprise that Carmicheal would win both championships, going 24 out of 24 win streak once again this time on a CRF450R instead of a CR250R.

In 2005, Ricky Carmichael switched to Makita Suzuki and once again won every championship that season along with the Motocross of Nations win for the U.S. However, this was when Carmichael decided to retire. In the 2005 season, Carmicheal secured his 5th Athlete of the Year reward from the AMA.

Later, Ricky Carmicheal went on to druce NASCAR and competed for Rookie of the Year, although he did not attend every round. Ricky Carmichael is now an announcer at every Supercross round. Carmichael owns a farm in Cairo, Georgia called The GOAT Farm, and is very limited to who can ride it. The only way to go to the track besides personally knowing him is by winning a championship at Loretta Lynn’s.

Brock Purdy, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was born in Queen Creek, Arizona. Purdy would eventually play high school football at Perry High in Gilbert, AZ where he would lead his high school team to two state championships. 

Coming out of high school, Purdy had three stars coming in at 6’1 and weighing in at 200 pounds. He was strongly criticized by retired Alabama coach Saban "You're below average in height. Your arm strength is whatever. Your accuracy is average.” Purdy would use this criticism to fuel the Iowa State Cyclones, throwing for 12,170 career passing yards, and completing 993 of 1,467 pass attempts. During his time at Iowa State, Purdy won the starting job and played two full starting seasons, finishing with an overall record of 23-15 and 9th ranked nationally.

Purdy would declare his campaign for the NFL draft in 2022 where he was picked last (262 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers leaving him as “Mr. Irrelevant.” During the 2022-2023 season, Purdy would get a chance to prove himself despite being the shadow of starter, Jimmy Garoppolo and 2021 1st-round pick Trey Lance. Due to injuries, Garoppolo and Lance were unable to play and Mr. Irrelevant was forced to step up midway through the season where he would take the 49ers to the NFC Championship before suffering from a torn UCL and finishing the season with a 13-4 record. 

With much speculation on the starting quarterback as the 2023-2024 season

 neared, the 49ers decided to start Brock Purdy and trade away both Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Brock Purdy would go on to prove he is much more than a “system quarterback” by leading the league in passer ratings and taking the 49ers to Super Bowl 58. Unfortunately, the 2023-2024 season would come to a devastating end in the Superbowl against the Kansas City Chiefs with a record of 12-5.

Selah boys overcame a 6 point deficit in the 4th quarter to run away with a win against the Red Devils from East Valley 79-69.  Selah was once again led by Jackson Pepper who had 27 points and 8 assists.

The Vikings got off to a hot start to start the game leading 12-0, with Rylan Tilley and Beau Benjamin tallying 8 of those 12 points.  Selah's bigs also were big contributors with Eli Wright posting a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and Jaiden Alexander totaling 9 points. 

Selah will play Prosser Saturday night in Prosser in a winner goes to state and loser out game.  

Selah was led by Braylee Pendleton and Elise Kingston who got off to a fast start to beat Ephrata in a loser out district game.  Selah was up 19-8 after the 1st quarter and never gave up the lead winning 62-53.

Pendleton and Kingston both had 17 points and they were followed by starters Adley Franklin and Yobi Ruark who had 13 and 12 respectively.

Selah will face Prosser on Friday who lost in overtime in the district championship game against Ellensburg.  This game will be for the 2nd and final berth into the state tournament.  The game will take place in Prosser Friday night.

Selah boys held on to win a close game against Ephrata in a loser out district game.  They took a 12 point lead into halftime and held off an Ephrata surge to win the game 59-55.

Jackson Pepper scored 27 points with 8 coming in the last few minutes to ensure a win for the Vikings.  Rylan Tilley added 9 points for the Vikings who will play East Valley Thursday in another loser out game.  The winner will face the loser of the Prosser/Grandview game for a chance at state.

Selah's defense led the Vikings to a win over East Valley Monday night.  They held the Red Devils to just 4 points in the 1st quarter and  outscored them 18-4 to close out the game in the 4th quarter.

Braylee Pendleton led Selah in scoring with 13 points, but they had a very balanced attack with 4 others within 5 points. Elise Kingston had 12, Yobi Ruark scored 11, Adley Franklin put in 9, and Sydnee Coons scored 8.

Selah faces Ephrata Wednesday night at 6 at home.  Selah has beaten Ephrata 2 of the 3 times they have played this year

Selah and Grandview battled back and forth until Grandview pulled away at the end of the 4th quarter.  Going into the 4th quarter Selah was down by just 1 point, however, Grandview outscored them 23-16 in that final period.

Grandview took advantage of the large free throw disparity by taking 24 free throws compared to just 11 from Selah.  Selah had all 5 starters in double figures led by Jackson Pepper's 16 points.  Rylan and Jaiden both had 14, while Beau Benjamin had 13 and Eli Wright tossed in 12.  

Selah will host Ephrata in a loser out game Tuesday night at 6:00.  

Prosser jumped out to an early lead and continued to increase the lead each quarter.  Selah struggled to score in the first half with Prosser holding them to just 18 points.  

Elise Kingston led the Vikings in points scored with 13, as she was the only one in double figures.  Selah looks to bounce back on Monday hosting East Valley in a loser out game.

The NFL has been around for 103 years, and there have been some amazing players. Today, we will be looking at the top 5 best safeties of all time based on their respective stats and a little of my opinion. This list constantly changes due to how many amazing athletes continue to grow into great football players.

#5 Kam Chancellor - Kam Chancellor AKA BamBamKam was drafted 133rd overall by the Seahawks in the 2010 NFL draft out of Virginia. He ended up retiring after the 2017 season after complications with a neck injury and a threat of paralysis. He ended up finishing his career with 420 solo tackles and 186 assists, 2 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions, and 44 passes defended. Kam Chancellor was known for 

terrorizing opposing defenses with his linebacker body type playing safety. 

#4 Sean Taylor - Sean Taylor was drafted 4th overall by the Redskins in the 2004 NFL draft out of Florida. His career was sadly cut short after being shot at his residence in Miami, Florida in 2007. Even though he only played 55 games he ended his career with 245 solo tackles and 99 assists, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 12 interceptions, and 41 passes defended. Sean Taylor was known for his fast and smart playstyle. Kam Chancellor was amazing throughout his career but when you compare him to Sean Taylor it is crazy because Sean did everything Kam did but in less time. 

#3 Ed Reed - Ed Reed was drafted 24th overall by the Ravens in the 2002 NFL draft out of Florida. His career lasted 13 seasons until he retired after the 2015 season. Over the 13 seasons that he did play he amassed some amazing stats, including 531 solo tackles and 112 assisted, 6 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 64 passes intercepted (he returned them for over 1700 yards, and 7 touchdowns), 154 passes defended. Ed Reed was truly a generational talent.

#2 Brian Dawkins - Brian Dawkins AKA Weapon X was drafted 61st overall by the Eagles in the 1996 NFL draft. His career lasted a fulfilling 16 seasons until he retired in 2012. Throughout the 16 seasons he did play he racked up 895 solo tackles and 236 assists, 26 sacks, 32 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 37 interceptions, and 120 passes defended. Brian Dawkins was a game-changer and shaped the way safeties play now.

#1 Ronnie Lott - Ronnie Lott was drafted 8th overall by the 49ers in the 1981 NFL draft. Ronnie played 14 NFL seasons after he retired in 1995. During those 14 seasons, he had 1146 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, and 63 interceptions. Ronnie Lott was one of the first safeties to perform this well and is one of the first to show how dominant a hard-hitting safety could be.

The history of the two bikes going head to head in the sport of motocross

A two-stroke engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes of the piston during only one crankshaft resolution. Two strokes run on an oil and gas mixture. A four-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that utilizes four distinct piston strokes (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) to complete one operating cycle. The piston makes two complete passes in the cylinder to complete one operating cycle. 

In the motorcycle heyday, two-stroke engines were noticeably lighter and provided more reliable power. The speed at which they accelerated right out of the gate was astounding. The two strokes were less expensive and simpler to maintain because they had fewer components. Even with today's sophisticated engines, the power output of an equivalent displacement two-stroke is significantly higher than its counterpart in a less complicated package. 

The game changed in 1997 when Yamaha introduced the YZM400, a four-stroke designed to compete in the AMA Supercross series. The challenge was to create a legal bike that was light enough, yet produced enough power delivery and adequate torque. Over the next decade, more manufacturers jumped on board, and the four-stroke bikes evolved. Not only had the four-stroke gained power and reliability, but they also became lighter and easier to ride. Fuel injection was a bonus to the package, along with lower emissions. 

For two-stroke enthusiasts, the only thing better than the roar of the engine and the sweet smell of pre-mix race fuel is attempting to contain the power beneath the seat of a vintage bike. There’s no denying the fun factor. 

Before winning Red Bull Straight Rhythm in 2019, 28-year-old Ken Roczen had never participated in a two-stroke motocross race. The three-time AMA champion acknowledges that the bike is a different animal even if he soon got used to its quirks.

"We no longer spend any time at all on two strokes," remarked Roczen. "We just don't ride them enough, even if some manufacturers also have more recent models. When comparing the power delivery to a four-stroke, there is a significant difference. 

A four-stroke engine provides a large amount of reserve power and a very stable power range," he continued, "They are obviously quite different when using two strokes. They resemble light switches in that they are slightly flat on the bottom, then they rise and flatten out on the top. And the whole power band is a lot different, not to mention that they’re two-stroke and carburetor bikes. You just have to treat this whole thing with a lot of respect, try to stay healthy, that’s for sure.”

Even though they currently compete with four-stroke motorcycles, modern riders still hold their two-stroke ancestors in high respect. In one of the most memorable races in the 2019 Red Bull Straight Rhythm 125 class competition, for instance, AJ Catanzaro rode a vintage bike commemorating renowned rider Jeremy McGrath, while his opponent, Luke Renzland, raced a period-perfect setup of James "Bubba" Stewart, his biggest inspiration.

That particular semi-final encounter was won by Catanzaro, but in the end, he lost to Carson Brown. Still, the respect for the heyday of motocross was appropriately observed and will continue at Huntington Beach on October 15. 

Selah boys run away with a win against the Bulldogs after a very slow start where they were down 21-14 after the 1st quarter.  They held Ellensburg to just 4 points in the 2nd quarter which allowed them to take a 5 point lead into halftime and then pushed that lead up to 18 points in the 4th quarter before finally winning 68-60.

Jackson Pepper led the way for the Vikings with 35 points and hitting the 1,000 point milestone for career points.  Beau Benjamin added on 14 points with a couple steals to help ensure the win.

Selah plays Grandview this Saturday in Grandview where the winner will play for the district championship.

After starting slow with a 9-9 tie after the 1st quarter, Selah pulled away to a healthy 18 point win against Ephrata who they just beat last week in the final game of the season.  

Elise Kingston led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Braylee Pendleton who hit a couple early 2nd half 3's and ending with 10 points and 7 assists.  

Selah plays #2 seed Prosser this Friday night in Prosser.

In the past couple of years, the transfer portal has become a large factor for college teams and recruiters. The debate on the portal goes back and forth between if it should be kept, or gotten rid of. While there are pros and cons for both sides of the argument, most believe the transfer portal is too valuable to take out of the game. 

The biggest pro the transfer portal provides for collegiate athletes is a new home for the player. For most athletes, the reason they enter the portal is because they are unhappy with their current home. Whether this is unhappiness with the coaches, playing time, or the school itself, being picked up in the transfer portal can provide a mentally stable place for them to continue playing the sport. 

Although the transfer portal gives many athletes the opportunity to finish their education and career at a school that's a good fit for them, there are also a few downsides to the portal. When someone transfers out of a school, for whatever reason, it leaves the school to find another player who is as good or better than that player to fill the position on their team. 

A great example of this is Jordy Bahl, a previous 2 time Women's College World Series Champion with the Oklahoma Sooners, who now plays softball for the Nebraska Huskers. Bahl was the starting pitcher for the Sooners, leading them to victory 44 out of the 46 times she started. Bahl entered the portal after her sophomore year, leaving the Sooners without their #1 pitcher. This also means Nebraska just got that much better. 

Last season, there were 238 WSOC D1 transfers. 218 of these transfers went from one D1 school to the next D1 school. Out of the 20 athletes left, only 1 player went from a D3 to a D1. This is a small population of college athletes who continued their careers, some who continued their careers at a higher level. 

The amount of impact the transfer portal has on college athletics is extremely high. There are many pros and cons of the portal. While this argument continues, the fight for whether the portal should stay in the game, or get taken out is still going on.

The Pacific Racing Organization is the Northwest premier racing series run by the Devols. This motocross series is one of the biggest in the Pacific Northwest. The 2024 season is coming up fast with many competitors ready to defend titles and even dominate in the next class.

In 2023 P.R.O. was stacked with many riders in each class, with lots of competition for every rider. In each class, there were many battles, crashes, and even injuries that made the 2023 season interesting. There is a wide range of classes starting from the PW class (4-6) all the way to 50+ Relic. Anyone can join the fun with the wide range of divisions offered! 

Schedule for 2024

Horn Rapids MX - Richland, WA (March 2nd - 3rd)

Horn Rapids MX - Richland, WA (April 6th - 7th)

Airway Heights -  Spokane, WA (May 18th- 19th)

Moto Pacific -  Kent, WA (June 1st - 2nd)

Fossil Bowl June - Clarkia, ID (22nd - 23rd)

In the pro class, last year's champion Cody Windgardener won with 211 points. Following behind him Brahn Bjornson with 111 points. Rounding out the top 3 was Jaron Forney with 109 points. Cody Windgardener is out for most of this season with an injury, meaning he can't defend his title in the unlimited A (pro class) opening this year up for a new champion.

The 2024 season is coming up fast, do you have what it takes to become the next champion?