Here are some brief, but significant sports stories worth noting to start the month of August in the state of Oregon.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FROM CORBAN
Corban College distance runner Robert Swoboda was honored as Oregon’s male small college athlete of the year over the weekend in ceremonies held in Portland as part of the Oregon Sports Awards. Swoboda, who won the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) 5,000 meters championship and claimed the national NAIA title in the 10,000 meters, was honored by the Oregon Sports Awards on Saturday.
OSA is celebrating its 70th year of existence. It was started in 1948 by the Oregon Sportswriters and Sportscasters and has been renamed several times over the years. The annual awards celebration is hosted by the non-profit group Sport Oregon.
FORMER MCNARY STAR HAS BEGUN WORKOUTS AT HIS NEW COLLEGE
Former McNary football standout Junior Walling has started workouts with his new teammates at the University of Nevada-Reno. Walling, a 6-1 redshirt sophomore, entered the transfer portal this past June—transferring to the Wolfpack program from Oregon State—where he hadn’t played in a game in two years for the Beavers.
Walling was a three-star recruit who had a storied career at McNary. He was named Mountain Valley Conference defensive player of the year his senior season, and was also a first team running back for the Celtics under now-retired coach Jeff Auvenin. Junior’s father, Jason Walling, played two seasons at Oregon State. Jason Walling has indicated the family plans to attend all Wolfpack games this season.
SOUTH’S 12U BASEBALLERS STILL RAISING $ FOR WORLD SERIES TRIP
The Saxon 12U baseball team departs for Branson, Missouri in just a matter of days, where they will take part in the Cal Ripken World Series—one of 20 American teams vying for the event crown, along with eight international teams.
The trip isn’t cheap—estimated at 50 thousand dollars. A GoFundMe account has been established, and as of Sunday morning, had raised nearly 20 thousand dollars of the goal amount.
You can still donate at the site by clicking here.
Checks can also be written and either dropped off or mailed to OK Tire (1820 12th Street SE, Salem, OR 97302). Make out checks to Saxon Youth baseball.