Bits & Pieces-Holiday Edition
Blend together some football items, drop in a wrestling note, and add a tease about hoops
Some of these items came out earlier in the month—while others are extremely recent. Here are Bits & Pieces from local area sports in this holiday edition of the Gilman on Sports feature.
Special District One Coaching Changes
Roseburg is looking for a coach to replace Dave Heuberger, who resigned late last month. He was not with the team in the final three weeks of the 2023 season.
The Indians went 21-48 during Heuberger's eight-year tenure, including 2-7 this past season. Heuberger was named the 6A co-coach of the year in 2021, when Roseburg finished 9-2 and reached the second round of the 6A playoffs.
Heuberger succeeded Thurman Bell, who compiled a 332-154-1 record in 45 seasons at Roseburg. He joined the Indians from 5A Springfield, where he went 35-10 in four seasons.
Sheldon is also looking for a new head coach. Josh Line says he is walking away so he can follow the senior volleyball season of his daughter, Bailee, the youngest of his four children. Sheldon's volleyball team came within one win of the state tournament this year, and if the Irish had made it, he would have missed seeing Bailee play in it.
Line coached his two sons, Griffin and Keegan, who graduated in 2020 and 2022. Line says he will not coach football next season, but that he is “definitely not” leaving coaching for good.
When Line took over at Sheldon in 2017, it was already recognized as one of the state's top football programs. Line led Sheldon to two state finals, losing to Lake Oswego 34-27 in 2018 and to West Linn 23-14 in 2022. He went 60-25 in eight seasons, including 6-4 this past season, with a first-round playoff loss.
Girls Wrestling
Sprague girls wrestler Chaya Polomo picked up an OSAA athlete of the week honor earlier this month.
Chaya dominated at the 22-team Tyrone S. Woods Memorial Women’s Tournament at Oregon City High School on December 2nd.
Palomo recorded 3 wins, all by fall (pin), with the quickest victory coming just 13 seconds into the first period.
Congratulations to Chaya.
OSU/Sun Bowl update—Damien Martinez
Oregon State’s first team running back Damien Martinez has been cleared to play in the Sun Bowl on December 29th in El Paso. However, despite the clearance after his arrest for DUI, Martinez apparently will not suit up or play for the Beavs.
Damien went home to Texas after his initial suspension to deal with his son, and missed several key practices.
Martinez, in a tweet said "I'm a father. I'm never going to put anybody's kid at risk. That's just how I look at it."
In a release from OSU football, coaches say that “to change course (for Ramirez) at this time is not in the best interests for him or his teammates,” in sharing the latest update from Beavs interim head coach Kefense Hynson. The comments were later confirmed by incoming head coach Trent Bray.
The 21st ranked Beavs face #15 Notre Dame in El Paso, Texas at 11 am, Pacific time.
Both OSU and the Irish are missing key players from the 2023 season because of the transfer portal. Most recently in the past two weeks, freshman QB Aiden Charles and TE Jake Velling followed ex-coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. Charles was getting a series as signal caller each game this past season with OSU. Velling had a solid season with eight touchdown pass receptions for the Beavs.
Coming Soon
Prep basketball teams across Oregon have been involved in a mix of non-league contests and a variety of basketball tournaments in and out of the state. A long-promised overview of local teams in the Central Valley Conference will be provided just prior to New Year’s Day.
CVC play begins in earnest on the fifth of January for both girls and boys teams.
Stay tuned.