>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

After years of assisting, Laura Schwartz will make her head coaching debut this season for La Grande’s girls and boys cross country teams.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and I’m very excited for the season,” Schwartz said.

Both the girls and boys teams qualified and finished in 14th place at the 4A state championships in Eugene last season. The top individual performances came from graduated senior Michael Wanta, who finished in 68th place on the boys side. Graduated senior Cathy Monahan finished 45th on the girls side.

PRED-ATOR: Elgin native Cheyanne Predmore competes in the senior girls goat tying event Saturday in the Maverick Junior Rodeo in La Grande. - The Observer/BRUCE MASON

And for those who placed high or walked out of Mavericks Arena with an award, it was above and beyond success.

Pee Wee Preston Pederson won the Boys All Around award, and Lexi Cameron won the Girls All Around award, making the weekend at Maverick Arena pleasant for their watching families.

Double the pleasure, double the fun.

The La Grande Swim Club powers-that-be experienced such feelings when two groups of kids split up, traveled to different locations and competed well during the weekend of July 24.

One group, consisting of 14 kids, attended the John Day Invitational. The other, consisting of 10 kids, competed at the  Inland Empire Swimming LCM Championships in Spokane, Wash.

LOCAL IMPACT: Powder Valley graduate Michael Stephens (top left) pulls down a running back. Observer photo/PAUL HARDER

He looked like a kid who belonged here. A natural. A perfect mold. Those shoulder pads and helmet? They looked like they stayed on his body, even in Stage Four sleep.

“I just noticed him right (away),” East All-Star coach Bob Macauley said. “Up comes this kid, and you just go, ‘well, that kid plays every day of his life.’”

MC-RUNNER: Sisters' Cory McCaffrey, Oregon all-time rushing leader, breaks away for a 18-yard gain during the second quarter. Observer photo/PAUL HARDER

The 56th Annual Shrine East-West All-Star game featured big plays, hits and turnovers. But in the end the West walked away with a 28-26 win Saturday. However, the winner is always the children at the Shriners Children’s Hospital.

Brody Wilkins made his mark on the game. The quick quarterback and defensive back made his mark with his foot.

CONTENT QUEEN: East queen Anna Bird smiles for pictures in Portland while visiting the Shriners Children’s Hospital. - Submitted photo

Bird, of Joseph, is representing the East team as a queen for the Shriners East-West All-Star game.

Of course, most people would rather avoid the road she traveled to earn the honor to represent the East team.

The soon-to-be high school junior’s whirlwind tour of excitement started with pain.

It’s said opportunity knocks, even if it doesn’t knock on your door first.

Powder Valley head coach Skye Flanagan received an unexpected call — an offer to coach the East team in the Shriners East-West All-Star game.

“I wasn’t really expecting the call,” Flanagan said. “But it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

PENDLETON —Winners again.

On July 18-20, the La Grande Swim Club won the Pendleton Invitational “A” meet, scoring 239 points. Also, the 35 competing swimmers from La Grande took home the team sportsmanship award.

Individually, Justice Tovar led the 8-and-under group, winning seven events. And Bryce Ebel had three first-place finishes in his 9-10 age group.

No, it’s not the Civil War with battles fought between households. However, the Shriners East-West All-Star football game does pit a father against a son.

Union’s Dale Andrews is one of the East’s team managers.

Andrews serves as a greenskeeper at the Buffalo Peak Golf Course. But, for the next week, he will help the East team prepare for its Saturday  showdown in Baker City.

READY AND ROPING: Harley Rodeo series award winner Brad Goodrich competes in the team roping event with Trevor Knowles. Observer photo/BRUCE MASON

Hopefully, Brad Goodrich didn’t experience tired hands through this award-winning ceremony, because both were definitely needed to carry his hefty earnings out of this Chief Joseph Days rodeo Saturday night.