(SARAH ENGLISH/Chewelah Independent)

The WSU Cougars were quite pleased with themselves, avenging their loss to EWU last year. (Photos by Ed Broberg/edbroberg.com)

John Salisbury’s family homesteaded in Chewelah in 1902 when the school that would become Washington State University was just 12-years old. By Cougar coincidence 12 members of his family have attended WSU thus far. “We all have been Cougs through and through for years,” he said.
Salisbury was the first post-World War II baby born in Chewelah, and milked cows, bucked bales and set pins in the bowling alley growing up. There was fun, too. “Families would fish together, picnic together, attend events together,” he remembers. More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

Ty Williams has been a serious weapon for Northport so far this year. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Northport’s Ty Williams laughs at trends and leads all fantasy players with 50 points…

Typically, wide receivers don’t take over games, but Ty Williams seems to be a prime focal point every time Northport plays a game. The Mustangs lost to Springdale by quite a few points, 74-28, last week but they were essentially playing a 2B opponent and they’re only a 1B football program that has been around for less than a decade and had about 14 kids out this year.

But if you get a chance to watch Ty Williams in action, consider it a treat.

Williams, the junior wide receiver, collected the most fantasy points out of anyone this week with 262 reception yards and four touchdowns. He caught just four balls and averaged 52.4 yards per catch. Add that all up and you get 50 fantasy football points. This from a WR receiver position that doesn’t touch the ball every down. In fact, Williams touched the ball just FIVE TIMES in his game against Springdale.  More

(STAFF REPORT/Chewelah Independent)

Gleave and James lead Lions to victory…

September 19, 2016.

That was the last time Hunters volleyball picked up a victory until last night’s 25-23, 15-25, 26-24, 23-25, 17-15 victory over Harrington on Tuesday evening. The game snapped a 27-game losing streak by the Lions and was the first career victory for new coach Morgan Aust.

“The players were so excited,” Aust said. “Coming from a small school with not a lot of history in victories, the girls walked off the court with such a sense of pride and accomplishment.”  More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

The court at JJSHS was sanded down and eighth inch and got a new, modern color scheme. The work was done during the summer before school started. (Polly Triplett photo)

JHS grad Cody Youngblood works on floor resurfacing…

The basketball court at JJSHS has seen a lot of athletes over the years. One boys basketball state championship team played on the court. The 1977 state championship football team practiced in there to prepare for the turf of the Kingdome. Many a Cougar baseball and softball team used it as the outside fields drained spring rains.

Through those years, the court received new finishes, but never was resurfaced. One could probably tell with the orange tint the court gave off or by looking under the bleachers and seeing a much lighter colored floor.

But that’s all changed as Chewelah unveiled a resurfaced court last week for two home volleyball matches. The court got a new paint pattern, colors were neutralized to be more appealing visibly, everything brightened up in the gym and the space in between the key and the three-point line got a brand new grayish finish.
More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Ethan Penland rushed for 137 yards on seven carries and four TDs. (Photo by Brandon Hansen) CLICK HERE FOR A FULL GAME GALLERY. 

Ethan Penland rushes for four touchdowns…

The points came early and often for both Springdale and Northport in a nonleague 2B/1B matchup on Friday night. The Chargers got 137 rushing yards and four touchdowns from junior Ethan Penland en route to a 74-28 victory to improve to 2-1 on the year.

Penland touched the ball just seven times the entire game.

Springdale would score the first five touchdowns of the contest, with Ethan Penland scoring from 36-yards out; William Adams running it in from 20 yards; Cory Hubert notching a 35-yard touchdown run; Penland adding his second score with a five-yard rumble, and Avery Kitt ripping off a 90-yard touchdown run.

“It has been a challenge adjusting to 8 man but the team has done an amazing job staying focused through the process,” Springdale coach Mark Edwards said. “Offensively we still run the same system so there hasn’t been as much of a change as one might think. Now that we are playing eight-man against Soap Lake this week we will play all the eight-man games back to back-to-back and that will help with not switching back and forth. Then we play the final four regular season games all 11-man. Overall, so far, it has been a fun experience.”

Northport found their opening through the air as Tanner Malcolm threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Ty Williams. This would be a common theme throughout the game.

Hubert answered back with a 34-yard touchdown run, but Northport made the same passing connection – Malcolm to Williams for 71 yards, and the first quarter ended with the score being an eye-popping 46-14. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Hunters QB Christen Solomon rushed 18 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a long run of 40 yards. Through the air, he was 6-for-13 for 87 yards and a touchdown. (KS Brooks photo)

Defense, stable of runners help Lions pick up first victory…

The Curlew Cougars came into Hunters last Friday with their sights set on victory. Hunters had faced two top-tier 1B programs to begin their season and had an 0-2 record.

However, the tough-nosed, hard-running Lions squad were able to gut out a 24-22 victory over the winless Cougars for their first victory of the year.

Hunters was coming off a game against Wellpinit where quarterback Solomon Christen rushed for 177 rushyards, three rushing touchdowns, 92 passing yards and two scoring passes. Wellpinit had come away with the 60-32 win – leaving the Lions looking for that first victory. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent) 

Anderson posts 11 kills against Newport…

Colville improved to 4-2 on the year with their 18-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 victory over NEA League foe Newport on Tuesday night. The Lady Grizzlies fell to 1-4 on the year as Ashnea Anderson put up 11 kills for the Indians.

Setter Kiley Power dished out 21 assists and had three aces. On the back line, Molly Schauls notched 12 digs while Brooke Stutzer nothced 12 digs.

Colville (4-2) will play at Medical Lake on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

At Newport
Newport 18-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23

Kills – Colville: Ashnea Anderson 11; Newport: Ashley Cox 6
Assists – Colville: Kiley Power 21; Newport: Emily Martin 19
Aces – Colville: Kiley Power 3; Newport: Emily Martin 4
Digs – Colville: Molly Schauls 12; Newport: Lydia Jurgens 12
Blocks – Colville: Brooke Stutzer 3; Newport: Cora Pelleberg 2

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Hailey Young leads Mustangs with 15 kills and five blocks…

Northport improved to 2-0 in NE 1B North Division League play with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 victory over Cusick on Tuesday night. The Mustangs got 15 kills and five blocks from Hailey Young in their third victory of the season.

Junior setter Isabelle Bair dished out 15 assists behind the net, while at the line Kylie Corcoran and Eliza Stark collected four aces.

Northport improved to 3-1 on the year and 2-0 in league play. The Lady Mustangs will host Curlew on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

At Northport
Northport def. 25-22, 25-17, 25-23
Statistics
Kills – Northport: Hailey Young 15
Assists – Northport: Isabelle Bair 15
Aces – Northport: Kylie Corcoran, Eliza Stark 4
Blocks – Northport: Hailey Young 5

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Chargers improve to 6-1 with win

Andrea Wellhausen notched eight kills while Niah Gray dished out 10 assists in Springdale’s 25-6, 25-13, 25-14 victory over Upper Columbia on Monday.

Mattea Gines added six digs and four aces, while Eden Clemmer also had four aces as Springdale improved to 6-1 on the season.

They’ll travel to Selkirk on Thursday for a match at 6 p.m.

At Springdale
Springdale def. Upper Columbia 25-6, 25-13, 25-14
Statistics
Kills – Springdale: Andrea Wellhausen 8
Assists – Springdale: Niah Gray 10
Aces – Springdale: Mattea Gines, Eden Clemmer 4
Digs – Springdale: Mattea Gines 6
Blocks – Springdale: Andrea Wellhausen, Kirstyn Abrahamson 1

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Elle Carpenter has had 42 assists in the past two games for the Chewelah Cougars. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Carpenter builds offense in quick victory…

Chewelah improved to 6-1 on the year with a three-set sweep 25-3, 25-7, 25-7 of NE 2B North Division foe St. George’s on Tuesday night. The varsity match went less than an hour and the Cougars’ offense was led by Elle Carpenter’s 21 assists and eight kills against the Dragons.

Haven Rainer also had eight kills in the match. Taya Tapia had seven service aces and had a 96.3 percent serving percentage while Bailey Smith had five aces.

The win improved Chewelah’s league standing to 2-1.

Chewelah will play at Wilbur-Creston on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

At Chewelah
Chewelah def. St. George’s 25-3, 25-7, 25-7 
Kills – St. Georges: Mary Bade (StG) 1; Chewelah: Carpenter, Reiner  8
Assists – Chewelah: Carpenter 21
Aces – Chewelah: Taya Tapia 7
Digs – St. Georges: Maria Madero 14; Chewelah Smith 3
Blocks – Chewelah: Alyssa Fitzgerald 1 More