The Pendleton girls wrestling team won the Vikings Invite on Jan. 10, 2026, in Umatilla. (Josie Dahl/Contributed Photo)
UMATILLA — Pendleton, behind the strength of four champions, won the Vikings Invitational on Saturday at Umatilla High School with 121.5 points. Riverside was a distant second (84), while Irrigon was fourth (43), Heppner sixth (38), Umatilla eighth (28.5) and Weston-McEwen 10th (25). Pendleton dominated the upper weights, winning titles at 155, 170, 190 and 235. Thiri Dahl won the…
The Pendleton swim team competed at the Valleydale Invitational on Jan. 10, 2026, at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. (Tony Hale/Contributed Photo)
PORTLAND — Sophomore Jared Pace won the 100 butterfly and was second in the 50 free to lead Pendleton to the boys team title Saturday at the Valleydale Swim Invitational at the Zehntbauer Swimming Pavilion at Lewis & Clark College. “We had some stellar swims today at Lewis & Clark College against some really tough competition,” Pendleton coach Tony Nelson…
Nixyaawii’s Cryssa Kirkie (21) led the Golden Eagles (5–8) with 17 points Jan. 10, 2026, against Union at Nixyaawii Community School. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
MISSION — Sawyer Shoemaker had 16 points to lead Union to a 65-32 nonleague win Saturday over Nixyaawii. No. 6 Union had a modest 12-8 lead after the first, then the points just started falling like rain. The Bobcats (9-3) went on a 22-13 run in the second quarter for a 34-21 lead at the half. Shoemaker scored 10 of…
(Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
ATHENA — Third-ranked Weston-McEwen opened the game with a 22-6 lead and never looked back in handing Irrigon a 66-24 Blue Mountain Conference loss Saturday night. “That is a really good team, to say the least,” Irrigon coach Fernando Sanchez said. “Back to work. We picked up some bumps and bruises, but we will work it out, ice up and…
Union’s KJ Klebaum (0) goes up for the fadeaway jumper Jan. 10, 2026, at Nixyaawii Community School. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
MISSION — For the first time in seven years, Union got the better of Nixyaawii, getting 22 points from KJ Klebaum in a 61-44 victory on Saturday night. “We had to overcome some adversity tonight and I thought my kids did well playing through the adversity,” Nixyaawii coach Aaron Noisey said. “We are showing some growth in the area of…
(Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
ATHENA — Hayden Vera and Curtis Krogh combined for 43 points to lead Irrigon to a 57-43 Blue Mountain Conference win Saturday over Weston-McEwen. “We will take the win,” Irrigon coach Fredy Vera said. “We had a couple of guys out sick today. There was a lid on the rim for us, but I’m proud of the way we finished…
Pilot Rock’s Sun Schimmel goes to the hoop over Echo defenders on Jan. 9, 2026, in Echo. (Kathy Aney/The CUJ)
ECHO — Sun Schimmel poured in 26 points to lead Pilot Rock to a 61-35 win over Echo in the Old Oregon League opener for both teams Friday night. The No. 6 Rockets (12-1) scored the opening basket of the game and never trailed. Pilot Rock led 15-6 after the first quarter and 27-14 at the half. The Cougars (5-8)…
ENTERPRISE — Short-handed Weston-McEwen struggled against Enterprise on Friday in their Blue Mountain Conference opener, dropping a 67-33 game on the road. “For missing two starters, we played well,” W-M coach Becky Kane said. “New kids in new positions and they handled it pretty good. Enterprise is tough.” The Outlaws (9-4) had a modest 19-11 lead in the first quarter,…
PENDLETON — Pendleton played right with Redmond in the first half, but the Panthers, the top-ranked 5A team, pulled away in the second half for a 68-42 nonleague win Friday at Warberg Court. “The girls played hard and competed well tonight,” Pendleton coach Tim Foster said. “Redmond should be a final four team this year. They have size, speed and…
Pilot Rock’s Kessa Litfin shoots on Jan. 9, 2026, in Echo. (Kathy Aney/The CUJ)
ECHO — On an emotional night for Echo and its community, the Cougars poured their heart and soul into a 48-29 Old Oregon League win over Pilot Rock on Friday, Jan. 9. “The girls showed some real grit tonight,” Echo coach RJ Ramos said. “Pilot Rock came to play and wasn’t going to give up. They were very strong. It…
