By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor MISSION — Landen Picard is a bit of a daredevil. When he’s not leaping over a high jump bar or a hurdle, he’s flying through the air on his motocross bike. “I have done everything from bull riding to basketball,” said Picard, a 2024 graduate of Nixyáawii Community School. “I’ve ridden horses and I…
By the CUJ “Horses make me feel happy,” William Wapass says. “I have fun and feel cool when I ride them. I ride for my ‘mosums’ (grandpa’s) and I’m never gonna stop riding.” Wapass, an enrolled Thunderchild First Nation member, is a 7-year-old mini relay racer with CTUIR ties. He is the eldest son of Alicia Picard and Bretner Wapass.…
By the CUJ JaLay Harris-Burns and Muriel Jones-Hoisington, cousins along with teammate Lindsey Littlesky (Pendleton, Bucks High School) & Iliana Moran (Hanford, Falcons High School) made waves in Salem the weekend of Aug. 7-8, going undefeated in the annual Hoopla 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Burns and Hoisington are both stand out players for their high school teams. They started their careers…
Hard throwing Justin Quaempts reached incredible heights in his baseball career By Brandon Hansen for the CUJ Justin Quaempts has travelled more than most, played baseball at a higher level than many and battled through injuries during his athletic career that would have dismayed anyone else. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s tribal member pitched at the highest…
By The CUJ PENDLETON – Avery Quaempts comes from a competitive family. Her father Justin was an MLB draft pick who played ball for Oklahoma State University. Her grandfather Billy Quaempts was also a notable athlete within the CTUIR. So it’s no surprise the 8th grade softball star who led Oregon East to a runner-up finish in the ASA 14U…
By The CUJ FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball coach Karl Smesko announced the addition of CTUIR member Milan Schimmel to the Eagles’ roster on July 30. Schimmel, the younger sister of former Louisville standouts Shoni and Jude, departs the University of Cincinnati after starting 12 games during a COVID-shortened 2020. The 5-8 guard will be…
By Brandon Hansen, for the CUJ Shawn John’s Wapato High School football team had one winning season. But his college career for Central Washington was legendary. “It was a dream come true,” John said. “I never imagined that would happen. The thrill of hitting people while playing for a university that wanted me to play for them. It was five…
CTUIR member Ashlyn Wallace sets scoring record, becomes next Tribal hooper to join NCAA ranks By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ In what’s become nothing shy of a pipeline to college basketball in recent years, yet another CTUIR member will move on from Clarkston High School in Washington state to play basketball at the next level. Ashlyn Wallace capped off…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ BAKER CITY – It was a season for firsts and seconds for Nixyaawii Community School. For the first time ever, the Golden Eagles received the No. 1 seed to the State 1A Basketball Tournament and — as the odds would have it — they took first place, winning their second title in three years.…
By Brandon Hansen for the CUJ While four years of age and several times zones apart, brothers Tru and Trevon Allen, the two members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have a bond that is hard to break. Growing up in Lapwai, Idaho, the two went to Clarkston High School in Washington and each made their mark…