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…
Category: Sports
SPOTLIGHT: Avery Quaempts, hard-hitting eighth-grader
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…
Milan Moves On
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…
Living the Lineman Life: CTUIR member Shawn John had one of the most decorated careers for a lineman at CWU
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…
Carrying the Torch
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…
Golden Eagles end dominant season with State 1A Basketball Title
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.…
NEW HEIGHTS: How the Allen brothers have made their own legacy on the court
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…
Lady Eagles, down four players, sweep Helix
NCS rolls 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 in opening game By The CUJ MISSION – The Nixyaawii Community School Lady Eagles volleyball team expected to have 14 suit up to play Tuesday night against Helix High School. But not long before play began, four were forced to sit out due to not having 10 practices. “Luckily, we had just enough players last…
CTUIR cancels 2021 Basketball Against Alcohol & Drugs (BAAD)
Mission, OR – After careful consideration of current pandemic restrictions within the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has announced the annual Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs tournament has been cancelled for 2021. “The Tribe has proudly hosted the BAAD tournament for more than 30 years,” said Kat Brigham, Chair of the CTUIR Board…
Nixyaawii Community School to start in-person learning
Feb. 22 start date approved by NCS school board By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – Nixyaawii Community School students are set to return Feb. 22 after the school board unanimously voted to allow in-person learning. The hybrid plan is to have students attend two days per week and perform distance learning two more days in an effort to…