News from Wenatchee Valley Sports Council

Issue: # 028

August 21, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

What Future for R2R?

More Than a Trail? Update

NFL Quarterback Joins Council

OG Wins O'Terry's

No Tour de Vine in 2009

Photo Contest

August/September Calendar

High School Sports Calendar

QUICK LINKS

Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News

Greetings!

I know, I know...the month is almost over and you're just NOW getting the newsletter out?! Well, lots went into that, including waiting for news to come in on a few fronts before we went to press. And, as it turns out, it's a good things we waited.

Before I get to that, let me first thank Yvette Davis and the Wenatchee Business Journal for a great article in it's August issue. They did a great job of framing what we're trying to do for the Wenatchee Valley in this office. Thank you.

Now, as you'll read more below, Mission Ridge has pulled out of it's support for Ridge to River. But RSVP, the managers of the event, say they'll go forward with an event this year, even without a ski leg. In addition, word has it that former R2R board members are meeting behind the scenes about developing another spring event that will not include skiing. Stay tuned!

Also, the More Than A Trail? folks enjoyed a GREAT turnout at their event August 4th (over 200), but came up a little short of the survey respondents they'd hoped for. So what does that mean? We'll chat and get a 'real world' look at the Loop Trail.

And, thanks to the 36 teams who participated in last weekend's 34th Annual O'Terry's Lads & Lasses co-ed softball tournament. This was a fundraiser for the Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation's scholarship fund.

Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council

No Ski Leg for Ridge to River...Now What?!

The Wenatchee World reported today that Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort has pulled out it's support of the annual Ridge to River Relay Race. But according to RSVP Executive Director Brian Ropp, whose organization manages the 35-mile, multi-sport event, says it was more a timing conflict that caused Mission Ridge to pull out.

Last winter, Mission Ridge Ski Team's Ryan Shorter announced he'd landed the Western Region Spring Series Ski Race in April, 2010. We later learned the event would occur April 8-13, which covered the intended dates for Ridge to River's 30th Anniversary event.

Ropp said he was honestly surprised to hear Mission Ridge had not included Ridge to River as part of it's schedule from a World reporter, rather than from the Ridge itself. But, "...I knew we had a conflict and we've met to discuss how to proceed without a ski leg for this year's event."

According to Ropp, ALCOA will continue it's support of Ridge to River, which means over $12,000 in donations. Ropp said he and race director Sheila Salmon and marketing man Al Neace have met and will set a course for the future. He said the "dates for this year are set. The adult race will be on Saturday, April 10th and the junior race Sunday, April 11th." When asked why the Jr. Ridge to River race had been moved to Sunday for the first time ever, Ropp said they "wanted to stay away from youth baseball/softball/soccer pictures, which were scheduled for that Saturday...so we're moving so Sunday."

Meanwhile, former Ridge to River board member Tom Feil is meeting with other race enthusiasts and community members about developing a new spring race. Nothing official has been confirmed and Ridge to River organizers say they are aware of the discussions.

East Side Trail Event Gathers Ideas for the Future

Project Groundwork has worked feverishly over the past month to collect public input on the future of the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Specifically, the portion of the trail on Washington Department of Transportation property in East Wenatchee and Douglas County.

In the process, More Than a Trail? was formed to educate, querrie and gather opinions about what the public thinks should happen to the land, which is proposed to be surplused by DOT.

A public event August 4th at the Douglas County Land & Transportation building on 19th Street in East Wenatchee brought over 200 people out to discuss options and take the Project Groundwork survey. It was hoped that 1,818 surveys would be turned in by August 8th to that a fair representation of the populous could be presented to East Wenatchee and Douglas County. According to the group's website, 1,240 surveys had been completed.

According to local political insiders, even though the lands have been identified for surplusing by DOT, the timeline is a matter of years, NOT months that trail supporters had feared. Whatever the case, Project Groundwork should have an adequate picture of the public's priorities regarding the trail's future to present to the city, county and DOT.

David Stipe of Project Groundwork said, "while we are short of our goal of 1818 responses, we have more than enough responses for an adequate sample size for the population of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee with typical confidence levels and intervals. Our original goal of 1818 was to develop a significant sample for the total population of both Douglas and Chelan Counties."

According to Stipe, the data collected in the survey will be presented at a joint session of the Douglas County Commission and East Wenatchee City Council on the 25th of August at 5:30 pm. The presentation will be made in Council Chambers in the East Wenatchee City Hall on 9th St. NE (across from Gold's Gym). Stipe invites those interested in the trail's future to show up and once again demonstrate that interest to elected officials and learn the results of the survey by attending Tuesday evening.

Sports Council Welcomes Fiske to Its Board

The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council selected former NFL & CFL quarterback Pete Liske to fill a vacancy on its board of directors today (Tuesday). Liske was among five candidates who vied to fill the spot left by Arlberg Sport's Scott Paton. Liske will officially join the board at its August 11th meeting at Ohme Gardens.
Rams Playoffs

    The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council is an advisory board which oversees the promotion and development of sports leagues, events and facilities in the Wenatchee Valley. Formed in 1999, the Sports Council board of directors is made up of 15 members of the community, all with sports and recreation affiliation.
    Liske played 12-years in the Canadian and National Football Leagues at quarterback, with teams such as the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Calgary Stempeders. Liske also served as an NFL official for 5-years, Association Athletic Director for the University of Washington, Athletic Director at the University of Idaho and helped build a $20-million baseball stadium and raise $130-million for the athletic department for his Alma mater, Penn State University.
    Liske and his wife, Deb, have retired to make their home in Wenatchee, where Pete is a member of the Chelan County Football Officials Association. When asked why he wanted to join the Sports Council board, Liske said, "I would like to utilize a unique, long and multi-faceted athletics background in support of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council. I have a strong marketing and fund-raising history in my collegiate athletics administrative career...and was also quite active in the Denver Broncos Alumni Program for Community Support."
    Wenatchee Valley Sports Council president Caryl Morrell said, "it's great to have someone with such a wide background and experience on the SC Board...and to have someone with (Pete's) knowledge and apparent time (because of retirement) to help us is a real plus!"

'Old Goofy' Wins O'Terry's

OG went the entire weekend undefeated last weekend to win the 34th Annual O'Terry's Lads & Lasses softball tournament. The team from Mountlake Terrace defeated Chelan's 'The Way to Win' 16-8 in the championship game Sunday.

On the other end of the scale, Bonnie Lake's 'Scared Hitless' won the Toilet

Bowl award for going the entire weekend winless.

Other division winners included Jefferson Merchants (Port Hadlock), All Native (Tacoma), Beer Drinkers & Fun Seekers (Yakima), All In (Arlington), Malfunkshun (Shoreline), Glynn's Pub (Bellingham) Sumas Merchants (Sumas) and Beatley Interior (East Wenatchee). 26 of the 36 teams in Wenatchee for the weekend were from Western Washington. It's estimated the O'Terry's tournament meant over $70,000 of economic impact with teams staying in hotels, eating in restaurants and shopping while in the Wenatchee Valley.

Proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation Scholarship Fund. Early indicators suggest nearly $3,000 was raised for the Foundation with the tournament.

Another One Bites the Dust - No Tour de Vine This Year

Siting a lack of registrations and conflict of timing, organizers of the annual Tour de Vine Bike and Wine Tour have cancelled this year's event.

Discussing it's cancellation with local cycling interests, the news came as quite a surprise to all. In fact, disbelief was a more common reaction.

Arlberg Sports has been the organizer of the annual cycling tour from Wenatchee to Peshastin and back with stops at various wineries and a pasta and wine dinner to follow.

According to an email from Arlberg's Janet Smith dated July 19th, "It is with a great deal of disappointment that we are forced to cancel this year's Tour de Vine on Sept. 19, 2009. There have been multiple conflicts as well as the participant counts being very low at this point in time, and since it is a non-profit fund raiser, it does not make sense to proceed with a loss and with no proceeds to donate."

A critical element of the Tour's cancellation is that it has been a major fundraiser for the Wenatchee Valley Sports Foundation's Scholarship Fund. In fact, Arlberg had donated over $6,000 in the last three years from Tour de Vine.

Cover Us! A Photo Contest to Put Cash in Your Pocket

Have a great picture of the Wenatchee Valley? It could earn you $150 cash and the exposure of having your photo grace the cover of our 2010 Wenatchee Valley Visitors Guide.

Photos must be of highest resolution possible with at least an 8 megapixel camera and photos sized 8.5"x11" with 300dpi. Submissions are due by September 30th, 2009.

This photo contest is open to professionals as well as amateurs, come one, come all! Photos will become property of the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau with rights to use in publications and for promotional purposes. Entries can be mailed to 5 S. Wenatchee Ave., Suite 100, Wenatchee, WA 98801 or emailed to roger@wenatcheevalley.org

Can you top one of these photos?

August/September Sports Calendar

Aug. 22nd - Apple Capital Duathlon & Triathlon Sprint Distances - Daroga State Park, 8a

Aug. 23rd - Apple Capital Duathlon & Triathlon Olympic Distances - Daroga State Park, 8a

Aug. 22-23 - T&T Invite Co-ed Softball Tournament at Walla Walla Point Park. Contact Trina Sanders at 509-884-8015.
Aug. 22-23- Golden Ages 50+/60+ Invitational Men's Softball Tournament at Walla Walla Point Park - Contact George Dosser at 509-630-6254.

Aug. 29th - WVSO - NW Pro4 Trucks, Mini Super Stocks, Pure Stocks & Thunder Cars - Gates open at 5pm, Qualifying at 6pm, Racing at 7pm
--September--

Sept. 5-6 - Clean and Sober Softball State Championships at Walla Walla Point, Hydro and Triangle Parks. Contact Shannon Gannett at 206-551-7563 or 206-576-5347 for more information.
Sept. 11-13 - Wenatchee Kennel Club AKC Dog Show and Obedience Trials at Walla Walla Point Park. Contact Chuck St. John at 509-663-4074 or 509-421-8585
Sept. 25 - Paul Rodriguez at Town Toyota Center to benefit the Mike Ultey Foundation. Tickets are $33.50 to $85.50 and available today!
September 26 - Dam2Dam Thumbs Up! Bike Tour 25/50/100 miles from Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam on the Columbia River. www.mikeutley.org or call 1-800-294-4683.

September High School Sports Calendar

4th - Wenatchee at Eastmont Football, 7:30pm

8th - Liberty Bell at Cashmere Girls Soccer, 4pm

9th - Richland at Wenatchee Girls Soccer, 7pm

10th - Ephrata at Eastmont Girls Soccer, 7pm

Okanogan at Cascade Girls Soccer, 4:30pm

Bellevue Christian at Cashmere Girls Soccer, 4pm

Walla Walla at Eastmont Volleyball, 7pm

Moses Lake at Wenatchee Volleyball, 7pm

11th - Kennewick at Wenatchee Football, 7:30pm

Cle Elum/Roslyn at Cascade Football, 7pm
Oroville at Waterville Football, 7pm

12th - Tonasket at Cascade Girls Soccer, 11am

Okanogan at Chelan Girls Soccer, 11am

Entiat at Cashmere Volleyball, 12:30pm

15th - Oroville at Manson Girls Soccer, 5pm

Wenatchee at Eastmont Volleyball, 7pm

Cashmere at Cascade Volleyball, 7pm

Waterville at Entiat Volleyball, 6:30pm

Oroville at Manson Volleyball, 7pm

16th - Eastmont at Wenatchee Girls Soccer, 7pm

17th - Chelan at Entiat Girls Soccer, 7pm

Okanogan at Cashmere Volleyball, 7pm

Omak at Chelan Volleyball, 7pm

18th - Walla Walla at Eastmont Football, 7:30pm

Tonasket at Chelan Football, 7pm

Soap Lake at Entiat Football, 7pm

White Swan at Manson Football, 7pm

19th - Kennewick at Eastmont Girls Soccer, 1pm

Walla Walla at Wenatchee Girls Soccer, 1pm

Cascade at Chelan Girls Soccer, 11am

Hanford at Eastmont Volleyball, 11:30am

Lake Roosevelt at Cascade Volleyball, 7pm

Chelan at Cashmere Volleyball, 7pm

Soap Lake at Entiat Volleyball, 12:30pm

Bridgeport at Waterville Volleyball, 6:30pm

22nd - Lewis & Clark at Wenatchee Girls Soccer, 5pm

Omak at Cascade Girls Soccer, 5pm

Bridgeport at Chelan Girls Soccer, 4pm

Oroville at Entiat Girls Soccer, 5pm

Kennewick at Wenatchee Volleyball, 7pm

Oroville at Entiat Volleyball, 7pm

24th - Southridge at Eastmont Volleyball, 7pm

Omak at Cashmere Volleyball, 7pm

Cascade at Chelan Volleyball, 7pm

25th - Southridge at Wenatchee Football, 7:30pm

Tonasket at Cascade Football, 7pm

Okanogan at Cashmere Football, 7pm

Liberty Bell at Waterville Football, 7pm

26th - Kamiakin at Eastmont Girls Soccer, 11am

Tonasket at Cashmere Girls Soccer, 11am

Kittitas at Waterville Volleyball, 2:30pm

29th - Hanford at Wenatchee Girls Soccer, 7pm

Cashmere at Cascade Girls Soccer, 4pm

Brewster at Chelan Girls Soccer, 4pm

Kamiakin at Wenatchee Volleyball, 7pm

Okanogan at Cascade Volleyball, 7pm

Manson at Waterville Volleyball, 6:30pm

30th - Okanogan at Entiat Girls Soccer, 4:30pm

Thank you for being part of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council on-line community. If you'd like more information about the Sports Council, go to our website!

Sincerely,

Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council