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| Issue: # 031 |
November 6, 2009 |
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Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News
 Greetings!
Scramble here, scramble there, where am I supposed to be next?! Such is the life for me right now, but I'd have it no other way.
The football season is winding down and so too is my year's presidency of the Chelan County Football Officials Association. I've had a blast calling games this year and am very blessed to work alongside some incredible men who believe in giving back to the game and the community. Thanks Guys!
As October closed, I finally got a chance to break in my new fishing pole my Dad got me for my birthday. Please see my inaugural fish below. My oh my! I'm pleased to announce the Sports Council played a small hand in helping Appleatche land the Washington High School Equestrian Team state meet. We wrestled it away from Pasco and can look forward to 500 horse-lovers in the valley in May.
November brings a change in weather, sports seasons and a sniff of snow skiing. Mission Ridge is hoping to open Thanksgiving weekend and we'll be over representing the area at the Ski Fever Show in Seattle in late November.
And with the new basketball season comes the NCW HS Showcase at Town Toyota Center and word the Globetrotters are coming to town as well!
Have a good month, enjoy family and friends and remember to stop by sometime and say, "Hi!"
Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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E3NCW Night with the Wild a Big Success
Over 2,600 people came through the turnstiles at Town Toyota Center last Friday during E3NCW Night with the Wenatchee Wild. Logoed fan paddles were handed patrons as they entered the door and the constant refrain of, "what is E3 anyway?" kept ringing through the foyer.
 At game's end, hopefully a few more people understood that E3NCW is a marketing campaign aimed at getting exposure for North Central Washington during the Olympic Games in Vancouver. It was also a chance for the Methow Valley Sports Trail Association to promote itself and its Olympic Festival set for Winthrop in February.
E3's Eric Granstrom, who will lead a video-blogging effort from Vancouver during the Games, had fun bouncing around the arena, using his new Flip Video camera capturing the event. To watch the videos, follow these links:
Huge thank you's need to go out to Diane, Maddie and Lucy Grover for doing an INCREDIBLE job of singing the National Anthem and to Andi Jo Stump for being our ceremonial puck dropper. Andi Jo is a US Snowboarder from East Wenatchee.
So far, 3 of 10 spots in the E3 Army have been filled. The E3 Army are North Central Washington residents who already have plans to attend a portion of the Winter Games in Vancouver who would be willing to promote the area while they're there. They'll be armed with trading pins offering recipients a chance to win a trip to North Central Washington as well as a Flip Video camera to keep to be a video blogger of their experience in Vancouver that will be streamed on many area websites, including the Wenatchee World, KKRV Radio, KOHO Radio and Sunny FM Radio.
To find out more about becoming a member of the E3 Army, go to the website at www.E3NCW.com or call Eric Granstrom at 509-663-3723. |
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OK, I Have to Brag...A Little
It's now my profile picture on my Facebook page. I've shown it to anyone unlucky enough to stand still for three minutes. But I felt I had to show as many people possible because it's by far the prettiest fish I've ever caught!
In late October, I grabbed an afternoon to travel with "Fishin' Magician" Dave Graybill and Brent Rhodes of KKRV Radio to go steelhead fishing below Wells Dam on the Columbia River. The skies were gray and it had rained torrentially earlier in the day. Upon arriving to the remote launch site below Wells Dam, we could see "finners" all over the river (Chinook and steelhead swimming near the surface).
It wasn't long before our first drift netted results as I hooked into a native Chinook Jack about two pounds. Dave hooked up on our second drift with a beautiful hatchery steelhead but the brute shook the hook right at the boat.
I brought out my brand new rod and reel given me by my Dad as a birthday present and threw it over the stern of the boat, backtrolling a pink plug. Brent had a couple hits but couldn't hook up and after three bite-free drifts with the pink plug, Dave suggested I go purple. I think purple is now my favorite new color!
We slid down into the same hole where several of our hits had taken place when suddenly, my new pole went "WHAM" and line was being stripped away before I could grab it. Dave and Brent began retrieving their lures as I battled the brute. It quickly shot to the surface and cartwheeled completely out of the water. The fight was on. Dave kicked the trolling motor out of gear and we caught up quickly with the struggling fish. It felt so weighty and fought so hard, stripping line time after time that I thought it may be a king instead of a steelhead.
But as we drifted even with the fish, Dave saw it in the shallow, clear water and turned with a broad grin and said, "you've got a beauty steely!" I brought it closely to the boat three occasions with Brent at the ready with the net, only to have the fish dive away, stripping line as it went. Finally, I got its head above the water and surfed it into the net, where Brent deftly swung it over the rail. It was only at this point that I got a good look at the size of it. "Wow," was all that I could say. And it was my turn to break into an uncontrollable smile.
(photo by Dave Graybill - this beauty measured 29-inches and weighed 10-lbs.) |
Speaking of Steelhead, Some Great Local Coverage
The local steelhead fishing is the focus of a great article in the November issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine. The article sheds light on the huge return of steelhead in the upper Columbia River and its tributaries this year and how anglers have an unrivaled opportunity to fish the beautiful trout.
 Dave Graybill's photos are used throughout the issue, available on newsstands throughout the Northwest. The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council and Visitors Bureau purchased a 1/3-page ad (see left) to promote using the Wenatchee Valley as "Your Base Camp" for outdoor recreation, including steelhead fishing.
According to the article, this year's run of steelhead (38,000) is expected to top the all-time run in since they began counting in 1985. November and December are expected to be the hottest months for fishing steelhead in the Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen Rivers.
The largest portion of the Upper Columbia run is expected in the Methow River in the Okanogan, with 18,600 returning fish, over 17,000 of which hatchery fish. The fishery is anticipated to be a huge boost to North Central Washington's economy with tackle and bait purchases, fuel and food as well as overnight accommodations. |
Playoff Time for Local Football Teams
 The Wenatchee Panthers host Ferris in the first round of the 4A playoffs tonight at the Apple Bowl. The No. 6 ranked Panthers finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1974. Kickoff is slated for 7:00pm.
The Cashmere Bulldogs begin defense of their state 1A championship tonight against Chelan. No, that's not a typo, the same team they played and beat 31-17 a week ago in Chelan. Cashmere is the No. 1 seed out of the Caribou Trail League while the Goats are the No. 5 seed. In the crossover games between the CTL and Northeast A League, the NEA doesn't have enough teams to go around, so the CTL 1 and 5 face each other. Kickoff is also at 7 o'clock.
Moses Lake is the site for the other three crossover playoff games between the CTL and NEA. Game one pits Omak versus Freeman at 1pm. Next up is Kettle Falls and Cascade at 4pm. The finale at 7pm finds Okanogan facing Chewelah. You can follow all the action of the post-season on the Wenatchee World's website at www.wenatcheeworld.com or via the WIAA at www.wiaa.com. |
Wenatchee Back in the Arena with State Equestrians  By a vote of 7-4, the Washington High School Equestrian Team Board of Directors voted to return the organization's state competition to Wenatchee's Appleatchee facility.
The Wenatchee Valley Sports Council worked with local WAHSET member Kathy Wendlandt on a bid to return the event to Wenatchee after a one-year hiatus.
Wendlandt said the state board of WAHSET decided to go to the TRAC facility in Pasco last year because of an attractive bid from the city, visitors bureau and local hotels.
WAHSET's state meet will feature 500 riders and horses over a three-day period from May 13-16, 2010. Wendlandt said about half the riders and families will stay in campers and travel trailers at Appleatchee while the rest will fill area hotels and motels.
Wendlandt says Appleatchee will have to rent additional portable stalls to handle the horse accommodations and will look to Wenatchee-area businesses to help with sponsorship. "We've never asked for sponsorship before, so this is new to us," said Wendlandt. She said the group will only need about $2,000 in assistance from sponsors to help make the Wenatchee event a huge success. Wendlandt can be contacted at Cascade High School in Leavenworth at 509-548-5277. |
Globetrotters Coming to Town Toyota Center
Since I was a kid watching Scooby Doo on TV and the animated Harlem Globetrotters, I've always wanted to see them in person. I used to spend hours on end trying to spin a basketball on the end of my finger.
Well, my childhood wish will come true in February when the Harlmet Globetrotters come to the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Saturday at the Town Toyota Center boxoffice or by calling the TTC at 509-667-7VIP. Go to www.towntoyotacenter.com for information. |
Local Softballers Strike Gold in Utah
A Group of local senior softball players recently took the gold medal in 60+ age bracket at the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George, Utah. The men, managed by Art Mooney and George Dosser, went a perfect 7-0 through their play to earn the gold medal.
 Congratulations to: Chuck Tudor, Carroll Shook, George Quiggle, Rayne Juggling, Art Mooney, Connie Burnett, Rick Holt, Mike Zenk, Tom Hamilton, George Dosser, Jim Bradley, Jerry Swaney, Duke Garqutte and Richard Riggs. Thanks also go to Nancy Mooney, Art's MUCH better half, for letting us know about their achievement. Congratulations gentlemen! |
Nov. 6 - Texas Tornado at Wenatchee Wild, Town Toyota Center, 7pm
Kittitas Coyotes at Entiat Tigers Football, 7pm
La Salle Lightning at Manson Trojans Football, 7pm
Bridgeport Mustangs at Waterville Shockers, 7pm
Nov. 7 - Texas Tornado at Wenatchee Wild, Town Toyota Center, 7pm
Nov. 13-15 - 14th Annual Wenatchee Veteran's Weekend AAU Basketball
Tournament for boys & girls grades 5th-8th. Contact Ron Stone at
509-663-0815 or 509-670-1810
Nov. 20-22 - Hot Autumn Ice Women's Hockey Tournament, Town Toyota
Center & Community Rink (22+ teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Montana & California)
Nov. 27 - Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild, Town Toyota Center, 7pm
Nov. 28 - Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild, Town Toyota Center, 7pm
TGR Film Festival hosted by Mission Ridge at Wen. Convention Center
Nov. 28-29 - Depending on weather, Opening Weekend at Mission Ridge Resort | |
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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 |
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