Cowgirls collapse at District tourney
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
The short season was at hand. There is almost no room for error and every game looms large.
Conrad came into the Class 1B District tourney in the number two seed slot. The Cowgirls drew the ladies from Rocky Boy in the first round, played in Choteau.
It was a good draw for Conrad. Rocky Boy was 0-12 in conference play and had won just three games during the season. Outside hitter, junior Olivia Campbell told the I-O before the game started, “We’re ready to play.”
The starting lineup for Coach Dale Janzen saw four seniors, Sam Fagan, Beth Grubb, Jenny Silvernale, and Alyssa Keil and two juniors Taylor Johnson and Campbell hit the floor. This was pretty much the ticket that got Conrad to the playoffs and through an 8-4 season.
Rocky Boy wasn’t much competition for the Cowgirls. The team breezed to a quick win of the match, taking it in straight sets by scores of 25-10, 25-16, 25-9.
After the first game, a lot of the front line varsity players became spectators as Coach Jensen got playing time in for other bench players.
In the first game, a few of the highlights included a killer shot by Campbell off a set by Keil that left a Rocky Boy player just paralyzed as the ball zinged past her feet.
Keil also made a sweet set for Fagan to blast back a kill shot. From the service line, Johnson went on an eight point scoring run that included an ace and then Fagan followed with a five point run and ace to cap the opening 25-10 win.
In the second game, Brittany Greyn dished up a nifty assist for Grubb to pass back a kill shot. Alexis Samsal put over back-to-back aces, Kara Bandow ripped a nasty shot back to the Rocky Boy team and Silvernale was doing the same.
The Cowgirls put the rubber game away in quick fashion, 25-9.
Silvernale and Campbell had big kill shots from the floor. Silvernale also blocked shots at the net and had an ace from the service line.
It was all Conrad.
Of the 26 kill shots, Silvernale put back six. She also blocked five shots at the net. Johnson dished up nine of 24 assists, Fagan and Bandow each led the way with three aces each and Grubb had 14-42 digs.
That big win pitted the Cowgirls against the number three seed Fairfield in the late afternoon contest.
Earlier Conrad had tumbled them out of second place in the conference and the Eagles exacted a measure of revenge at District, winning the match in straight games by scores of 25-9, 25-16, and 25-17.
Silvernale had seven kill shots and six blocks. Johnson put up eight assists and 11 of 46 digs while Keil and Fagan each dropped in a pair of aces. Grubb put up 10 digs, Campbell put over a couple of blocked shots and had three kills.
Now the Cowgirls were in loser out action with Cut Bank in the Friday afternoon game.
Sadly, the season came to an all-to-quick-end for the Cowgirls.
The Lady Wolves dispatched the team in three games, sending the Cowgirls reeling to a six game losing streak to end their season.
Cut Bank won by scores of 14-25, 16-25, 21-25.
Campbell and Johnson dropped in a couple of ace serves, Silvernale continued to play well at the nets, popping back 6-17 kill shots and stopping 9-11 shots with blocks. Campbell slapped back five kill shots.
Keil put up nine assists and had 13 digs. While Grubb led with 16 digs.
While the V-ball season ended all too soon, the Cowgirls had a good run and provided a lot of “cool-beans” entertainment and responded well to a new coach.
Nicely done ladies and Coach Janzen.
TIP IT BACK Cowgirl junior Olivia Campbell tips a ball back in play against Cut Bank. The ball rolled down the top of the net for about two feet untouched and then fell in for a point in play on Friday. However, the Wolves took the match and stopped the season for Conrad. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Conrad came into the Class 1B District tourney in the number two seed slot. The Cowgirls drew the ladies from Rocky Boy in the first round, played in Choteau.
It was a good draw for Conrad. Rocky Boy was 0-12 in conference play and had won just three games during the season. Outside hitter, junior Olivia Campbell told the I-O before the game started, “We’re ready to play.”
The starting lineup for Coach Dale Janzen saw four seniors, Sam Fagan, Beth Grubb, Jenny Silvernale, and Alyssa Keil and two juniors Taylor Johnson and Campbell hit the floor. This was pretty much the ticket that got Conrad to the playoffs and through an 8-4 season.
Rocky Boy wasn’t much competition for the Cowgirls. The team breezed to a quick win of the match, taking it in straight sets by scores of 25-10, 25-16, 25-9.
After the first game, a lot of the front line varsity players became spectators as Coach Jensen got playing time in for other bench players.
In the first game, a few of the highlights included a killer shot by Campbell off a set by Keil that left a Rocky Boy player just paralyzed as the ball zinged past her feet.
Keil also made a sweet set for Fagan to blast back a kill shot. From the service line, Johnson went on an eight point scoring run that included an ace and then Fagan followed with a five point run and ace to cap the opening 25-10 win.
In the second game, Brittany Greyn dished up a nifty assist for Grubb to pass back a kill shot. Alexis Samsal put over back-to-back aces, Kara Bandow ripped a nasty shot back to the Rocky Boy team and Silvernale was doing the same.
The Cowgirls put the rubber game away in quick fashion, 25-9.
Silvernale and Campbell had big kill shots from the floor. Silvernale also blocked shots at the net and had an ace from the service line.
It was all Conrad.
Of the 26 kill shots, Silvernale put back six. She also blocked five shots at the net. Johnson dished up nine of 24 assists, Fagan and Bandow each led the way with three aces each and Grubb had 14-42 digs.
That big win pitted the Cowgirls against the number three seed Fairfield in the late afternoon contest.
Earlier Conrad had tumbled them out of second place in the conference and the Eagles exacted a measure of revenge at District, winning the match in straight games by scores of 25-9, 25-16, and 25-17.
Silvernale had seven kill shots and six blocks. Johnson put up eight assists and 11 of 46 digs while Keil and Fagan each dropped in a pair of aces. Grubb put up 10 digs, Campbell put over a couple of blocked shots and had three kills.
Now the Cowgirls were in loser out action with Cut Bank in the Friday afternoon game.
Sadly, the season came to an all-to-quick-end for the Cowgirls.
The Lady Wolves dispatched the team in three games, sending the Cowgirls reeling to a six game losing streak to end their season.
Cut Bank won by scores of 14-25, 16-25, 21-25.
Campbell and Johnson dropped in a couple of ace serves, Silvernale continued to play well at the nets, popping back 6-17 kill shots and stopping 9-11 shots with blocks. Campbell slapped back five kill shots.
Keil put up nine assists and had 13 digs. While Grubb led with 16 digs.
While the V-ball season ended all too soon, the Cowgirls had a good run and provided a lot of “cool-beans” entertainment and responded well to a new coach.
Nicely done ladies and Coach Janzen.
World cruiser Kokoro makes pit stop in Conrad
READY TO RIDE World bike traveler, Kokoro Ito, stopped by the I-O for a cup of coffee and a chat before heading on down the road towards Great Falls. He is currently on his way south with an ultimate destination of South America. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
At about five feet-eight inches tall and weighing in at maybe 140 pounds, the 30-year-old treks down the road ways on his bike loaded down with gear and equipment that weighs 150 pounds.
He began his journey about four years ago, leaving his home town of Fukuoka, Japan on the southern part of the island, making his way through Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, just to name a few of the Asian countries he has been through.
Ito has already been on the trail ways in Europe, visiting France, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain, again just to name a few of his stops.
In halting English, he explains that he has no agenda, meaning he is not out to raise money for some organization or group or to make a statement of some kinds. He just wanted to experience the world on his terms, so to speak.
Before starting out on his world journey, Ito worked for a tourist company in Japan. He writes of his experiences and where he has been for a local Japanese newspaper.
When, someday, he gets the travel bug out of his system, Ito wants to go back to his home city. “I would like to take the teacher’s exam and teach geography,” he says.
No doubt that he would be well qualified on the subject.
That will be a while yet. He came down to Conrad via Canada and plans to stay on the I-15 corridor going south to California, on to Mexico and eventually going all the way down to the southern tip of South America.
Peddling 60 to 70 miles a day, he still has some time on his hands.
Ito has two sisters and a brother. One of his sisters is in Africa, an eventually, destination.
While he has had a number of memorable experiences, in halting English, he said one was a close encounter with an Alaskan Brown bear. He came, he explained, within about a 1,000 feet of the bear. Grinning wryly he says, “That’s close enough.”
If you can read Japanese Ito has an Internet blog site; http:/whereis kokoro.blog34.fc2.com/
Drop him a note, you’ll probably get an answer back.
H1N1 has arrived
H1N1 flu has arrived.
According to County Health Nurse Cynthia Grubb, Pondera County Health Department (PCHD) there has been an increase in the amount of influenza like illnesses being seen by local providers and several cases now have been confirmed at the state public health lab.
Influenza like illness levels are monitored through cooperative efforts of the Pondera Medical Center and the PCHD.
“Signs and symptoms of the flu include sudden onset of high fevers, upper respiratory symptoms, sore throat and body aches,” says Grubb.
Treatment is mostly supportive care which means control of fever with Tylenol or Motrin (not aspirin for children), fluids, and rest.
“However if you have a condition, like asthma, that puts you at high risk for complications from the flu, contact your health care provider,” she says.
The Health Department is reminding the community primarily to stay home if you have a fever, unless you are seeking medical care and remain home until you are fever free for 24 hours without medication. If you have a child with a fever, they should remain out of daycare and school till they are fever free for twenty-four hours as well.
Also the Health Department is receiving limited weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine. This is being received in two forms. One form is the H1N1 nasal mist. Parameters for this vaccine are basically ages 2-49 with no underlying medical conditions so this vaccine, which is preservative free, is suitable for healthy children and adults.
The other form is the H1N1 shot. This shot is appropriate for individuals six months and older with underlying medical conditions but is being received currently in a more limited supply.
As per state recommendations the vaccine is being given first to health care workers and pregnant women. Vaccination of these groups is ongoing, so though supply is currently very limited, vaccine is increasingly available for other risk groups especially children.
If you are interested in receiving H1N1 vaccination, contact the Health Department at 271-3247and your name will be placed on a list.
They will notify you as soon as vaccine becomes available.
According to County Health Nurse Cynthia Grubb, Pondera County Health Department (PCHD) there has been an increase in the amount of influenza like illnesses being seen by local providers and several cases now have been confirmed at the state public health lab.
Influenza like illness levels are monitored through cooperative efforts of the Pondera Medical Center and the PCHD.
“Signs and symptoms of the flu include sudden onset of high fevers, upper respiratory symptoms, sore throat and body aches,” says Grubb.
Treatment is mostly supportive care which means control of fever with Tylenol or Motrin (not aspirin for children), fluids, and rest.
“However if you have a condition, like asthma, that puts you at high risk for complications from the flu, contact your health care provider,” she says.
The Health Department is reminding the community primarily to stay home if you have a fever, unless you are seeking medical care and remain home until you are fever free for 24 hours without medication. If you have a child with a fever, they should remain out of daycare and school till they are fever free for twenty-four hours as well.
Also the Health Department is receiving limited weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine. This is being received in two forms. One form is the H1N1 nasal mist. Parameters for this vaccine are basically ages 2-49 with no underlying medical conditions so this vaccine, which is preservative free, is suitable for healthy children and adults.
The other form is the H1N1 shot. This shot is appropriate for individuals six months and older with underlying medical conditions but is being received currently in a more limited supply.
As per state recommendations the vaccine is being given first to health care workers and pregnant women. Vaccination of these groups is ongoing, so though supply is currently very limited, vaccine is increasingly available for other risk groups especially children.
If you are interested in receiving H1N1 vaccination, contact the Health Department at 271-3247and your name will be placed on a list.
They will notify you as soon as vaccine becomes available.