In a crowded South Albany High main lobby, senior Katie Mayhue signed a national letter of intent with the Montana women’s basketball team Wednesday afternoon.
Mayhue, a point guard, originally committed to Oregon State in April 2016. When her scholarship offer was pulled in October, Mayhue quickly landed with the Big Sky Conference program.
“It’s really relieving, especially with what happened,” Mayhue said. “You still have that chip on your shoulder, so you have to take a deep breath and say ‘I’ve got this.’”
After playing two seasons for Natrona County High in Casper, Wyoming, Mayhue transferred to South Albany for her junior season. She was voted first-team all-Mid-Willamette Conference and was a 5A all-state honorable mention recipient.
Mayhue was committed to Oregon State until the second week of October.
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“They just told me that it wasn’t the right fit for me anymore,” Mayhue said. “So I started looking for a place that was more like home, that I trusted the coaches and would get all the good stuff you need when you go to college.”
Mayhue, who plans to major in physical therapy, said a strong relationship with second-year Montana coach Shannon Schweyen helped draw her to Missoula.
“I am really close to a lot of their recruits and I am really close to (Schweyen),” Mayhue said. “I wanted to check out the place even before I committed to Oregon State, but I didn’t get the chance. So I called the coach and told her what happened, and the next day we had plane tickets to go for an official visit and everything just fell into place.
“The culture and the atmosphere is a lot like Wyoming ... so I felt more at home.”
The Rebels are set to open the 2017-18 season Nov. 29 against Sweet Home.
McEuen picks Rebels
The University of Nevada-Las Vegas had everything Casey McEuen was looking for when he was deciding on his next step.
A welcoming atmosphere in the swimming program, a clean and inviting campus and potential majors he’s interested in pursuing.
So Wednesday afternoon the Lebanon senior signed his national letter of intent to swim for the Rebels beginning next school year. A short ceremony was held at the school’s Little Theater and attended by about 40 Lebanon staff, students and McEuen’s family and coaches.
McEuen unzipped a jacket to reveal his choice during the ceremony.
McEuen had a standout junior season last winter.
He set state meet records with wins at 50 and 100 yards in 20.60 and 45.57 seconds, respectively, and was named the 5A male swimmer of the meet. He helped his team take second in the 200 freestyle relay and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.
Lebanon finished fourth in the team standings and took home a trophy.
In June, he was named the state’s boys swimmer of the year at the Oregon Sports Awards.
“He’s been real easy to coach,” Lebanon High coach Gus Arzner said. “He’s a great asset to our team. He inspires his teammates. He’s probably a coach’s dream in terms of an athlete. Not just because he’s talented and fast, because he’s a good person overall.”
Two Scio softball players sign
Scio teammates Ashton Phillips and Rheanna McDaniel made their college plans official.
Phillips, a shortstop, signed with Oregon State while McDaniel inked with Oregon Tech.
Phillips, the 2017 PacWest Conference and 3A state player of the year, scored 72 runs last season as the Loggers’ leadoff batter. Scio finished 26-3 overall and was a 3A semifinalist.
McDaniel was a first-team all-state outfielder for the Loggers in 2017.
Yon to swim for OSU
Standout Sweet Home swimmer Lauren Yon signed with Oregon State.
Yon won two individual titles at last year’s 4A state championships, finishing first in the 200-yard IM and 100 breaststroke. She also swam legs on the Huskies’ winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
As a sophomore in 2016, Yon was named girls swimmer of the meet at state following individual victories in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle. She was also the 200 IM champion as a freshman.
The Sweet Home girls have won back-to-back state titles.
Davis signs with East Bay
West Albany catcher Hailey Davis will continue her softball career at Division II Cal State East Bay in Hayward, California.
Davis is a two-time first-team all-Greater Valley Conference selection behind the dish. She helped the Bulldogs finish 24-4 overall in 2016 and 19-9 last spring.
The Pioneers compete in the 11-team California Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Preston, Carley to sign Monday
Two Santiam Christian athletes are set to sign letters of intent next Monday.
Rebeka Preston will be competing in track and field for Division II Biola University (La Mirada, California) while Grant Carley will play baseball at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.
Preston was the 2017 state champion in the triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 6 inches — 3A’s fourth-best jump of all-time — and won back-to-back 400-meter titles in 2015-16. She also competes in basketball and volleyball for the Eagles.
Carley was a first-team all-state utility player last spring as SC reached the 3A baseball quarterfinals. Saturday afternoon, Carley will be quarterbacking SC in the football playoffs against Vale.