Taft High senior Ana Ortiz, a first-team all-league girls soccer player, has been recognized as an honorable mention member of the Class 3A/2A/1A All-State team.
First-year Taft High boys varsity basketball coach Andy Morgan was well aware his team’s toughest test of the young season awaited when it stepped up in class Friday night on the road at Tillamook.
Several underclassmen gave themselves and their teammates a big boost in confidence moving forward Saturday as the Taft High swim team won the boys competition and placed second in the girls at the Andrew Nygaard Invitational in Astoria.
Senior Devon Lindquist, who placed second at Districts last season, won the 145-pound division while three other Taft High wrestlers placed second Saturday to lead the Tigers to a third-place finish among 13 teams at Scio.
A promising start to the year last week at Tillamook and daily progress on the mat has Taft wrestling coach Robb Ellis encouraged about possible record participation at State in the 2018-19 season.
The Taft High boys basketball team built a 26-18 halftime lead Tuesday, but foul trouble proved the Tigers’ undoing down the stretch in a 46-41 nonconference road defeat to Jefferson.
A swimmer representing each class of Taft High students -- freshman Sam Cortes, sophomore Napy Meyer, junior Sammy Halferty and senior Joram Hoff – posted runner-up finishes Saturday to lead the Tigers in their season debut at the Tillamook Invitational.
Coach Robb Ellis’ team excelled against stiff competition despite the absence of 2017-18 State placer Cody Knott, who was on vacation, and returning State qualifier Jose Flores, who was out with an injury.
The Taft High basketball teams split their season-opening games on the first night of the Westside Christian Tournament in Tigard on Friday night, with the girls defeating the Eagles 38-19 and the boys falling, 48-46.
