Mules start winter sports

Correction: The girls basketball home opener was incorrectly written as Tuesday, December 3. It should have read Monday, December 3.

While the Wahkiakum Mules boys basketball team was traveling to Winlock for their first game on Tuesday, the wrestling team and the girls basketball team were getting ready for their own season openers.

Wrestling: The team has grown exponentially from last year, when only three turned out. There are 10 now: eight boys and two girls. The two girls are pretty new to the sport, and on Tuesday, Rayanna Carlon, a former Mule and state competitor who wrestled at Bacone College in Oklahoma, was on hand to share what she had learned. Coach Frankie Mendez spent time with everyone, including lone senior, Daniel Dennison. Their first meet is December 1, when the girls will travel to an all girls tournament in Yelm and the boys travel to Ocosta. Photo by Diana Zimmerman.

Girls Basketball: Coach Rob Garrett is looking forward to the Lady Mules' home opener next Monday, December 3, against Clatskanie. The Lady Mules have five seasoned seniors this year, and Garrett said that 15-17 of the 20 girls who turned out could play varsity ball. It's too early to be sure but league competition looks like it may be a bit thin for the Mules this year. "There's not a team in league as well rounded, though they may have some really talented individuals," Garrett said.

Garrett, who also acts as the district's athletic director, has peppered the schedule with some non-league games against teams like Clatskanie, Ocosta, Colton, and Colfax in order to prepare for post season play. Team goals this year include celebrating each other's successes and learning to look at obstacles as opportunities, but they also hope to take league title, district title, and state title. "It's a tough road," Garrett said. "We have all the potential in the world to make it happen, but everybody has to step up."

Photos by Diana Zimmerman.