Hometown Report: Mitchell 18th in NCAA meet
Dec. 15—Former Astoria athlete Kaylee Mitchell capped her 2022 cross-country season with an 18th place finish at the NCAA Division I Championships, held Nov. 19 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Mitchell is in her junior season at Oregon State University, which placed 24th as a team in the NCAA meet.
The NCAA Championship field included 254 runners, with North Carolina State University sophomore Katelyn Touhy winning the individual title by covering the 6,000-meter course in 19:27.7. Mitchell's time was 19:59.2, just edging Utah Valley University's Everlyn Kemboi (19:59.7).
On Nov. 11, Mitchell was the individual champion and helped lead Oregon State University to a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA West Region cross-country championships in University Place, Washington.
Mitchell — who attended Astoria Middle School and competed for Astoria High School for two years before transferring to Sprague High School in Salem — covered the 6,000-meter course at Chambers Bay Golf Course in 19:19.2, finishing first ahead of University of Portland's Laura Pellicoro (19:21.8). The West Region championships included 35 schools and 249 runners in the women's final.
Mitchell and teammate Grace Fetherstonhaugh both earned second-team all-Pac-12 honors.
The awards are based on placing at the Pac-12 Championships, held Oct. 28 in Riverside, California. Fetherstonhaugh placed ninth and Mitchell was 12th to lead the 10 Oregon State University runners. As a team, the Beavers finished sixth with the second-lowest point total in school history.
Johnson coaches Tillamook to second place
Astoria graduate Kye Johnson, now the head football coach at Tillamook, led the Cheesemakers to a Cowapa League championship this fall. Tillamook reached the 4A state title game, won by Estacada, 32-8. It was Tillamook's first state championship game appearance since 1977.
Poyer leads Buffalo defense
Jordan Poyer, the former three-sport star at Astoria, is in his 10th NFL season. Poyer has missed four games in 2022 with an elbow injury.
Despite missing four games, Poyer is still tied for third in the league in interceptions (four). The Buffalo Bills currently hold down the No. 1 seed in the AFC, with four games remaining.
Other area graduates who recently wrapped up or are closing out the fall sports seasons:
AstoriaHenry Samuelson, Senior, George Fox football
SeasideTravis Fenton, Sophomore, Western Oregon football
Caitlin Hillman, Junior, Linfield golf
Carson Kawasoe, Freshman, Santa Clara golf
Cooper Rogien, Freshman, George Fox football
Bradley Rzewnicki, Senior, Portland State cross-country
Mason Shamion, Sophomore, Southwestern Oregon Community College golf
Lawson Talamantez, Freshman, Eastern Oregon football
Alexander Teubner, Junior, Boise State football
WarrentonForrest Cooley, Sophomore, Corban cross-country
Avyree Miethe, Freshman, Blue Mountain Community College volleyball
Abigail Miller, Freshman, Corban cross-country
Zander Moha, Fr., Corban cross-country
IlwacoEmma Brundage, Freshman, Linfield cross-country
Elle Personius, graduate student, Evergreen soccer
NasellePeyton Dalton, Freshman, Blue Mountain Community College volleyball
Regional athletes competing at the next level:
BanksTyler Exline, Sophomore, Eastern Oregon football
Blake Gobel, Sophomore, Eastern Washington football
Ramsey Hering, Sophomore, Eastern Oregon football
Jacob Slifka, Sophomore, Linfield football
Isaak Turner, Sophomore, Pacific golf
Charlie White, Freshman, Portland State football
ClatskanieTony Cueto, Freshman, Pacific football
RainierChloe Crawford, Freshman, Clark cross-country
Peyton Kneeland, Freshman, Clark cross-country
St. HelensGwen Daoust, Freshman, Lewis & Clark soccer
Alyssa Marsh, Freshman, George Fox soccer
Dylan Shafer, Freshman, Pacific football
Kaitlyn Silva, Senior, Linfield cross-country
ScappooseAndrew Darco, Freshman, Linfield soccer
Angelina Dominguez, Freshman, Pacific cross-country
Caleb Glenn, Freshman, Corban golf
Emma Jones, Junior, Portland State soccer
David Mayo, Washington Commanders
Tommy McKedy, Sophomore, Western Oregon football
Connor McNabb, Junior, Linfield football
Luke McNabb, Freshman, Linfield football
Grace Negelspach, Sophomore, Western Oregon soccer
Slater Smiens, Sophomore, Western Oregon football
TillamookPhoebe Brown, Senior, Portland State cross-country
Isabel Hurliman, Junior, Western Oregon volleyball
Gabe Lachenmeier, Senior, George Fox cross-country
Dexter Patching, Junior, Pacific cross-country
Sarah Pullen, Sophomore, George Fox cross-country
