The library at West Salem High School was packed, but the biggest crowd was at the table in front.
A group of 11 senior athletes took part in the latest signing ceremony at the school Wednesday.
“We’re very motivated here at West,” said senior Angela Mumford, who signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field at Central Washington. “In the classroom we like to be on top of our grades because it’s student-athlete and student comes first.
“The athlete part, especially in the weight room, we have (Shawn) Stanley and (Damien) Ramirez pushing us to always be better. We have a reputation here at West and we want to uphold to that. We don’t want to let anyone down.”
Central Washington came into the picture for Mumford in May after she threw 38 feet, 1.5 inches to place fourth at the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays.
Then she threw a four-foot personal record of 42-2 to place second at the 6A state meet.
“I had been talking to them for a while and the recruiting coordinator up there originally told me I need to meet certain marks and she just told me to get after it this season so I kind of used that as my goal this season,” Mumford said. “I needed to hit those marks that she wanted.”
Brody Wittman signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Chemeketa and Hunter Johnson and Simran Dhote committed to play baseball at Western Oregon.
Chase Lakin and Trey Lindekugel committed to play football at Pacific.
Ryan Wetzel committed to compete in swimming at Carleton College.
Jonah Jandera committed to play soccer at Pacific.
West Salem senior Angela Mumford has signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field at Central Washington.
Paula Labate signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Biola and Haley Houston signed to play soccer at OIT.
Liz Mendez signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Lane Community College.
A starting center midfielder on the soccer field, she competed in wrestling at the beginning of her senior season.
“I am the smallest one on the team, I’ve always been the smallest one on the team so being a wrestler, I’ve had to show even though I’m small I can still fight my way with boys and even on the field I still manage to make sure I’m still physical and I still am up to par with the physical soccer part,” Mendez said.
More signings
McNary senior Raina Strand signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Minot State.
The 6-1 small forward was a second-team all-Greater Valley Conference selection as a senior after averaging 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Basketball: McNary senior Harry Cavell committed to play at Seattle Pacific.
The 6-foot-6 senior averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals per game as a senior when he was the Greater Valley Conference player of the year and was second-team Class 6A all-state. Cavell was a two-time first-team all-GVC selection.
Football: McNary senior tight end Hayden Sader committed to play at George Fox.
Honors
McNary’s Madi Hingston and South Salem’s Gabe Matthews were recognized as Prep Athletes of the Year by the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club.
McNary senior Madi Hingston
Hingston was a second-team all-Greater Valley conference selection in volleyball as a senior and was first-team all-league and was first-team all-6A state tournament and second-team all-state in basketball.
South Salem senior Gabe Matthews
Matthews lettered in football, basketball and baseball all four years of high school and was first-team all-GVC in all three sports this season.
McKay tennis coach Leif McElliott
McKay boys tennis coach Leif McElliot was named the Chuck Bowls Coach of the Year and former club president Harv Schubothe was given the Jack Bull Award for distinguished service.
Harv Schubothe
The group also recognized senior athletes of the year Gabe Matthews (baseball); West Salem’s Tayler Gunesch (softball), West Salem’s Chase Lakin (boys track and field) and Angela Mumford (girls track and field); and McNary’s Brady Sparks (boys golf) and Cammie Decker (girls golf).
Camps
Willamette’s volleyball program will hold a series of camps this summer.
An All Skills Camp for those in grades six through eight will be held June 20-22 and an Advanced Camp for those in grades nine through 12 will take place June 23-25.
To register go to http://wubearcats.com/camps/index
All-Star games
Cascade senior infielder Russ McGuire has been selected to play in the 4A All-Star series June 18-19 at Legion Field in Roseburg.
McGuire will play for the North team in a nine-inning game at 7 p.m. June 18 and two seven-inning games at noon on June 19.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler