For coverage of live games this year for KU athletics, make sure to follow and subscribe to KUTV on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@klamathuniontv.
KU Cross Country
After coming up with first place victories for both boys and girls teams in the Mazama Mud Run, Klamath Union cross country had another great showing in the West Orthodontics Invitational (formerly known as the Max King meet) this past Tuesday in Central Point.
Hallie Pyfer was the top girls’ runner for KU and finished fourth overall in the 5,000 meter race with her time of 19:13.60. Leona Higgins was the Pels’ second top finisher and earned eighth place overall at 20:22.20.
Elsie Baumann and Eleanor Rodriguez cracked the top 20 for Klamath Union. Baumann was in the 14th spot (20:53.00) and Rodriguez ended in 17th place (21:11.30). Keegan Spivey was in 24th place (21:58.70), while Hazel Squibb was in 29th place (22:11.80).
KU girls cross country finished in second place as a team with 65 points, while Crater earned the top spot.
For the boys team, Jonas Southwell was the top Pelican, earning 15th place with his time of 17:12.40. Mark Madsen was just behind him in 17th place, 17:20.80. The finish line was a wave of red, white and black as Callum Squibb was in 19th place (17:23.30) and
Kanoa Kranz-Kahopea in the 20th spot (17:25.30).
Jonathan Higgins was in 32nd place with his time of 17:57.30 and Aurelio Ratliff in 41st place, 18:36.00.
As a team, the Pelicans finished in third place with 99 points, behind second place South Medford and first place Crater.
KU football
Klamath Union had a strong showing in this year’s installment of the Canal Bowl on Viking Field last Friday but fell to Mazama, 34-19.
In its first game of the year on Modoc Field yesterday, Klamath Union was relentless against fellow Class 3A opponent La Pine and won, 38-10.
While the Hawks struck first with a defensive touchdown and an early field goal, things quickly turned into a showcase for KU’s high-powered passing attack.
Klamath Union junior quarterback Reese Johnson was electric, throwing for 376 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson had pinpoint accuracy as he completed 19-of-27 passing attempts.
Johnson’s six touchdown passes came after he had three touchdown passes against Mazama and 357 passing yards.
His favorite target Thursday against La Pine, Gavin Coe, simply couldn’t be stopped. Coe hauled in seven catches for 260 yards and three long touchdowns, including back-to-back 64-yard and 65-yard highlight scores.
Johnson spread the wealth as well — Tildon Coffman snagged two touchdown passes, and Nolan Baker capped off the first half with a 23-yard scoring grab that sent KU into halftime ahead, 32-10.
Defensively, the Pelicans set the tone by bottling up La Pine’s rushing game. Turnovers came easy as KU’s defense came away with four interceptions on the night.
Coffman, Nicco Kovacic, Travyn Ruano and Johnson each came up with interceptions.Coe, Griffin Johnson, Ruano and Darius Thompson anchored tackling for KU.
Though the Pelicans did not need to run the ball with Reese Johnson’s superb showing, Ruano led the Pelicans with 52 yards rushing, off seven carries.
The Pelicans will have back-to-back road games the next two Fridays and will play at South Umpqua next Friday and at Sutherlin the ensuing week.
KU volleyball
Klamath Union volleyball had an impressive showing this past weekend at the Basin Best volleyball tournament at Bonanza High School last Saturday, earning the consolation bracket championship.
The volleyball team has now won three consecutive volleyball matches, including beating Bonanza at Basin Best, 2-0, and beating Crosspoint Christian, 25-14 and 25-19.
KU volleyball will play in the Marist volleyball tournament next weekend.
KU girls soccer
Klamath Union girls soccer opened its season with a pair of wins at the Oregon HS Soccer Showcase last weekend.
KU made a statement in its season opener against Madras with an 8-0 victory last Friday. The Pelicans had four goals in the first half and four in the second half before a mercy rule ended the matchup.
Junior Zoe Bitzer led the way for the Pelicans and had a hat trick against Madras. Nora Welch and Allie Nelson added two goals each, while Dahlia Bunnell added a goal.
In KU’s game the following day, Klamath Union beat La Grande, 4-0. The Pelicans were led by the two goals of Nelson and single goals from Adalie Giampietri and Norah Welch.
Klamath Union’s hot streak ended this past Tuesday as The Dalles/Dufur won in a shutout, 2-0.
KU will have an entire week off before it plays its next game, and will play at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 22 at Class 5A Ashland.
KU boys soccer
Klamath Union boys soccer opened its season with a strong showing against Madras and beat the Buffaloes, 5-0. The Pelicans’ second game against Cottage Grove was cancelled.
KU suffered its first loss of the season yesterday (Thursday) against The Dalles, and was shutout, 2-0.
The boys soccer team will have its first game on Modoc Field this coming Tuesday, starting at 4:30 p.m. against Cascade High School.
KU Bike Team
For the first time ever, the Pelican Bike Team brought home a team trophy, taking third place overall in its event last week. Hazel Heaton took second place, Finley Chase earned third and Walter Kersey was in fifth place.