Holidays offer Chiefs' grads needed respite

MOSES LAKE — When a high school athlete — especially an exemplary one —  upgrades to collegiate athletics they can experience shock, disappointment, jubilation, lost hope, dreams lived, or a little bit of all of the above.

Over the years the Moses Lake Chiefs athletic program has developed its fair share of athletes who were equipped to make the next, big step of athletic competition.

They come in all shapes — as football players, track runners, and basketball shooters, etc. — and play at colleges and universities of all sizes and designations.

But what they all have in common is they are all products of Moses Lake, or in the words of many of them, home.

The list of athletes attending college as student-athletes is as long as it is impressive: Football: BJ Guerra (Washington State), Jared Walker (WSU), Billy Brice (Central Washington), and Jeff Erlenmeyer (Whitworth); Women’s Basketball: Carly Noyes (WSU), Chayla Hirz (Big Bend), Kelly Sutherland (Bellevue CC), Marielle McKean (Northwest University), and McKenzie McKean (Northwest University); Track: Danny Lawson (Brigham Young University) and Ann Noyes (Boise State University); Baseball: Curran Redal (Liberty University), Zane Bator (Liberty), Blaine Meyers (Pacific Lutheran), Josh Martinez (Big Bend), Tyler Sage (Big Bend), Chase Hunter (Big Bend), Drew Martin (Wenatchee Valley CC), Jacob LaCelle (Wenatchee Valley CC), Brock Lybbert (Yakima Valley CC), Troy Stephens (Spokane Falls CC); Softball: Shelby Gonzales (North Idaho College); Tennis: Nikki Chambers (William Jewell College); Volleyball: Shayla May (East Central University) and Heidi Smith (Columbia Basin CC); Crew: Marc Bales (Gonzaga); Women’s Soccer: Nicole Dalrymple (Columbia Basin CC)

The Columbia Basin Herald managed to contact some of these young adults to give the Moses Lake community updates on their recent exploits while enjoying the needed respite from the grind of athletics.

Curren Redal

Senior at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA), Baseball

A 2006 graduate of Moses Lake High School, Curren moved on to Liberty following two seasons at Wenatchee Valley, where he played in 2007-2008.

“You know the first year here it felt more like a vacation with me visiting the capital, the big cities, and the coast,” Redal said. “So that was fun since I hadn’t done it before. Now it’s more about working since I am used to it. It seems real and a place like home.”

Redal made himself feel right at home during the 2009 season, batting .380 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in.

He also managed a .563 slugging percentage and the centerfielder ended up with a .985 fielding percentage.

Despite his efforts, the Flames narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament bid.

“We’ve got a lot better pitching staff this year so we’re looking pretty good pitching-wise  and offensively,” he said. “We also return eight of nine starters on defense so we are definitely more talented.”

But before he starts swinging the sticks, Curren will enjoy time home until Jan. 9.

“It feels great being home especially after being a way from family for months at a time,” he admitted. “It’s good to come home and get the home cooking and comfortable bed and see how everything’s changed.”

Carly Noyes

Freshman at Washington State University

Women’s basketball

Bright-eyed and bushy tailed Miss Noyes has proven not to be as a true freshman post player for the Cougars women’s squad.

In fact, after getting her feet wet, Carly began to be a regular member of the starting lineup and has remained so for the past half-dozen games.

“It was something I always wanted, so its exciting that I am starting, “ Noyes said. “I’m not surprised but I wasn’t expecting it. I just worked very hard for it.”

The 2009 Big Nine Most Valuable Player and member of the 4A All-State team, Noyes scored 1,865 points in her high school career, becoming the Chiefs’ all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker.

But it didn’t end there as she has recorded at least one block in eight games, has recorded five multiple-block outings, and with 15 total, already ranks seventh on the Cougars’ all-time freshmen list.

Still, she realizes the degree of difficulty the jump to Pac-10 ball has been.

“You see just how much stronger and physical the post players are since everyone is good, tall, and big,” Noyes said. “I don’t have a size advantage anymore, so I‘ve had to work on my mid-range shots too and develop an outside game, not shoot just inside shots.”

A Pac-10 Conference Player of the Week nominee for Dec. 7-13, Noyes, welcomes her return home despite its brevity.

“I have been pretty homesick since it’s been the longest I’ve been away from home,” she said. “It’s been fun travelling and playing, but it’s nice to come home and spend time with the family.”

B.J. Guerra

Redshirt sophomore at Washington State University

Football

According to WSU sports information officials, the Cougars’ coaching staff believes Guerra to have the “prototypical NFL body.”

Well Guerra came out geared to prove his game matched his frame, starting at right guard over the last half dozen games of his redshirt freshmen season in 2008 and the first three contests this past season.

Then came the tear to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and his season was over.

“It was tough at first, kinda got down, but I had a great strength coach and he pushed me to get back,” Guerra said. “It’s fine now. I tape it up and brace it so it’s fine now when I practice.”

With two more years of eligibility left, Guerra remains positive about the Cougars’ future despite a 3-22 mark over the past two season.

“We made a big strides over the year and I know from the coaches’ standpoint they are really excited,” he said. “So are the other players. We are really excited to get back after it and get going again.”

Before that, B.J. will enjoy some quality time at home.

“For me it has more meaning, especially after the season we had and so I needed a break,” Guerra said. “Just being home and being with my family for me is the biggest thing. Every year you appreciate them a little more since you don’t get to see them much during the year.”

Billy Brice

Freshman at Central Washington University

Football

So close and yet so far.

Brice, a 2009 graduate of Moses Lake High School, walked, ran, sat, ate, and travelled with members of arguably the best football team in Central Washington history.

Ranked number one in the country, Central would advance to the NCAA Division 2 quarterfinals before losing 21-20, on a blocked extra point, to eventual champions Northwest Missouri State.

Brice enjoyed everything the season held even though he never officially played as he sat out for his redshirt season.

“It’s tough since you want to be a part of it with the team doing so good,” Brice said. “Even as redshirts we are still helping since we are on the scout team and helping the starters prepare. I also had never been on a team that was that good and going somewhere, so it was worth it.”

The former Chiefs wide receiver believes his time as a redshirt with the Wildcats prepared him for the future.

“I learned a bunch from the seniors,” Brice said. “Johnny Spevak is probably the best receiver Central has ever had, so it was pretty cool to play with him. In college it is so much faster. The biggest thing he taught me was to catch the ball even if you get bumped off your route. You have to catch that ball.”

With the winter holidays in full effect Brice plans to enjoy his time with family but still chomps at the bit to get back to Ellensburg and work for some future playing time.

“It’s good to be home since it’s been a while for me to be home continuously,” he said. “I really enjoyed being a part of a team of that caliber and am excited to get back there and compete for a spot next year.”

Shelby Gonzales

Freshmen at North Idaho College

Softball

Going from being named the Big Nine Columbia Division MVP to a newcomer in junior college softball has made the next step in Shelby’s evolution that much more challenging.

“It’s a pretty big adjustment especially when you have talented coaches at the collegiate level that know so much,” Gonzales said.  “It’s also a different world in terms of conditioning and the ability of your opponents and your teammates. The athletic abilty and talent is just through the roof.”

A Big Nine 1st-Team catcher, Gonzales has already enjoyed a solid fall ball season hitting three home runs and sharing starting time behind the plate.

The 2009 Moses Lake High School graduate has to find time to visit her family while playing for all intents and purposes throughout the entire school year.

“It’s so nice to be home since I didn’t get to go home much since we had a fall ball season,” Gonzales said. “Once I go back to school in January I wont be able to be back until May. I’m going to spend time with friends and family and enjoy my time home.”