MIKE MAYNARD
Recent Stories
GALLERY: Horse riding and demo derby’s at the fair
MOSES LAKE – At the Grant Country Fair, community members were treated to Demo Derbys full of dusty crashes and local horse-riding competitions put on by the Grant County Youth Equine Program.
Plant clinic offers insights at Grant County Fair
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair brings a lot of interactive experiences for the community to engage with. Sometimes these experiences can be educational, like the Master Gardeners’ clinic. “Our job here is to provide a plant clinic that is for anybody who comes in and asks a question about what’s what they need, either about watering, gardening or pruning,” said Barbara Guilland, a volunteer for Washington State University’s Master Gardener Program. WSU’s Master Gardener Program and the Columbia Basin Conservation District had educational booths in the Agriculture Building. WSU had a lot of information about plant care for this time of year.
ESA to hold charity golf tourney in Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE – On Saturday, August 16, the Alpha Omega chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha will be holding a charity golf tournament at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. ESA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and money for local charities and families in need, event organizer Abby Smith said.
Equitation takes center corral at Grant County Fair
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Youth Equine Program is in the midst of its fourth year of hosting Equitation at the Grant County Fair. According to Becky Shay, president and founder of GCYEP, this is also the fourth year the program has existed.
COLUMN: Mariners ready to be tested
The Seattle Mariners have a big pairing of games coming up against the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies - two of the best teams in the National League. However, they are poised to prove they are better than both opponents.
Moses Lake middle schools looking for coaches
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake School District announced they are looking for coaches at Frontier and Endeavor Middle School. Loren Sandhop, the athletic director for the school district, said the most important aspect of a candidate they are looking for is good people. “We're teaching them lifelong lessons, and we're just using sport to do it,” Sandhop said.
Moses Lake Roundup events this week
MOSES LAKE – This week the Moses Lake Roundup returns with a lineup of events all week long. From Demo Derbies to the Rodeo, there will be plenty for the family to do this week.
Big Sky announces coaches poll and preseason MVP
CHENEY – After finishing third in the Big Sky last season, Eastern Washington women's soccer has been picked to finish second in the 2025 Big Sky preseason coaches' poll, according to a statement by the Big Sky Conference. The preseason poll and preseason All-Conference Team was voted on by the league's nine head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
Parkway Fields getting upgrades
EPHRATA – Over the last week, the ballfields outside of Parkway Intermediate School have been undergoing some upgrades. According to Ephrata School District's Director of Communications, Sarah Morford, the fields needed repair.
Eagle women's golf wins academic awards
CHENEY – Eastern Washington Eagles women’s golf team has been collecting academic hardware as of late, according to statements by EWU athletics and the Big Sky Conference. This week, the Eagles were named academic champions in women’s golf for the 2024-25 season and the Big Sky’s team of the month.
Basin’s Alli Kay Tatum competes in Denmark BMX tourney
MOSES LAKE – Local BMX rider, Alli Kay Tatum, recently competed in the Union Cycliste Internationale BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. For her first time traveling internationally for BMX, Tatum said it went smoothly. “Overall, it was super organized, my first time there it was a totally different experience, but they had (the track) laid out and really organized,” she said.
Quincy's Fancher ready for another year of sports
QUINCY – Entering his seventh year as the athletic director for Quincy schools, Brett Fancher is ready for a new season of sports. He said he feels athletics in Quincy serve as the front porch to community gathering, he said. “These events are places for people in the community to gather and support the kids and show community pride and see other people. Those are really important events, especially in small town communities like Quincy,” Fancher said. Fancher serves as an assistant principal in addition to his role as athletic director. He served in a similar role while at Oroville. He was an English and social studies teacher and was the athletic director for three years.
COLUMN: Welcome home Eugenio Suarez
On July 31, the Seattle Mariners went all in on their season by trading for Eugenio Suarez. The Mariners are having an impressive season. Currently, they’re fifth in the American League, and the game differential between the teams above them is not far apart. If a few games go their way, they could be sitting in the top three.
Meagan Karstetter ready to compete in senior season
MOSES LAKE — For Meagan Karstetter, the Carroll College 2025-26 women's basketball season will not be taken for granted. In her first three seasons with the Fighting Saints, she had to fight for her spot each year – but she would not change a thing. “I'm feeling like it's going to go fast," Karstetter said. “I got to make the most of it, but we brought some new transfers in. I think we'll end up back in Sioux City."
Washington athletes nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award
MOSES LAKE – On July 30, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced eight conference athletes were nominated for the NCAA’s Woman of the Year award. Four nominees are from Washington schools, according to a statement by GNAC. One nominee being Sunny Huerta from Central Washington. “I'm so happy for Sunny to be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year,” Central Washington Head Women’s Basketball Coach Randi Richardson said. “During her time here at (Central Washington University) she has worked incredibly hard in the classroom and on the court to achieve all that she has been able to achieve. She has always embodied all the qualities of someone wearing a Wildcat uniform we could ever want.”
Allison Stanley ready to be a Knight
MOSES LAKE – For Allison Stanley, sports have been a part of her life ever since she could walk, she said. She played every sport one could think of. Even dirt bike racing, but she wound up falling in love with softball, she said. “It was just the competitiveness, and you had to fight for everything. It wasn't just handed to you. You had to win every at-bat, and just that competitive edge that I always got from softball and how I'm always chasing to be better,” Stanley said.
Basin athletes compete at Battle on the Columbia
KENNEWICK — On Saturday, students at Freewind Martial Arts Studio traveled to Kennewick for the Battle on the Columbia tournament. According to Brandi Guertin, manager and instructor at Freewind, tournaments like these help gauge progress. “Proud of everybody that showed up and competed,” Brandi said. “Martial arts is an ever-learning, evolving art and when we go to tournaments, we get to see what some of the other arts have to offer in their style of performance, and sometimes we can identify where a tool or a technique might work well with something that we do as well.”
BBCC volleyball coach starts tenure with tradition
MOSES LAKE – Last week, Vikings volleyball held an annual camp for local volleyball players ranging from third grade to the 12th grade. This year's camp was led by new head coach Lindsey Linthicum, who thought starting with tradition was a great way to kickstart a new era. “I knew that there was a camp that the previous coach and other previous coaches had always put on (camps) at the end of July. So, I just figured, ‘You know what? Let's just keep the tradition rolling.’ That's something that I'm big on. I came here 15 years ago to play and fell in love with this place,” Linthicum said.
Jacks softball alum, Morris, moving forward
QUINCY – This fall, former Jacks softball player Emilee Morris will be attending Saint Martin University to play for the Saints. Her journey to Lacey, Washington, was not a linear path. After walking away from Lamar Community College, she was content never playing again, she said. “It was just like a whole wave of just anger where I just like, I threw away all my cleats, I threw away a bunch of stuff, and I was kind of just like, I'm okay with never playing again,” Morris said.
Freewind martial artists compete in Kennewick
KENNEWICK – On Saturday, Freewind Martial Arts studio traveled to Kennewick for the Battle on the Columbia tournament. Several students represented Freewind throughout the day in sparring, weapons and stick sparring competitions. Full coverage of Freewind’s performance in the tournament will be in Tuesday’s edition of the paper.
Knights’ Brown eager to hit the pitch for the Huskies
ROYAL CITY – On May 28, Knights soccer player, Anderson Brown, announced his commitment to play for the University of Washington’s soccer program. According to Brown, he is glad to finally put this decision behind him. “It was a long decision, but (I feel) little sense of relief, but also some hunger, too, to get ready to be at the division one level,” Brown said.
COLUMN: Must win weeks for the Seahawks
As the NFL preseason kicks off August 7, it’s time to think about every possible outcome for our favorite teams. For some teams, assessing the most important games or points of the season can be quite easy. As a lifelong Bengals fan, it's weeks one and two. The last few years, they have started 0-2 and it’s been the ultimate momentum killer for them, coupled with injuries and team drama. However, what about the Seahawks? Where do they need to be successful the most throughout this season in order to secure their spot in the playoffs next January?
Moses Lake athletes hit national track competition
MOSES LAKE – Last week, three athletes from Moses Lake Athletics Club competed in the USA Track and Field Nationals event. Brody Baker, Jaedynn Dietmeyer and Liam O’Shea traveled to Savannah, Georgia from July 21 to July 27. Looking back, Dietmeyer called it a great experience.
Sanchez ready for her new home
ROYAL CITY — A recent graduate from the Knights softball program is ready for the next step in her athletic journey. Madison Sanchez is making the move from Walla Walla to Whitworth this fall. “I wasn't sure if I wanted to play on and I wasn't sure if I wanted to just go to school, but I took a tour of the college with some of the players, and I got a really good insight into the team that they have ... it was awesome to watch how they all worked together and just how they all communicated like they were one big family,” Sanchez said.
Jacks summer baseball returns
QUINCY – Earlier this month, the Quincy Jackrabbits completed their first season of summer baseball since before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Cami Kukes, after the Jacks moved to the Central Washington Athletic Conference, she noticed a void for summer baseball opportunities in the area.
Sixers 14U season concludes with championship appearance
ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Sixers 14U baseball team (24-14-2) concluded their season in the Bullpen Series: Season Finale tournament Sunday. According to head coach Ray Lopez, his players left it all on the field.
Sixers 14U rake in two solid wins in Saturday play
ELLENSBURG – On Saturday, the Central Washington Sixers 14U began their final tournament of their summer season. They went 2-0 in their two games Saturday. Head coach Ray Lopez had praise for one of his players' efforts. “Our first game kind of started off a little slow there, but we put some bats together. Drake Hansen started off for us, and got a triple in there, cleared the bases, so that kind of set the momentum,” Lopez said.
Moses Lake BMX receiving track upgrades
MOSES LAKE – On Wednesday, Moses Lake BMX announced on their Facebook page they were making changes to their track. According to track operator Jeff Niehenke, they are adding a patio cover to the snack shack and ADA sidewalks. “Having this has always been the vision for the facility,” Niehenke said. “All the other tracks in the state have concessions. We're trying to take it a step above and put it in some shade and paved sidewalks and patio. So, it's really going to make the facility look a lot nicer and just add so much more atmosphere to the facility, where people want to come and hang out in the evenings and race and grab some food.”
Eagles volleyball earns team academic award
CHENEY – On Monday, Eastern Washington University athletics announced the volleyball team received the American Volleyball Coaches Associations team academic award. According to their statement, they also received the AVCA team academic honor roll distinction.
Wildcats selected to finish second in preseason poll
ELLENSBURG – On Thursday, the Central Washington Wildcats were selected to finish second in the Lone Star Conference, according to a statement by CWU athletics. The 2025 preseason poll also indicated the Wildcats received four first-place votes. “It's an honor that the schools in the LSC think that highly of us,” CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said.
The Mariners need to seize the moment
Whenever a trade deadline rolls around, it’s always a great opportunity to assess your favorite team’s production. For the Seattle Mariners, they sit right on the fence of opportunity. Depending on what moves they make before the trade deadline on July 31, they could go from just being a playoff hopeful, to a World Series contender. Their success this season cannot be denied.
Legion A Warriors playoff run ends in Medical Lake
COULEE CITY – The ACH Legion A Warriors ended their season July 20 after a competitive 8-13 loss against the Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs. Despite the loss, head coach Hunter Lee was happy for his players to get the experience of playoff baseball. “It was a great experience for our guys to be able to play in a playoff type format, and in a bunch of games and not a lot of days, lots of guys got to pitch, played a ton of baseball and close games for all of them. It was a great experience for us,” he said.
Mavericks Eli Anderson competes at Fargo National Championship
MOSES LAKE — On July 14, Mavericks boys wrestler Eli Anderson competed in the Fargo National Championship in Fargo, North Dakota. While he did not get the outcome he hoped for, Anderson feels like it was a valuable experience. “The tournament itself was really big, and there was a lot of good talent there from across the nation, and so I felt like just being there was really special and unique. I learned a lot as well,” Anderson said.
Sixers 14U fall in Meltdown championship
MOSES LAKE — Last weekend, Central Washington Sixers 14U baseball competed in the Moses Lake Meltdown tournament. Despite falling short in the championship game, head coach Rey Lopez said his players played some of their best baseball all summer. “We lost the championship game, but it was probably one of our best games of the season,” he said. “Overall, I was really pleased with everyone's performance. You know, they didn't give up. They played really hard ... the boys improved individually, and it showed; they played with heart.”
Kicking it in McCosh Park
MOSES LAKE — On Friday, Freewind Martial Arts held the third and final seminar of a three-part series in McCosh Park. According to Freewind Manager and Assistant Instructor Brandi Guertin, the seminars were a success. “I'm really happy about the success. Everybody that came got more than what we had anticipated them getting out of it, to witness the growth and the confidence; that's why we do this,” she said.
Montemayor closing chapter at Othello
OTHELLO – When Jordan Montemayor looks back at his baseball career at Othello High School, he said he wouldn't change a thing. “It's crazy that it's over. It went by in a heartbeat, but I had a lot of fun, and I wouldn't change anything if I went back. I would do it all the same way again,” he said.
Freewind martial arts hosts weapons Wednesday seminar
MOSES LAKE – On Wednesday, Freewind Martial Arts hosted the second of three seminars with Weapons Wednesday. Attendees were led by instructor Jacob Guertin through various movements with wooden sticks. Guertin said he was happy with the turnout and teaching kids something new. “Everybody got (to learn) something new, even if they had prior experience. For those that haven't done martial arts in the past, I feel like it was a good introduction to weapons,” he said.
Legion A splits doubleheader in playoffs
HARTLINE – On Wednesday, the ACH Legion A Warriors hosted the first round of their playoffs in Hartline. They split their doubleheader against the Trail Orioles A and the Cheney Summer Hawks A teams. Head coach Hunter Lee said he was proud of how his team rallied. “We got the job done. We want at least one (win), so we get to advance to the knockout round this weekend, but we definitely have to limit the walks and hits by pitches,” Lee said.
Big shoes to fill in Tigers softball
EPHRATA – With the recent retirement of Ephrata softball head coach Heather Wood, the program will have to look for a new head coach for the first time since 2002. According to athletic director Bryan Johnson, the new coach will have big shoes to fill. “Heather has done a lot over the years for the softball program and just created a really positive and competitive culture, that won't be easy to replace,” Johnson said.
Nesmith wins state championship at veterans golf tournament
MOSES LAKE – On Sunday, Nick Nesmith, Moses Lake, competed in the Veteran Golfers Association’s state championship and won to qualify for the West Region Championship in August. According to Nesmith, he won by eight strokes. “When I looked at the score sheet on my 18th hole, I saw that I had won by eight strokes, and the next thing I got was a text message from my wife telling me ‘Congratulations,’” he said.
Sixers 14U come up short in Sunday action
ELLENSBURG – On Sunday, the Central Washington Sixers 14U baseball team were defeated in the championship round of the Clash of Kittitas tournament. They fell to the Spokane Expos with a final score of 8-11. Baseball is a game of inches, according to head coach Rey Lopez. “Really proud of the boys who worked really hard,” Lopez said. “It is disappointing as a coach, just because the time and the effort that the boys put in, and they were looking forward to going in and winning the championship game.”
ACH American Legion 18U ready for playoffs
COULEE CITY – The ACH American Legion 18U baseball team concluded a successful weekend of competition. Across two doubleheaders and a single game on Sunday, American Legion went 4-1. Head coach Mike Correia said he is pleased with his team battling injury bugs. “The fact that we got through three double headers and then another single on Sunday last week, with really six guys that have a lot of pitching experience, and then we had to put in some guys that didn't have a lot of pitching experience, I'm pretty happy with it,” Correia said.
ACH Legion A secures fourth place in league
COULEE CITY – On Sunday, the ACH Legion A baseball team swept the North Idaho Lakers in a doubleheader in Sandpoint, Idaho. With their two wins, they secured fourth place in their league. “It was great,” Head Coach Hunter Lee said. “It was exactly what we needed to do with those two wins. We clinched fourth place in our league, which means that we get to host this upcoming Wednesday. So it was, it was a really big result for us.”
Freewind martial arts holding seminars
MOSES LAKE – On Monday, Freewind Martial Arts hosted a seminar for community members. One of three this week, Monday’s seminar was called Mat Monday. According to instructor Jacob Guertin, the goal was for people to take something from the seminar even if they do not sign up for classes. “I want to benefit people as a whole. If someone walks into a seminar and they learn something, then I've accomplished something, I want them to take something, no matter how small, for the rest of their life,” he said.
Huskies’ Ozuna ready for Big Bend baseball
OTHELLO – In the top of the fifth inning of the regional game of the Othello Huskies versus WF West Kal El Ozuna made a play he said he will never forget. Two Huskies inch away from second and third base as he steps up to bat. “We were down five to zero to start the game out, and we just kept clawing our way back,” he said.
Sixers 14U tie, win in Saturday play
ELLENSBURG – The Central Washington Sixers 14U baseball team played two games in the Clash of Kittitas tournament Saturday. They tied in their first game and took home a win in their second. Center fielder and pitcher, Cash Curtis said they had to wake up in the first game. “The first game was really bad. Nobody was awake. We woke up in the second half of the first game and we just carried the energy to the second game,” he said.
ACH Legion A splits Tuesday doubleheader
COULEE CITY — The ACH Legion A baseball team split its doubleheader Tuesday against the Tri-County North Stars A and Cheney Summer Hawks teams. They were defeated 7-3 by the North Stars but bounced back and ended Tuesday with a 12-11 win over the Hawks. “The first one was pretty competitive, and then the second one, we won on a walk off,” head coach Hunter Lee said. “So that was a fun experience. It was a little bit closer than we would have liked, but it was good to come out with a win.”
Sixers 18U falls to Moundtime 18U on Thursday
MOSES LAKE — On Thursday, the Central Washington Sixers 18U baseball team traveled to Puyallup to play the Moundtime 18U team. They lost control of the game early and were defeated with a final score of 8-0. “Today's game didn't go so well,” Sixers head coach Jason Laugen said. “Pitching just didn't perform, and we had a hard time hitting the baseball as well. So, all around it wasn't a great effort on the day.”
Local BMX rider heading to world championships in Denmark
MOSES LAKE – Alli Kay Tatum started riding dirt bikes in 2021 when she was 12-years-old. Four years later, she is going the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. “It was just surreal, it finally happened. I never thought it would happen, but I was just really excited,” she said.
COLUMN: Name, image and likeness is good for college sports, just mismanaged
In the last few years of collegiate sports, we have seen name, image and likeness, NIL, completely flip the sports world on its head. Many fans across social media and in discussions have made claims that it has ruined the sports they love.