MIKE MAYNARD

Charity golf tournament needs more volunteers

WARDEN – On Sept. 27, the ‘Dude! Where’s my Cart!?’ charity golf tournament will be held at Sage Hills Golf Course. Event organizer Karisti Cox said the tournament is to help raise awareness for Alzheimer's. “The fundraising is all designed to go towards the Alzheimer's Association, more specifically, to the Columbia Basins Walk to End Alzheimer's but ultimately, it all goes to the same place,” Cox said.

Mavericks state runners heading to Woodbridge Invitational

MOSES LAKE – On Saturday, the Mavericks will be represented by six runners in the Woodbridge Invitational held in Orange County Great Park, California. Senior Liam O’Shea said the team has been thinking about this event for a long time. “This past week, me personally, I've been eating and sleeping California, there's no amount of preparation that I want to forego, or I want the team to forgo. We've really been making sure to get in every small thing so that when we step up to that line Saturday, we can really perform our best,” O’Shea said.

Local riders take first in BMX Gold Cup in Seattle

MOSES LAKE – Last weekend, best friends KJ Gilman and Logan Vela placed first in their respective groups in the northwest Gold Cup Finals at the SeaTac BMX track. KJ said it was a great experience. “The ride over there was really nice and calm. As soon as I got that first (place) I was super happy,” he said.

Huskies get first win over Tigers

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies got their first win of the season Tuesday after defeating the visiting Ephrata Tigers 3-1. Huskies Head Coach Steve Parris said he was glad to get their first win at home. “We’ve needed this, and so we’re glad that it happened tonight on our home floor, and hopefully we’ll just keep moving up,” Parris said. It was a game of momentum between the Huskies and Tigers. From the first set, the teams took turns going on small runs to score a few points. The score remained so tight that both teams were tied at 24, which led to either team needing to win by two instead of the typical score to get to 25. The Huskies would ultimately prevail 28-26.

COLUMN: The Mariners need to win on the road

As of Wednesday morning, the Mariners are on a 10-game win streak, the highest of any team in the entire MLB. The second closest team is the Toronto Blue Jays who are on a six-game win streak. The Blue Jays currently sit firmly in first place in the American League. The Mariners are currently fourth with an 83-68 record. Easily one of the hottest teams in the MLB, Seattle is well equipped to make their final push for a top playoff spot. However, there’s some work to do on their part.

Freewind Martial Arts places top 10 in competition

MOSES LAKE — Over the weekend, Freewind Martial Arts competed in the Warriors Way Cup at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. In addition to Freewind, 20 other schools attended and competed. Freewind Instructor Brandi Guertin had high praise for her group. “Freewind achieved a commendable ninth place overall. Our team results included four first-place, four second-place, and four third-place finishes. We are honored and proud to represent our community in martial arts competition,” she wrote in a statement. Freewind Martial Arts celebrated its 44th birthday on Sept. 16, said Guertin.

Washington college football recap

MOSES LAKE — Another week of college football has concluded. Before the next slate of games begin, see below how Washington football teams fared against their competition last weekend.

ACH Warriors open season with win

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (1-0) opened their season on the road against the Garfield-Palouse Vikings with a 40-12 victory last Friday. After having their first game canceled due to smoke, Head Coach Brandon Walsh said his team was excited to hit the gridiron.

Jacks win two straight on the pitch

QUINCY — The Quincy High School Jacks (4-0) went undefeated in their second week of competition. They defeated Brewster 2-0 on Thursday and Othello 1-0 on Saturday. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos is pleased with his team’s recent success. “We've been able to reflect on what we've been doing in practice as far as positioning and possession and creating chances,” Villalobos said.

Othello Rodeo results 2025

OTHELLO — Over the weekend, the Othello Rodeo came to town with all its traditional fanfare. Fans packed the stands at the Othello Rodeo arena Friday and Saturday to see the competitions put on by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Tigers win Battle of the Basin

QUINCY – On Friday, the Tigers traveled to meet the Jacks in the Battle of the Basin and came out on top 49-14. Tigers Head Coach Patrick Mitchell said he was proud of his team for bouncing back from a tough loss last week to Prosser. “Small town football is amazing, I thought they did a great job, and they played us tough, super proud of our guys, they came out with the right mentality that we were wanting from last week's game. We wanted to start fast and impose what we wanted in our game plan right away, and I felt like we did that in the first half for sure,” Mitchell said.

Othello Rodeo coverage incoming

OTHELLO – On Friday, the Othello Rodeo kicked off its weekend of competition with bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding and more. Full coverage and results of the Othello rodeo will be in Tuesday’s edition of the paper.

Mavs hold off Sunnyside

MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, the Mavericks (2-0) hosted Sunnyside and were victorious 3-2 in a competitive game. The Mavs host Davis on Sept. 16 at Lions Field with a 6 p.m. start.

Knights defeated at home

ROYAL CITY – On Thursday, the Royal Knights hosted the Cashmere Bulldogs where they were defeated at home 3-0. Though the scoreboard may not reflect it, Head Coach Lisa Lawrence saw her team fight to the very end. “Cashmere is a tough team, and we knew going into (the game) it was going to be tough. They're one of the best teams in the state, so our goal was to improve each set, which we did, and our score reflected that, and we kept fighting all the way through, which I think is really important,” Lawrence said.

Knights learn from fall to Cashmere

ROYAL CITY – The Knights were defeated at home 1-0 Thursday by the visiting Cashmere Bulldogs. Head Coach Jens Jensen said that despite the loss, his team gained valuable experience for later in the season. “I thought the girls played hard. I thought this was a good learning experience. They're growing as a team. We will get better and better as the season goes on,” Jensen said.

Othello Rodeo holds annual Demo Derby

OTHELLO – On Wednesday, loud motors, mud and collisions filled the Othello Rodeo arena for the annual Demolition Derby. Drivers from all over the Basin flocked to the Othello Fair to partake in chaotic competition. “I like being able to let out the aggression, it’s no holds barred. To be able to smash (into other cars) and get away with it,” Jake Sligar from Quincy said.

Mavs sweep season opener

MOSES LAKE — On Wednesday, the Mavericks slowpitch team opened the 2025 season with a doubleheader against Sageview (Pasco) and Chiawana. The Mavs defeated Sageview 21-4 and Chiawana 17-12. Head Coach Mike Hofheins said it was a good first test for his team.

COLUMN: Panic in Seattle after week one?

Many Seahawks fans packed Lumen Field in great anticipation to see the newest version of their favorite team. I imagine many questions filled their minds. Can Mike MacDonald take the next step? Are Cooper Kupps best behind him? Was Sam Darnold a one-year wonder?

Broncos victorious over the Cougars

RITZVILLE – On Tuesday, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos hosted the Warden Cougars to open the 2025 season. The Broncos controlled the game, winning the first three sets to secure their first win of the season with a final score of 3-0. “One thing I appreciate watching is that it can be hard to play teams that are playing at a different pace than what we're used to, and I think we did a good job not changing our style so much, and that's not always easy to do,” Broncos Head Coach Cari Galbreath said.

Local schools keep air quality, student safety at the fore

MOSES LAKE – Over the weekend, several high school sporting events were altered or canceled due to poor air quality in the Basin. Othello Athletic Director Carlos Gonzalez said they will always put student safety first. Smoky weather like the Basin has seen recently is one of the factors that could lead to a delay, cancelation or change of venue.

Basin football roundup week one

MOSES LAKE – The first week of Basin football is in the books. See below how your favorite teams did in week one.

'They were kids at heart'

Local couple have memorial bench and plaque dedicated to them for contributions to community

MOSES LAKE — On Friday, a park bench and plaque were unveiled to commemorate Don and Mary Cunnington’s contributions to the Moses Lake community. Friends and family gathered outside the Surf ‘N Slide Water Park, formerly known as the Moses Lake Aquatic Center, to celebrate the couple. “They loved kids because they were kids at heart,” Dawni Cunnington said.

Eagles draw with Air Force

CHENEY — Eastern Washington women’s soccer ended their game against Air Force with a 2-2 draw, according to a statement by EWU athletics. The Falcons scored first but Kendall Moore stuck back in the second half, while Noelle Raczykowski contributed a goal of her own. The Falcons found the equalizer to draw 2-2. “We had some tactical things we wanted out of the day,” said head coach Missy Strasburg. “We really wanted to expose them high and wide against their back three, and we had a lot of success early on. But more than anything, we challenged our group on work rate and those individual battles in transition.” The Eagles came out strong, holding much of the early possession while both sides created good chances. Air Force broke through in the 31st minute with a ball that slipped past Kamryn Willoughby to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

College football recap

BOISE, Idaho — On Saturday, several collegiate football teams from Washington completed their second week of the season. Some saw success, while others fell short. Eastern Washington According to a statement by EWU Athletics, the Broncos seized the momentum quickly, scoring 14 points in the first five minutes of the game. Boise State put up 20 points in the first quarter and had the game quickly under control. The Eagles broke through in the second quarter, as Jared Taylor engineered a 10-play, 62-yard drive, culminating in a Taylor touchdown run. The Broncos answered right back with a quick touchdown and tacked on a late field goal to go into halftime with a 23-point lead. “There were some bright spots, but not a lot of highlights. We’ll have to watch the film, but we did not play a clean game defensively,” Head Coach Aaron Best said. “We didn’t knock any balls out and missed some tackles. Offensively was not complimentary either. We did not stay on the field on third downs. Punting was inconsistent and we can’t keep putting the defense in between the 40s. We had a short week, and we’ll take tomorrow off, then look at the game on Sunday.”

Mavericks defeat Hermiston at home

MOSES LAKE — On Saturday, the Mavs defeated Hermiston at home 3-1 to secure their first victory of the season. Head coach Krystal Trammell said her players came to play. “The girls were very excited,” Trammell said. “They like playing Hermiston; they are a really good team. They're fast-paced, and they were pretty hyped up to get out there and play again."

Warriors lose heartbreaker in week one

MATTAWA – On Friday, the Wahluke Warriors lost 21-20 to Naches Valley at home. A nail-biter to the end, they fought back several times in the second half. Head Coach Anfernee Cortez was proud of what he saw from his players, despite the loss.

GCSO wins 10th annual Battle of the Badges

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff's Office has been crowned 2025 Battle of the Badges champions. This was their 10th annual softball game. According to Sheriff Joey Kriete, this year's turnout looked to be their best yet.

Mavs secure first win on the road

MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, the Mavericks opened their season on the road against Oak Harbor and brought home a 49-6 win. Head Coach Brett Jay said he was happy with what he saw from his team. “I thought our effort was great, and I thought our attitude is great, and we're excited for the win, and we're going to clean some things up moving forward,” he said.

Reigning state champs open in dominant fashion

ROYAL CITY – The reigning 1A state champion Royal Knights kicked off their season in dominant fashion. What included a 48-point first quarter, the Knights were victorious over Kiona-Benton 68-0. “We executed pretty well in most areas. Kids were excited to get out there and play, and it was a bit of a mismatch physically. There are some areas we're still looking to get some of the pieces right, we're still working on getting their reads right and things like that, so lots to work on. But it was a great start for us,” Head Coach Wiley Allred said.

Jacks hope to build in year two of CWAC

QUINCY – After a promising first season in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, the Jacks girls soccer team is motivated. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said he was thrilled with what his team accomplished last year. “We were pretty happy with how far we got last year. We were able to win a district game the first year in the CWAC. We’re pretty proud of that accomplishment,” he said.

Warriors girls soccer looks to overcome new challenges

MATTAWA – After going 9-11-1the Wahluke girls soccer team will be facing some new challenges this season. According to Head Coach Cele Lopez, the Warriors have a young roster. “We have a new team, a lot of freshmen, a lot of girls who want to play, but they have never really played before. That's really a challenge,” Lopez said. “‘How can you combine the experienced girls with their groups?’”

Mavs volleyball playing with a warriors mentality

MOSES LAKE — After going 12-6 last season and falling short in the District Five 4A Championship, the Mavericks volleyball team is ready to run the table. Each year, they pick a new mantra, this year's being ‘Warrior mentality.’ “I looked at the team that we had coming back and the personalities. I asked them, ‘Why did I pick this?’ and they nailed it. They are goal-oriented. They're athletes, they want to win, they want to succeed, they don't give up, they strive to be better, they're constantly asking questions,” Head Coach Krystal Trammell said. Trammell said a mutual feeling of excitement filled the gymnasium when practices began. The Mavs volleyball team is energized and ready to start the new season.

Broncos cross country ready to compete

RITZVILLE – As the 2025 cross country season begins, the Lind/Ritzville Broncos are ready to learn. Head Coach Christina Heater said her team is a bit bigger than last year. “We're a pretty small team. Last year we had two seniors graduate, but I knew it would be growing for this year, because we had a number of eighth graders who would be freshmen,” Heater said.

ACH Warriors playing with a chip on their shoulder

COULEE CITY — This season, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors volleyball team will be looking to bounce back. Head Coach Katie Walsh said the team feels they fell short of what they wanted to accomplish last year. “Definitely a feeling of disappointment at the end of last season, not getting where we hoped to get. I think we didn’t perform as well as we could have. I think it’s different if you’re playing at your peak when you need to and you come up short, but we just didn’t perform like we knew we could, and so that was a bummer,” Walsh said. Last season, the Warriors finished 12-12. They graduated their only senior, Emma Whitaker, last season and return an experienced roster this season, Walsh said. She said the team was frustrated with last season’s ending.

Knights cross country ready to work

ROYAL CITY – For the Knights cross country team, it’s about more than getting to the finish line. Head Coach Ben Orth said it's about becoming your best self. “It's a competition amongst other teams, but the challenge is to be the best version of ourselves as we can be, and that's just the beauty of what cross country really is,” he said. “Every kid has to realize that challenge and be consistent, be disciplined, and put in the work and feed their bodies with good nutrition and get good sleep and all those things that help us make those incremental improvements.”

Trainers, coaches, athletes discuss benefits of summer programs

MOSES LAKE – As high school sports kick off this weekend, that means summer athletics is officially coming to an end. Local athletes all over the Basin have spent their summer playing in leagues like the Central Washington Sixers program.

COLUMN: Huskies enter Big Ten strong

The first weekend of college football is in the books. Fans were treated to highly competitive matchups like Ohio State versus Texas, Miami versus Notre Dame or LSU versus Clemson. While each of those top matchups delivered on their hype, I was also paying attention to another situation.

‘Softball saved me’

Ciarrah Knoll discusses her unwavering love for softball

MOSES LAKE – Ciarrah Knoll’s journey through softball is full of twists and turns to say the least. However, her love for the sport was never lost. In fact, she said the sport has somewhat saved her. “Softball was definitely my escape,” she said. “It was my way to just put my mind at ease. I would always ask my dad, like, ‘Hey, can we just go to the fields? Even if it's just for two buckets of BP, like whatever it may be, can we just go to the fields?’ And he was always willing to do that with me.”

Memorial bench to honor local community members

MOSES LAKE – On Friday, a park bench will be unveiled to honor the memory and legacy of Don and Mary Cunnington. Event organizer Rich Victor is excited to celebrate two members of the Moses Lake community that had an impact on him, he said.

McGill earns offensive player of week after Rodeo Bowl win

ELLENSBURG – Wildcats quarterback Kennedy McGill was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week, according to a statement by the conference. This comes after he aided the Wildcats to a 41-14 win over Colorado Mesa in the Rodeo Bowl.

Mavericks slow pitch motivated to win this fall

MOSES LAKE – After a strong 17-6 slow pitch season last fall, the Mavericks are eager to top their semifinal appearance in states this year. As the school year has started, they have returned to the field for practice.

Wahluke ready to prove they belong

MATTAWA — When Wahluke Warriors Head Coach Anfernee Cortez looks back at last season, he sees a great learning opportunity. Though they went 2-7, the Warriors headed into the off-season motivated to make a change, he said. “I know we didn't have the season we wanted or expected, but that just gave us a better mindset of how we need to attack the off-season and the things we need to do to get better," Cortez said. “I think that has been helping us create a mentality of the type of work we need to be doing, and the type of commitment we need.”

Jacks ready for new chapter under new leadership

QUINCY — This season, the Jacks will be under a new leadership but led by a familiar face: Seth Longwill. Longwill takes over as the Jacks new head coach this season and is focused on taking a different approach to practice. “We're really going to focus on doing the practices the right way," Longwill said. “We've already talked about our mentality in the off-season as well in the weight room and everything."

Broncos looking to make memorable gallop onto the field

RITZVILLE – As the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos hit the gridiron for the first time this season, senior Jerod Harder hopes to leave an impact. When he thinks about what kind of impact, he said he wants it to be a memorable one. “I want coaches to remember me, the town to remember me. I do this for my family. My family loves football, I love football. I just want to have fun and play the game and leave a leave a statement,” Harder said.

ACH Warriors hoping to rebound this season

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors put together a strong 10-3 season last year, but left with a sour taste in their mouth after a close loss in the 1B state semifinals. Head Coach Brandon Walsh said he was proud of what the Warriors did last year, despite the outcome. “Last year was a really good year for us. We lost in the semifinals, which was a little disappointing, you don't have hopes and dreams of going to the championship and come up one step short... we're hoping to build on that,” Walsh said.

Knights hungry for another state title

ROYAL CITY — The reigning 1A State Champions, the Royal Knights, are looking to continue their winning ways as the 2025 football season nears. Head Coach Wiley Allred said he wants his team always to feel challenged. “We take nothing for granted, and we've three returning starters on each side of the ball,” Allred said. “We've got a lot of new faces. They're learning, and they're going to grow all year, and we hope they improve as we go ... I think they're expecting to do well, but we take nothing for granted. It's always a challenge.”

Mavs motivated for a state run this season

MOSES LAKE — As the start of the 2025 season hits, the Mavericks bring in an experienced roster that has stayed hungry for a state title opportunity. Head Coach Brett Jay said the team has homed in on player development in the offseason. “We're going to focus on our locker room and develop every player we have. It's a yearlong process, our offensive linemen are all bigger and stronger, our receivers are bigger and faster, our backfield (quarterback and running back) is bigger and faster, and so it's exciting,” Jay said.

Mavs girls soccer ready to make noise this season

MOSES LAKE – After going 9-6-1 and making a playoff appearance last season, the Mavericks girls soccer team is eager for the fall 2025 season to start. Head Coach Alysha Overland said the team is looking to carry last year's experiences into this year.

GALLERY: Basin football almost here

MOSES LAKE – The 2025 football season is almost a week away with local high school football teams hitting the gridiron and preparing for week one. Here’s another glimpse into their practices. Our annual Gridiron Guide publication is right around the corner. Pick up a copy of the Columbia Basin Herald on Friday, Aug. 29, for a look at the upcoming high school football season.

COLUMN: Supporting local athletics this fall

MOSES LAKE – The end of August might be one of my favorite times of the year. It signifies the best season, Fall. I’ll finally get to dust off my favorite cardigan and I won’t bore you with the pumpkin spice latte hype.