Ryker Phillips of Vancouver placed second in the 50-meter backstroke, and was a finalist in four other events at the U.S. Paralympics Spring Swimming Nationals over the weekend at the University of Minnesota.
Competing in the S9 category, Phillips swam the 50-meter backstroke in 35.17 seconds. A senior at Mountain View High School who swims for the Columbia River Swim Team, Phillips also took third in the 50 butterfly (33.06), fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:18.64), fifth in the 50 freestyle (30.76) and a seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:08.35).
Paralympic swimmers are placed in categories according to the severity of their disability. S9 athletes are among the athletes with the least disability.
Battle Ground tops Prairie in rugby
The Battle Ground Bulls used a 19-point second half to beat the Prairie Wolf Pack 29-10 on Saturday in the first high school rugby match between the teams.
Daniel Monen, Tyler Boohm, Trevor Ingram and Jake Sachen scored tries for the Bulls, and Quinten Martinez kicked two conversions. Monen was Battle Ground’s man of the match according to coach Daniel Simental.
The score was tied after a first half that saw Prairie, playing with the wind at its back, with the more dangerous possession.
Tyler Didericksen and Jack Fletcher had the tries for Prairie in the match at Laurin Middle School.
Battle Ground and Prairie are the two Clark County teams in the Rugby Oregon Varsity Premiership, the division for programs that draw players from only one high school. This was the first match between the schools that previously played as one team.
Prairie visits Newberg this Saturday, while Battle Ground travels to Oregon City.
Clark County posts shutout — The Clark County Warriors defeated Linn-Benton on Saturday in a Rugby Oregon Club Championship Division match at Albany.
The official score was 35-0 under the league’s mercy rule, though Clark County scored 10 trys in the match. Scoring trys for the Warriors were Nick Gadbaw (two), Jason Vailea (two), Ian Dea, Darren Curle, Brock Busch, Jaren Rhea, Jesse Saulo and Jessie Kiesser. Curle kicked 10 successful conversions.
The Clark County team, which is based in Camas, is now 4-0 on the season playing in the division of Rugby Oregon’s program for clubs that draw players from multiple high schools. The Warriors host the Vandals from Portland at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Liberty Middle School in Camas.
Miracle League season opens
The Miracle League of Vancouver will begin its spring season on Saturday with opening ceremonies at Burton Elementary School.
Former major league baseball player Brian Hunter and Vancouver mayor Tim Leavitt will be among those on hand for the 9 a.m. festivities.
Miracle League provides baseball for youths and young adults with special needs. Saturday is the first day of games for the eight-week spring season.
Burton Elementary School is at 14015 NE 28th St.
To assist the Miracle League program, the Mattress Pro store at 6709 NE 63rd Street, Ste. 102 in Vancouver will discount all products 5 percent Friday through Sunday, and will donate 5 percent of its weekend proceeds to the Miracle League of Vancouver.
Locals score for Timbers Academy
Vancouver residents Kenton McGuire and Peter Prescott scored goals over the weekend for the Portland Timbers Academy teams. McGuire scored a goal for the under-18 team in its 2-1 win over San Juan Soccer Club. Prescott tallied for the under-16s in their 4-0 Saturday win over Whitecaps FC Residency.
Also on Sunday, James Nosack of Ridgefield and Anthony Macchione of Camas were on the roster for the Timbers Reserves, but did not play in Portland’s 2-1 win over VSI Tampa Bay.
Monda fourth in triathlon
Josh Monda of Vancouver placed fourth in the Beaver Freezer Sprint Triathlon on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.
The race involved a 500-yard swim in a pool, a 12-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Monda, 31, finished in 58 minutes and three seconds. Matt Lieto, a professional triathlete from Bend, won the race with a time of 54:33.
Tyler Burton benefit
A buffet and auction to assist in Tyler Burton’s rehabilitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday at Chronis’ Restaurant and Lounge, 819 Main St., in downtown Vancouver.
Burton is a former Mountain View High School football player who suffered a severe brain injury when he was assaulted on Oct. 28 in Chico, Calif. A member of the Shasta College football team at the time of the assault, Burton nearly died from his injuries.
To learn more about Saturday’s event, call Chronis’ Restaurant at 360-690-0032.
COMMUNITY SPORTS NEWS is published each Tuesday. To submit items, send e-mail to paul.danzer@columbian.com or call 360-735-4521.
