Patterson Put Out After 32 Years With Naselle
The Naselle School Board took 15 minutes Monday to end Lyle Patterson’s 32-year boys basketball coaching career.
The board exited from a 15-minute executive session, seconded a motion from superintendent Robbie Johnson, and unanimously voted for C squad coach Ryan Bjornsgaard to replace Patterson.
Johnson and Bjornsgaard both played for Patterson.
Naselle JV coach Bob Torppa, Patterson’s five-year assistant, resigned after the board vote.
Torppa said the board “didn’t have the spine” to stand up for Patterson in the face of a hostile minority.
Former board member Gilbert Haataia had presented the board with a petition circulated in Naselle that favored rehiring Patterson by a vote of 230-27.
The board offered Patterson a one-year contract last June, but learned of a loophole and reopened the position. Torppa said he didn’t want to compete with Patterson, but applied for the job at Patterson’s behest.
Torppa said he and several friends will boycott all Comets games, and Naselle volunteer coach Tim Wirkkala won’t assist Bjornsgaard.
Patterson’s career record at Naselle was 623-230, with 25 appearances at the State B Tournament that netted 18 trophies. Naselle played for the title, and lost, five times, most recently in 1992.
Cougars beat trio to Bush
Mike Bush, unknown in Washington prior to the football season, has orally committed to play basketball at Washington State.
Bush, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward, transferred to Kent from Mercersburg Academy, a boarding school outside of Pittsburgh. He lives with his brother, who played at Seattle University, and attends Kent-Meridian.
Bush had 13 touchdowns through five weeks of the football season for the Chargers. He also returns kicks and plays cornerback. He sat out last weekend’s game, the Chargers’ first loss, because of eligibility questions.
Bush, who grew up in California before moving east, chose the Cougars over Cal State Fullerton, Miami and Colorado.
Down to serious business
District volleyball tournaments begin in earnest Saturday, with the Whitman County tourney at Rosalia.
Tekoa-Oakesdale aims to wrap up a perfect Whitman league season today at Palouse against Garfield-Palouse.
Other postseason volleyball openers are: Oct. 30 - District 8-4A at Mt. Spokane High, Bi-County League at Ritzville, and Panorama League at the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds; Nov. 1 - District 7-3A at Frontier League champ; and Nov. 8 - District 7-2A at Mt. Spokane and District 7-1A at Mead High.
Serving the Saxons
Ferris has lost five volleyball games all year, three in one night to Mead. Ferris has a 45-4 match record in the GSL since 1995.
Changing sports
With three regular-season football games left and most of the other fall sports just nearing playoffs, it’s hard to believe winter sports are right around the corner. Gymnastics practice begins Nov. 10 with basketball and wrestling the next Monday.
, DataTimes