Congratulations to our 2023 Beacons.Â
The Beacons Assist Athletic ParticipationÂ
The Salem-Keizer Beacons have announced $2500 payouts to each of the six Salem-Keizer high schools for the purpose of increasing or ensuring athletic participation. Schools have or will use the money for purchasing running shoes for cross country athletes, bringing on additional coaches for both boys soccer and girls cross country coaches, and renting tennis facilities to assure that non-varsity participants have an opportunity to play. Those are just three examples. Other schools indicate they will continue to use money raised and disbursed by The Beacons to remove any financial barriers faced by a student-athlete who wishes to participate.
The Beacons raise money by recognizing outstanding former and current athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters from the Salem-Keizer School District. The Beacons are dedicated to helping remove any financial barrier to athletic participation faced by a student-athlete.
If you would like to donate, click HERE.Â
High school sports matter.
The 2022-23 Beacons
School Beacons
Community Beacons
These are people who have made a difference in our community through athletics.
2022-2023 Coach of the Year
Juan Llamas
McKay High School
McKay High School
Coach Llamas just completed his 5th season at McKay. And a great season it was. Under his leadership the Royal Scots succeeded at unprecedented levels, recording a 17-0 record overall, 9-0 in Mid-Willamette Conference play, and, ultimately, winning the 5A Oregon School Activities Association state boys soccer championship. It was McKay's first state championship in any sport since 1986.
Llamas grew up in Boardman, Oregon, the son of farm workers. He excelled in soccer where, as a senior co-captain, his Riverside High School team played in the 2007 state championship game, falling 2-1. He continued his career at Columbia Basin College. It was at CBC that fate stepped in. After one season as a player, an injury forced a move to assistant coach. And so he dipped his toes in the waters of coaching.
Coach Llamas is a graduate of Western Oregon University and has worked for the Salem-Keizer School District for seven years. He currently is a behavior specialist at McNary.
From a record of 4-4-7 in year one to 17-0 and a state championship in year five, Salem-Keizer and McKay High School couldn't be happier that he not only dipped his toes into the coaching waters back at Columbia Basin but, indeed, found the water quite to his liking.
2022-2023Â
Salem-Keizer
Athlete of the Year Nominees
Fall Sports
Football
Josiah Davis – North Salem, Sr.
Drew Rodriguez - Sprague, Sr.Â
Zach Wusstig - South Salem, Sr.
Volleyball
Kayleigh Carpenter - South Salem, Sr.
Maddie Corpe - McNary, Sr.
Sarah Jones - Sprague, Sr.
Boys Cross Country
Brady Bliven - West Salem, Sr.
Jack Meier - West Salem, Jr.
Logan Schwartz - West Salem, Sr.
Girls Cross Country
Sara Abbott - Sprague, Sr.
Nelida Dalgas - North Salem, 9th grade
Avery Meier - West Salem, 9th grade
Boys Soccer
Hudson Brunk - McNary, Sr.Â
Diego Garibay - McKay, Sr.
Angel-Nicolai Herrera - West Salem, Sr.
Girls Soccer
Lauren Duke - West Salem, Sr.
Maggie Lapray - South Salem, Sr.
Amity Rogers - Sprague, Jr.
Winter Sports
Boys Basketball
Jando Gonzalez, McNary, Sr.
Jackson Leach, West Salem, Jr.
Liam Spencer, Sprague, Sr.
Girls Basketball
Lizzy Bennett, West Salem, Sr.
Mady Diaz, West Salem, Sr.
Carly Skogstad, Sprague, 9th grade
Boys Swimming
Jacob Cook, Sprague, Sr.
Mika Oprea, West Salem, Jr.
Jaden Sohl, South Salem, Sr.
Girls Swimming
CC Baurer, South Salem, Sr.
Abby Evans, West Salem, 9th grade
Mia Piexoto, West Salem, Sr.
Boys Wrestling
Max Blanco, McNary, Jr.
Josh Camillo, Sprague, Sr.
Josh Friesen, McNary, Senior
Girls Wrestling
Reese Lawson, West Salem, Jr.
Ali Martinez, McNary, Jr.
Mariko Sonis, North Salem, Jr.Â
Spring Sports
Boys Golf
Elijah Clendening, McNary, Jr.
David Harvey, West Salem, Sr.
Colby Sullivan, McNary, Sr.
Girls Golf
Bekah Forrette, McNary, Sr.
Emily Keel, Sprague, Jr.
Bella Morrow, Sprague, 9th grade
Boys Track and Field
Mihaly Akpamgbo, West Salem, Jr.
Demari Thompson, North Salem, Jr.
Wil Charles, Sprague, Jr.
Baseball
Brandon Stinnett, Sprague, Sr.
Grant Strother, Sprague, Sr.
Cole Weiland, South Salem, Sr.
Softball
Ali Martinez, McNary, Jr.
Rowan Thompson, South Salem, Jr.
Mia Zachary, West Salem, Sr.
Girls Track and Field
Jackie Bier, North Salem, Jr.
Brooksie Isham, South Salem, Sr.
Isabel Zamora, McKay, Jr.
Boys Tennis
Jake Horn, Sprague, Sr.
Caleb Skipper, McNary, Jr.
Adam Son, South Salem, Sr.
Girls Tennis
Hannah Bradshaw, Sprague, Jr.
Tirzah Tarbox, Sprague, Jr.
Andria Yao, South Salem, Jr.Â
Thank you Salem-Keizer.Â
Once again you showed
that high school sports matter.
that high school sports matter.
Athletes of the YearÂ
The Beacons
The primary goal of The Beacons is to remove any financial barrier that might prevent any student in any Salem-Keizer School District high school from enjoying the benefits of athletic participation. We are dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate because Salem-Keizer high school athletics focuses on excellence in academics, leadership, character development, and competition as vital components in student achievement.