Salem-Keizer High School
Sports Booster Club
Thank you to our Signature Sponsors:
Green Acres Landscaping, KYKN Radio 1430, and ServiceMaster of Salem
Information:
"The Beacons" celebrate people who have shown excellence and leadership through high school athletics. Some have actually participated in S-K athletics, some have coached and/or administered, and some have just made sure high school athletics in Salem-Keizer actually happen. Many have fulfilled all those roles. But each of our Beacons are people who have been role models for the rest of us, shining a light on the importance of high school athletics.
We will also celebrate the 'best of the best' of today's high school athletes as we recognize the Athlete of the Year for each of the OSAA-sponsored sports offered in the Salem-Keizer School District. This brings together today's athletes with those who have gone before. Today's athletes get to see the shoulders upon which they now stand and those being honored as Beacons get to see a glimpse of the future."
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.
Congratulations to The 2023-24 Beacons
School Beacons
Community Beacons
Community Beacons Presenter, Pete Hoffert and Don Kerzel: Alan Bushong and John Piper
These are people who have made a difference in our community through athletics.
2023-2024 Coach of the Year
Jesse “Max” Price
In 2023 the South Salem baseball team baseball team finished #2 in the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) 6A grade point average (GPA) rankings with a 3.71. In '24 the Saxons inproved their team GPA to 3.72 and finished 3rd.
In '23 the baseball team finished with the highest winning percentage in South Salem history at 22-4, a winning percentage of 84.6. The '24 team ended the season in the semifinals with a record of 25-4.
Coach Price's two year record of 47-8 has been accomplished with mostly underclassmen. The '24 season included only one senior.
South Salem won the Central Valley Conference (CVC) in both '23 and '24.
Coach Price was the CVC Coach of the Year in both '23 and '24.
During his seven year tenure as head coach, Coach Price has had 3 teams make it to the semifinals of the OSAA tournament.
Probably his most impressive baseball accomplishment at South Salem occurred with the 2023 season. Due to vandalism of their home site – Gilmore Field - South Salem played every game of the '23 season “on the road”, having no real “home” field upon which to practice or play games. Under Price's leadership, his Saxon team overcame the hardship to win a conference title, put together the aforementioned 22-4 record, and earned a playoff spot.
Coach Price is not just an accomplished baseball coach but an equally accomplished teacher of Language Arts, winning a Crystal Apple award in 2024.
2023-2024Â
Salem-Keizer
Athlete of the Year Nominees
Also at “The Beacons” we will honor the Athletes of the Year for each OSAA-sponsored sport. The Athlete of the Year for each sport will be announced at the event.
Fall Sports
Football
Hatimu Letisi – South Salem
Athan Palmateer – South Salem
Jamahl Wilson – North Salem
Volleyball
Brooke Friesen – Sprague
Sidney Friesen – Sprague
Malena Mathis – South Salem
Boys Cross Country
Justin Bell – West Salem
Garrett Fenske – West Salem
Jack Meier – West Salem
Girls Cross Country
Nelida Dalgas – North Salem
Gitte Lonigan – West Salem
Avery Meier – West Salem
Boys Soccer
Anthony Flores - North Salem
Andrew O'Dell – West Salem
Jonathan Ruiz – McNary
Girls Soccer
Maya Alston – McNary
Morgan Duke – West Salem
Amity Rogers - Sprague
Winter Sports
Boys Basketball
Steven Adams - McNary
Jackson Leach - West
Jarod Stanley - Sprague
Girls Basketball
Avery Buss - McNary
Sadie Paterson - South Salem
Emma Zuniga - West Salem
Boys Swimming
Jackson Brown - Sprague
Jarrod Coy - West Salem
Licos Navarro - South Salem
Girls Swimming
Sophia Buswell - South Salem
Abby Evans - West Salem
Odelya Laroya - West Salem
Boys Wrestling
Cougar Bailey - West Salem
Andrey Cernev - Sprague
Kenya Johnson - Sprague
Girls Wrestling
Reese Lawson - West Salem
Ali Martinez - McNary
Mariko Sonis - North Salem
Spring Sports
Boys Golf
Elijah Clendening - McNary
Riley Quillin - West Salem
Clayton Watters - Sprague
Girls Golf
Emily Keel - Sprague
Isabella Morrow - Sprague
Riley Sparkman - West Salem
Boys Track and Field
Mihaly Akpamgbo - West Salem
Logan Hilty - West Salem
Abdoulie Jallow - McKay
Baseball
Carter Nelson - South Salem
Gavin Price - South Salem
Teagan Scott - South Salem
Softball
Braeli Martin- West Salem
Callie Stubbs -Â Sprague
Rowan Thompson - South Salem
Girls Track and Field
Jackie Bier - North Salem
Avery Meier - West Salem
Isabel Zamora Mercado - McKay
Boys Tennis
Jabin Barkes - Sprague
Lincoln Basl /Jacob Hoda (doubles) - Sprague
Noah Leichty - South Salem
Girls Tennis
Anna Ainsworth - Sprague
Sadie Paterson - South Salem
Tirzah Tarbox - Sprague
Thank you Salem-Keizer.Â
Once again you showed
that high school sports matter.
that high school sports matter.
Athletes of the YearÂ
Boys Track and Field
Mihaly Akpamgbo: West Salem
Boys Track and Field Presenter: Soren Sorensen
Girls Track and Field
Isabel Zamora Mercado: McKay
Girls Track and Field Presenter: Don Berger
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.