Sports Archives - Page 40 of 53

Begay Cuts Ribbon on World-Class Golf Course He Helped Design

By Lee Allen, ICTMN

The ‘ka-ching’ of cash registers and golfers hollering ‘Fore’ made last week’s opening of the Sewailo Golf Course outside Tucson a resounding success.

Sewailo (Flower World in the Yaqui language) is an 18-hole, par 72 course that measures 7,400 yards from the championship tees (with five tee boxes on each hole to accommodate players of all abilities). According to Sewailo’s general manager, Dan LaRouere, “The $28-million course will employ up to 90 workers, many of them tribal members.”

Notah Begay III, who designed Arizona’s Pascua Yaqui tribe’s course, said that Sewailo “will revolutionize golf in this part of the country as one of the top courses in Arizona. The course design, from routing of the holes to landscape architecture, will put us in strong consideration for a top ranking.”

Begay won four PGA tourneys, became a businessman and a philanthropist before morphing into his day job as a commentator for NBC’s golfing events. He is also president of NB3 Consulting, the group that designed Segwailo.

Begay walked what was once a desert before conceptualizing a layout for the course – it’s the third course he has designed.

“These projects start from the standpoint of culture and it’s important we maintain a respect for culture and tradition in the communities in which we work,” Begay said. “I asked for guidance from our Creator as we shaped this course.”

During the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, a parade of speakers, many of them members of the tribal council, took turns at the podium to praise those who helped make it happen.

“We’ve gone from predictions that ‘you can’t do anything with this barren land’ to what we’ve already built – and we’re not going to stop here,” said Chairman Peter Yucupiccio.

Ty Butler collaborated with Begay on the course design and told the opening day crowd of some 300 attendees, “Vision and leadership from the tribe gave Notah and I a path to walk down, and as a result, we have a world-class golf course that will make an impact, not only in Southern Arizona, but nationally.”

Before hitting the ceremonial first tee shot, Begay said, “When I first came here, there was a lot of uncertainty about what a world-class golf outlet might do for the community, how it might stimulate economic growth. Times got tough between groundbreaking on 12-12-12 and ribbon-cutting a year later, but this is a true collaboration. True in the sense that when times got tough, nobody ran. We stayed together and worked through it because we believed in the worth of the outcome.”

“I’ve seen the best courses in the country. I’ve played the best courses. And things don’t get any better than what you’ll find at Sewailo.”

Jude Schimmel Nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team

Native News Online, December 4, 2013

LOUISVILLE – Louisville women’s basketball junior guard Jude Schimmel was nominated for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Allstate Good Works Team, announced on Tuesday.

Schimmel is a tribal member of the Confederated Tribe of Umatilla Indians, based in Pendleton, Oregon.

The award recognizes a select group of college basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service. In its second year, the Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® honor players at all levels of college basketball who represent the sport’s finest in the areas of leadership and charitable achievements amongst their peers. The student-athletes nominated for this prestigious award embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back.

From the 84 WBCA nominees and 118 NABC nominees submitted by coaches and sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, special voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.

The 2014 nominees uphold impressive service resumes detailing unique and inspiring stories of servitude. From volunteering with sick and underprivileged children to lobbying state legislature for new laws that could help save lives, this exceptional group of young men and women demonstrate the positive impact student-athletes can have on and off the court.

Schimmel has been a leader on the basketball court and an active member in the community as well as a role model in the American Indian community. When she began playing at Louisville, Schimmel made occasional speaking appearances at reservations and conferences around the country. After the Cardinals’ run to the 2013 national championship game, Schimmel traveled to speak at 17 Indian reservations in nine states, shaking hands, taking pictures and delivering an encouraging message to American Indian populations.

“When Native Americans come to our games, they are like, `Our kids look up to you. You are the biggest inspiration’,” said Schimmel. “It means a lot to us. We’re just trying to do better and be better not only for us but because we want other Native Americans to know they can do it, too.”

Schimmel has become one of the most reliable ball handlers, scorers and defenders for Louisville this year. She also won the Elite 89 academic award last season as the player with the highest grade-point average (3.737) participating in the Final Four.

Notah Begay III: Leading by Example

By Lee Allen, ICTMN

All kinds of platitudes are applicable here, like, “Lead, don’t follow” or “To thine own self be true.”

Notah Begay III, perhaps the most ubiquitous Native American in contemporary society, subscribes to many of them—“The whole thing comes full circle,” says the good-looking man who tells a rags-to-riches story about becoming the first Native American on the Professional Golf Association Tour.

Now an NBC golf analyst, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Begay grew up with the sport after being introduced to the game by his father. How he got from a scrawny kid youngster in Albuquerque to a resounding success on several fronts should provide initiative to other young Natives chasing a dream.

“At the age of 6, I started collecting and recycling aluminum cans to raise enough money to buy a bucket of balls. By age 9, still a skinny little Indian kid, I introduced myself to the club pro and told him I’d work for nothing if I could practice on off-hours. From then until I went to college, I’d show up at 5:30 every morning and put in a couple of hours performing meaningless tasks like emptying trash, sweeping floors and parking golf carts. Then I’d get to practice from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. every day—at no charge. I thought it was the greatest job in the world, because I got to hit as many golf balls as I wanted.”

By age 17, he was the No. 1 junior golfer in the country (with friend and later Stanford college roommate Tiger Woods at second). “There weren’t a lot of brown guys out there at the time, just me and Tiger,” he says.

Graduating with a degree in economics, Begay went on to immediate professional success, winning four tournaments before he got injured. Then depression set in with a stint in jail for drunken driving. “Sometimes fate presents opportunities,” Begay said. “I landed on my feet and made the appropriate changes in my life to become better.”

Today the 41-year-old star gets to talk about the sport he loves as a commentator as well as designing new golf courses—like the Pascua Yaqui tribe’s 18-hole course set to open next month in Tucson.

Begay’s fame and fortune allowed him to expand his horizons through entrepreneurship (KivaSun Foods) and philanthropy (The Notal Begay III Foundation, a.k.a. NB3F), both directly connected with Native health.

In 2010, he and a partner invested in a company selling bison meat, “a challenging project,” he says, and one that again called on him to persevere.

“I thought because I was Notah Begay that I could do anything, and I found out quickly that’s not the case. In the extremely competitive food industry, nobody cares how far you can drive a golf ball, they just care if the product tastes good and is priced right.

“There were some dark days with the company nearly at the point of being down to our last dollar. We hung in there, solved problems and formed industry partnerships [sourcing bison from the 57-tribe InterTribal Buffalo Council]. Today we’re looking to surpass $5 million in sales and should approach copy0 million in sales in the next two years.”

Which brings us to the concept of cultural full-circle. “All the stuff in the for-profit world transferred into our non-profit work with the NB3 Foundation,” he says. A percentage of KivaSun sales gets donated to NB3 to support Native American health efforts through sports and education. “This is a lifelong commitment for me,” Begay says. “I’ll be doing it for decades to come, because that’s how long it will take to provide services to our Indian communities to address childhood obesity and the diabetes epidemic.

“If we don’t start making changes in our lifestyle choices, our people’s lifespans will continue to get shorter. Native American lifespans are the shortest of any U.S. minority group, and it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Asked to offer up something the general public doesn’t already know about him, Begay says he tries to set an example for others by being a good role model. “Marriage and fatherhood are not static commitments, and I work diligently to be a better husband and father. Home and family is the starting point of my day—it’s where I get my strength. And if I can’t set a good example within my own home, how can I help anybody else’s child?”

The man-who-made-it offers a message to Indian children trying for their own successes: “Don’t limit your dreams. Educate yourself, take care of yourself, push yourself to fulfill your goals.”

Hawks secure another victory

By Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Tulalip Heritage Hawks win 70-33 against Shoreline Christian. More to follow

Hawks tip-off against Shoreline Christian at 7:30 tonight

By Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Tonight, Tulalip Heritage Hawks play against the Crusaders at Shoreline Christian High School. Last year the Hawks won a regular season game against Shoreline 58-17. Meeting them again at districts, the Hawks won 67-40.

Shoreline will be looking to redeem themselves after a devastating defeat early in the season, losing again to the Hawks in the first round of districts.

Hawks dominate first three opening games of the season

Heritage Senior Shawn Sanchey with the tip-off over Yakima Tribal.Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News — Heritage Senior Shawn Sanchey with the tip-off over Yakima Tribal.
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

Heritage Boys have a promising start

By Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Tulalip − Heritage High School Basketball is off to a great season start, winning 84-59 against Yakima, first time rivals this season. The last of a three home game series which opened this year’s season, the Heritage Hawks played an intense game with tension on the court and in the audience. With the December 7th win, the Hawks season continues with a 3-0 streak.

“It was a good experience to play other natives from across the mountains,” said senior Shawn Sanchey.

Shawn Sanchey cuts in for a lay up.
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

This was the first year Heritage has played Yakima, adding a new rival to the 1B circuit. In the past the only rival school was Lummi.

Junior Anthony Mclean said, “It was a good game to learn from.”

This game closes out the first week of basketball games for Heritage, who stands undefeated winning against Cedar Park Christian/Mountlake Terrace Lions 64-50, a close game with Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes at 56-52, and Saturday’s game against Yakima Tribal won 84-59. Key players to watch named from these three games are #21 Robert Miles Jr., #24 Keanu Hamilton, and #20 Payton Comenote.

“We play as a team. Play as a team and win as a team,” said Hamilton. After the win against Yakima.

Keanu Hamilton Stacks Yakima Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News — Keanu Hamilton Stacks Yakima
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

“The boys played an excellent game, they continue to improve with each one. As we continue on we will practice hard and continue to build the team,” said Cyrus Fryberg, assistant coach for the Heritage Hawks.

Heritage Basketball games have been gaining an audience, with so many at the Yakima game the bleachers were packed. Some of the notable audience members were tribal elder Ray Moses, former school board member Don Hatch Jr., former coach Leon Enick, Hank Williams, Marysville School District Superintendent Dr. Becky Berg, and longtime education advocate Dale Jones.

“It means a lot to see the elders come to watch. Teatmus (Ray Moses) even comes to the practices and will talk to the boys, and give them support,” said head coach Marlin Fryberg.

Tulalip Heritage Hawks have opened the season strong, and will continue to show strength as they strive for the State Championship. The next rival game will be round two against Yakima Tribal on December 21^st.

Prep boys basketball: Tulalip Heritage 84, Yakima Tribal 59

Source: The Herald, December 13, 2013

MARYSVILLE — Payton Comenote scored 25 points and Shawn Sanchey grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with his four steals as Tulalip Heritage defeated Yakima Tribal in a nonleague game.

At Tulalip Heritage H.S.

Yakima Tribal 14 17 17 11 — 59

Tulalip Heritage 22 26 23 13 — 84

Yakima Tribal–Isiah Strom 9, Jospeh Sanchey 5, Justin Shike 2, Donovan Arquette 9, Andrew Hoglin 17, Justin Shilow 12, Michael Gamboa 1, Shane Iko 4. Tulalip Heritage–Dontae Jones 9, Brandon Jones 5, Robert Miles 12, Shawn Sanchey 11, Keanu Hamilton 21, Alan Enick, Payton Comenote 25. 3-point goals–Comenote 4, Miles 2, Sanchey, Strom 2, J. Sanchey, Hoglin 2, Iko. Records–Yakima Tribal not reported. Tulalip Heritage 3-0.

Prep boys basketball: Tulalip Heritage 56, Mount Vernon Christian 52

Source: The Herald, December 6, 2013

MOUNT VERNON — Keany Hamilton scored 20 points and added eight rebounds and five steals as Tulalip Heritage defeated Mount Vernon Christian in a nonleague game. Jonathan deHaan led the Hurricanes with 20 points and two 3-pointers in the loss.

At Mount Vernon Christian H.S.

Tulalip Heritage 12 18 14 12 — 56

Mount Vernon Christian 15 13 13 11 — 52

Tulalip Heritage–Dontae Jones 7, Brandon Jones 4, Robert Miles 7, Shawn Sanchey 13, Keanu Hamilton 20, Willy Enick 5. Mount Vernon Christian–Tyler Houtsma 11, Jonathan deHaan 20, James Hurd 7, Riley Hood 3, Andrew Graves 8, Joshua Twedt 5. 3-point goals–Hamilton 3, Sanchey 3, D. Jones, Enick 1, Houtsma, deHann 2, Hurd 1. Records–Tulalip Heritage 2-0 overall. Mount Vernon Christian 0-2.

Prep girls basketball: Tulalip Heritage 62, Mount Vernon Christian 55

Source: The Herald, December 6, 2013

MARYSVILLE — Adiya Jones-Smith scored 31 points and Tulalip Heritage beat Mount Vernon Christian in a nonleague game at Tulalip Heritage H.S.

Mount Vernon Christian 6 19 18 12 — 55

Tulalip Heritage 19 9 20 14 — 62

Mount Vernon Christian–Natalie Sakuma 9, Kimber-Lynn Anderson 3, Jacqueline Case 19, Melyssa Whitener 5, Grace Kuipers 13, Rooyen 4, Noste 2, Kennedy Lucas 0. Tulalip Heritage–Katia Brown 6, Adiya Jones-Smith 31, Shania Moses 0, Paris Verda 2, Desirae Williams 0, Aliya Jones 4, Kaela Tyler 19, Santana Shopbell 0. 3-point goals–Sakuma, Anderson, Case 2, Kuipers 3, Tyler 2. Records–Mount Vernon Christian 1-1 overall. Tulalip Heritage 2-0.

Hawks hold nothing back

Brandon Jones looks to make a passAndrew Gobin/Tulalip News — Brandon Jones looks to make a pass
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

Heritage Boys set the bar high with season opener win

Article and photos by Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Tulalip − From warm up to the last point, Tulalip Heritage Hawks could not be stopped at the Northwest 1B season opener against Cedar Park Christian/Mountlake Terrace Lions, winning 64-50.

The Hawks flew into action, scoring first and maintaining a solid five point lead throughout the game, never slowing down, executing each play with precision. On the rebound or steal, the Hawks led the charge up and down the court.

Head coach Marlin Fryberg Jr. said, “This is a great start to the season. We played against this team last year three times and they beat us each time. In practice, the emphasis was to open the season real strong and show them and the other teams how Tulalip will play this year.

A steal with a smile, Dontae Jones regains the ball for Tulalip.Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News — A steal with a smile, Dontae Jones regains the ball for Tulalip.
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

Dontae Jones, known for his quick feet, moved low and fast dodging many Lions players, flashing a smile as he breezed by. Brandon Jones and Shawn Sanchey with the rebound wasted no time getting to the hoop. All players proved to be strong shooters, with Payton Comenote sinking three pointers throughout the game.

The MVP of the evening, though, was sophomore Robert Miles Jr. He scored 24 points for the Hawks, with 16 rebounds and four steals.

Robert Miles Jr. with the rebound
*Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News*

Fryberg said, “All of our boys played a great game, but Robert was outstanding. As a sophomore, he plays basketball the way you would hope a senior would play.”

According to Fryberg, the goal this year is to return to the state championships, and to win.