HIGH SCHOOL

Salem-Keizer athletes sign to play college at Oregon, Western Oregon, Gonzaga and others

Pete Martini
Statesman Journal

A number of athletes at Salem-Keizer high school signed letters of intent this week to pursue their athletic careers at the college level.

Below is a look at the athletes who were reported to the Statesman Journal.

Paige Alexander signs a letter of intent to play soccer at the University of Oregon during a signing day ceremony at West Salem High School on Nov. 13, 2019.

West Salem

West Salem had six athletes sign to colleges this week, including several at the Division I level.

In girls' soccer, teammates Paige Alexander and Sarah Rice both signed to play at Pac-12 schools, with Alexander signing with the University of Oregon, and Rice signing with the University of Arizona.

Also, soccer player Olivia Orozco signed to play at Western Oregon University.

West Salem’s girls' soccer team had a strong season, winning the Mountain Valley Conference and advancing to the OSAA Class 6A state semifinals.

From the boys' soccer team, Andres Labate signed to play at Gonzaga University. He helped the Titans win the conference title this season.

In volleyball, Emily Cheavtharn signed to play at Pacific University. She helped the Titans reach the state playoffs this season.

Also, James Friedman signed to the University of Iowa in gymnastics.

North Salem's Abi Swain is awarded a fourth place medal following the OSAA Class 5A girls cross country state championship at Lane Community College in Eugene on Nov. 9, 2019. Swain and North Salem each placed fourth.

North Salem

A pair of North Salem runners who have left their mark at the school, Abi Swain and Hailey Lewetag, signed letters of intent to compete as teammates at the next level.

Swain and Lewetag both signed to compete in cross country and track and field at Portland State University.

Titles:Saturday's OSAA roundup: Kennedy, St. Paul win volleyball state championships

Championships:OSAA soccer: Stayton boys, Woodburn boys, Woodburn girls battle for state titles

Both runners helped the Vikings place fourth at the OSAA Class 5A cross country state championships last week, and both helped the North Salem girls win the 5A team state title in the spring.

Swain won the Mid-Willamette Conference individual title this cross country season, and placed fourth at state. Lewetag, who won the 800-meter state title in the spring track season, finished 19th at the cross country state championships this season.

South Salem's Victoria Stafford (23) during the South Salem High School girls basketball game against McNary High School in Salem on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019.

South Salem

Victoria Stafford signed to continue her basketball career at Saginaw Valley State University.

Last season, Stafford helped the Saxons win the Mountain Valley Conference and advance to the second round of the 6A state playoffs.

Stafford is a post player who was listed as 6 feet tall on last season’s South Salem roster.

This season, the Saxons have a jamboree at Sunset on Dec. 4, then open the season on Dec. 6 at South Eugene.

Pete Martini covers high school and college sports for the Statesman Journal. You can contact Pete at pmartini@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6730 and follow @PeteMartiniSJ