Philomath seventh grader Olivia Hernandez displays the American flag after winning in Guatemala. (Photo provided by Sal Hernandez)
Running around a wrestling mat in Guatemala last week while carrying the American flag, Philomath seventh grader Olivia Hernandez reached another milestone in the sport by winning a second gold medal at the Pan-American Championships.
Olivia Hernandez brought home plenty of hardware from her appearance at the Pan-American Championships. (Photo provided by Sal Hernandez)
Not only did Hernandez win gold in the 42-kilogram division and help the United States earn the team title at the U15 women’s freestyle tournament, but she brought home the “Golden Boot,” a trophy presented to the most outstanding wrestler. Hernandez had three pins and a technical fall win — all of those matches ending in the first period. In all, she spent 3 minutes, 44 seconds on the mat.
It’s the latest in a string of significant wrestling accomplishments for the Philomath Middle School student, who is the daughter of Sal and Marty Hernandez and wrestles for the Corvallis-based Beaver Dam Wrestling Club.
Hernandez advanced to the Pan-American Championships after winning the U15 division earlier this spring in the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Nationals in Spokane, Washington — which in hindsight appears to have been the tougher of the two tournaments.
In Guatemala City, Hernandez defeated Natalie Lippstreu of Puerto Rico on a 10-0 technical fall in 1:18, pinned Maria Narvaez Pineda of Nicaragua in 52 seconds and pinned Fathima Coronado Jarez of Guatemala in 1:05 to reach the championship match.
In the 42-kg finale, which is equal to about 92 pounds, Hernandez pinned Katia Ramos Espinoza of Mexico in 29 seconds.
The United States won all 10 individual gold medals and crushed the opposition at the May 22-25 event in Guatemala City.
Hernandez also dominated at last year’s Pan-Am tournament in El Salvador, winning the U15 division with four wins while outscoring her opponents by a combined 34-0.
From left, City Councilor Rich Saalsaa, Mayor Christopher McMorran, student winners Sylvie Schroeder and Tessa King, and City Councilor Diane Crocker pose for a photo Thursday at City Hall during a special celebration luncheon. (Photo provided by city of Philomath)
2. City celebrates student mayors
Philomath students Sylvie Schroeder and Tessa King, who earlier this spring were announced as the city’s winners of the “If I Were Mayor Contest,” participated in a special celebration Thursday.
The two winners received a police escort to City Hall, official certificates, lunch with the mayor and two city councilors, a tour of City Hall and a ride back to school in a Philomath Fire and Rescue engine.
Schroeder, the grades 4-5 winner, said she would start her job as mayor “by making our town more inviting,” following up with a suggestion to create a new “Welcome to Philomath” sign. She also wants to fix Philomath’s bumpy roads, add more community activities such as “a movie night at the park” and a “springtime parade.” And she’d like to see a grocery store in town.
King, the grades 6-8 winner, focused her essay around the idea of building a performing arts center. She went deep into the details on how the center would benefit students and the community while showcasing local talent. Plus, she reasoned how the center would solve student scheduling challenges. She even got into the cost of running the facility.
“Even though we’re so grateful to be able to use our current space in the high school, it’s not always a pleasant experience,” she wrote. “The bleachers and cafeteria are used daily. … If a Performing Arts Center was created, we could prohibit any type of food or drink except water, which would bring maintenance bills down, and improve everyone’s overall experience.”
The event started with the students escorted to City Hall by Philomath Police Sgt. Brandon Thurman. They received recognition for winning the contest and had lunch with Mayor Christopher McMorran, City Councilor Diane Crocker and City Councilor Rich Saalsaa while discussing their submissions and city efforts.
Afterward, they went on a tour of City Hall and learned about the various departments. Philomath Fire and Rescue Lt. Paula Anderson then drove them back to class in a fire engine.
“A peaceful evening in the roses with this wild one,” reads the caption of this Rain Drop Farms Instagram photo that was posted in 2020. (Photo by Rain Drop Farms via Instagram)
3. Flower farmers included in book
Erin McMullen and Aaron Gaskey, who grow flowers on Rain Drop Farms in Philomath, are included in a book released recently entitled, “The Flower Farmers: Inspiration & Advice from Expert Growers.”
The 272-page book, written by Debra Prinzing and Robin Avni, features 29 North American flower farms.
Here’s a description:
“The Flower Farmers’ presents a curated group of favorite growers, from industry leaders to pioneering newcomers. Each grower shares their specialty knowledge and seasonal practices so that readers will be able to create a similar relationship with flowers and discover sustainable techniques for their own gardens.”
Rain Drop Farms has been growing specialty-cut flowers in Benton County since 1999.
“Our passion is in the fields, growing the highest quality, freshest flowers for people who love flowers,” Rain Drop Farms wrote for its website. “Our blooms are never flown in, they are always transported in water, and cut at the perfect time to allow you to enjoy the longest lasting flowers.”
The book, which can be purchased on Amazon, is illustrated with an impressive collection of photos. As of the end of this week, book ranked No. 1 in the “new releases in gardening and horticulture reference” category on Amazon.
If McMullen’s name sounds familiar, she won a seat on the Philomath School Board in the recent special election.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
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