McNary guard Gunner Smedema drives baseline in the Celtics 66-41 loss to Canby (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings). The McNary boys basketball team came out flat in their season opener, and the senior-laden Canby squad made them pay. The Cougars led by double-digits for most of the game,…

McNary wrestler Hunter Ruberto (blue singlet) earns a takedown in the first round of his match with Roseburg’s Ethan Leaton (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings). The McNary wrestling squad won two of their three duals in their first competition of the season on Friday, Dec. 3, defeating Century…

Avery Buss prepares to go up for the shot after getting double-teamed (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings). The shorthanded McNary girls’ basketball team kept the score within single-digits for most of the contest, but couldn’t contain Central Catholic’s Gretta Baker down the stretch. The senior shooting guard had…

Senior forward Tyler Copeland is expected to be one of the top players for the McNary basketball squad this season (File). Although the McNary boys’ basketball team returns nearly their entire roster, the Celtics will be looking to replace one of the top players in…

Zander Rhoades is expected to be one of the leaders for the McNary swim team this season (File). With more than 70 student-athletes on the roster, the McNary swim program was beginning to build on a solid foundation after the 2020 season. But when the…

Eric Sim, aka The King of JUCO, has built a substantial social media following over the last year (Submitted). Lift big, throw gas, hit bombs. That is the motto of former Salem-Keizer Volcanoes player Eric Sim. While the mantra never got him to the big…

After earning honorable mention all-league recognition in the spring, KJ Custer is expected to be one of the top returners for the McNary girls’ basketball team (File). Coming off of one of their most successful seasons in recent memory, the McNary girls’ basketball program heads…

Jonathan Canchola (left) placed second in the 138-pound division at the MVC District Meet last season (File). After losing only three seniors and filling a roster with more than 60 athletes, the McNary wrestling program has a ton of depth heading into the 2021-22 season.…

Roop is now the McNary High school record holder in the 5,000 meters (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).   Connor Roop prided himself on training hard during the summer, and in the Celtics second to last meet of the season, the junior cross country runner saw the fruits…