Oregon
100 greatest girls athletes in Oregon high school sports history (Part 1)
On Feb. 3, 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5606, declaring Feb. 4, 1987, National Women in Sports Day.
Every year since, National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) celebrates female athletes’ accomplishments and honors the progress women in sports have made toward equality in participation and access.
Wednesday, Feb. 4, is the 40th NGWSD.
A year ago, longtime high school sports writer René Ferrán unveiled for High School On SI a list of the 50 greatest girls athletes in Oregon high school sports history.
Headed up by St. Mary’s Academy legend Anna Maria Lopez through No. 50 Ashley Smith of Oregon City, the list celebrated the rich history of the state’s top female athletes on the 39th anniversary of the creation of NGWSD.
Now, with NGWSD turning 40 this month, The Oregonian/OregonLive tasked Ferrán with adding to the list another 50 athletes who have made significant contributions to the state’s high school sports scene.
We’ll be counting down all week, starting today with No. 100 through No. 91. (The year listed beside each name is the year she graduated from high school.)
Let’s celebrate together the best of the best and their many achievements in their favorite sports.
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100. Piper Daskalos, Jesuit, 2023 (lacrosse)
The Crusaders picked up the mantle as the state’s preeminent girls lacrosse program from Lake Oswego at the end of last decade, ending the Lakers’ three-year championship streak in 2019 to start a run of five consecutive state titles for the Southwest Portland school.
One of the leaders of the changing of the guard was Daskalos, an attacker and midfielder who played on three title-winning teams from 2021-23, earning state player of the year honors in 2022, when she had 62 goals and 21 assists.
She repeated as a USA Lacrosse Magazine All–American her senior year, playing through a broken thumb during the postseason to net three goals in a 15-10 victory over Lake Oswego in the 2023 final. She went on to play at Johns Hopkins University, where she was an Academic All-Big Ten selection last year.
99. Sari-Jane Jenkins, South Salem, 2005 (softball, volleyball, basketball)
Jenkins grew up as the only girl among seven siblings, and she told a reporter at the University of Oregon newspaper, “I worshiped the ground my brothers walked on. I really look up to my brothers as role models.”
One older brother, Andy, starred for the Oregon State baseball team and played six years in the minor leagues, getting as high as Triple-A. Another, Riley, helped Linfield win the NCAA Division III football national championship in 2004.
And Sari-Jane? She earned 11 letters in three sports with the Saxons, twice making the all-state softball team as a catcher before moving to the outfield when she joined the Ducks, where she was a four-year starter and three-time all-Pac-10 selection. She is second on the school’s career stolen base list with 96 and seventh in hits with 230.
98. Isabella Thorndike, Ashland, 2008 (skiing)
Thorndike won the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA) combined state title in 2006 and 2007 — denying Olympian Jacqueline Wiles the overall title in 2007, the Canby skier’s senior season — and placed second as a senior in 2008.
While Thorndike twice won the overall championship, she never won an individual event title. She twice finished second in the giant slalom and placed third in the slalom each of her final three seasons.
Thorndike didn’t pursue a racing career after college, instead translating her love of the outdoors to becoming a floral design artist in the Medford area and exhibiting with Art Beyond.
97. Rebecca Kim, McNary/Tigard, 2006 (golf)
Kim completed her high school career as a three-time state champion, winning her first two clad in the blue and white of McNary before transferring to Tigard for her final season.
She was the first girl to win three solo titles in a row, twice winning by 10 strokes, and she had a then-state-record round of 69 in each of her three championships.
After her senior year, she won the Oregon Golf Association’s Public Links Championship and the Tournament of Champions, then headed to Duke University, where she played for two years before turning professional.
She played in six USGA events — the 2005 U.S. Girls’ Junior, the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2006-07, the U.S. Women’s Public Links in 2007-08 and the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.
96. Stephanie Horton, Tigard, 2007 (track and field)
Nine years ago, The Oregonian/OregonLive asked whether anyone would break several of the state’s longest-held track and field records. While some of them have fallen since that time, one that stands is Horton’s 2005 mark in the shot put.
Horton became the first girl in state history to break the 50-foot barrier at an April 27, 2005, dual meet in Forest Grove, throwing 52 feet, 7 inches — the best throw of the year nationally and breaking North Valley’s Christy Ward’s previous state record by almost four feet.

She won the 4A state titles in the shot put and discus that year before heading to the University of Kansas, where as a freshman she won bronze in the shot at the U.S. Junior National Championships.
As a Jayhawks junior, she was an All-American with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, throwing 54-2.5 to set the school record (since broken by Alexandra Emilianov).
95. Taylor Wallace, Henley, 2008 (track and field, cross country)
Wallace won 10 individual state championships and three relay titles with the Hornets, becoming the first Oregon runner to win the 1,500- and 3,000-meter gold medals four consecutive years.
She holds the 4A state record in the 800 and 1,500, although she never ran the 800 at the state meet. She did run the 400 as a senior, placing fourth — and then came back to anchor the Hornets to a third victory in the 4×400 to cement the team championship.
Wallace won two 4A cross country state championships, running the fastest time of the four title-winners as a junior and winning Gatorade Runner of the Year as a junior and senior.
After her senior season, she finished third in the 1,500 at the Pan American Junior Championships in 4:31.76 and won the 2009 Steve Prefontaine Award as Oregon’s best high school runner. She then ran at the University of Oregon, where she became a steeplechaser, qualifying for the NCAA championships in 2012.
94. Kennedy Blanton, Forest Grove, 2025 (wrestling, soccer, track and field)
As girls wrestling continues to increase in popularity, Blanton’s state-record 163 wins likely will fall one day, but until then, the two-time 6A/5A state champion and four-time finalist sits atop the list for most wins and most pins (126) during her four years in a Vikings singlet.

Blanton wasn’t just a standout on the wrestling mat. She was a four-time 6A state qualifier in the pole vault, winning a district title as a freshman and clearing 10 feet in all but two meets her final two seasons. Her steady vaulting never resulted in making the podium at state, as tiebreakers kept her from medaling three times.
She also was a midfielder on the soccer team, playing varsity all four years as the Vikings won 38 games during that time. She decided not to wrestle in college and is attending Oregon State.
93. Madison Odiorne, Summit, 2015 (golf)
Odiorne made history at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis on May 19, 2015, when she carded an even-par 72 to finish at 4-under 140, tying Daniele Giles of Crater atop the 5A leaderboard to secure a piece of her fourth state title.
Odiorne became the first Oregon golfer (boy or girl) to win four individual championships at any classification. She almost didn’t achieve that distinction — as a freshman, she finished behind Churchill senior Caroline Inglis, who was going for her fourth title, but Inglis was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.
Odiorne’s victory her senior year garnered her the National High School Senior Girls’ Golfer of the Year award from the National High School Coaches Association. Later that year, she won the Future Collegians World Tour girls 13-19 division title.
The two-time Junior America’s Cup team member played at Washington State, where she had three top-10 finishes and seven in the top 20 before graduating and pursuing a medical career. She is now a board-certified physician assistant in cardiology at the Bend Heart and Lung Center.
92. Jamie Stone, Centennial, 2017 (swimming)
Stone dominated the sprints during her four seasons at the Gresham school, becoming the first Oregon swimmer to win four state titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles.
She broke the state record in the 100 freestyle as a junior, winning her third championship in 49.46 seconds. Wilsonville’s Helena Jones broke the record in 2023, but Stone still holds the 6A mark.
Stone never broke the state meet record in the 50 free but held the state record of 22.68 that stood until Kaitlyn Dobler of Aloha surpassed it four years later.
Stone swam at the University of Arizona, where she was a stalwart on the Wildcats freestyle relay teams, earning All-American honorable mention in the 200 and 800 relays as a freshman and sophomore.
91. Sarah Conner, Central Linn, 2019 (wrestling, softball, volleyball, basketball)
Conner was one of the pioneers of girls wrestling in the state, joining North Medford’s Kyleigh Lopez her senior year as one of the first four-time girls state titlists. Lopez and Conner won their first three at OSAA exhibition meets, and they helped the OSAA inaugurate the official girls state championships, with Conner earning the 135-pound title.
Conner was a five-time USA Wrestling All-American, winning a Fargo Cadet national title in 2017, and a three-time Junior National All-American. She was the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Outstanding Female Wrestler of the Year for the state as a senior.
That spring, she was a first-team 2A/1A all-state selection as an outfielder for the Cobras softball team, the second time she was an all-state honoree (she made the second team as a sophomore). She was a second-team all-league volleyball player, and she made the 2A all-tournament first team after helping Central Linn place fourth in the state in basketball.
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The Oregonian/OregonLive will be counting down the state’s 100 greatest girls athletes throughout the week. Check back Tuesday for Part 2 of the series.
Oregon
Couple married during Bad Bunny’s halftime show got engaged on the Oregon coast
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The wedding that took center stage during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was not staged, the marriage scene was real. And the couple who tied the knot on national television – Thomas and Eleisa – initially got engaged on the Oregon coast!
A representative for Bad Bunny told ABC News that the couple had invited the superstar singer to their wedding, and he instead invited them to be married during his halftime performance.
But months before their unforgettable mid-game marriage and dancing with Bad Bunny during his hit “Baile Inolvidable,” the California couple got engaged in Oregon.
Portland wedding photographer Nate Meeds said Tommy emailed him in 2024 about taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest, where he planned on proposing to Elly.
RELATED | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: Surprise cameos, setlist and message to America
Meeds, who has been a full-time wedding photographer for seven years, said they went to Ecola State Park for the photography session.
“I hid in the bushes and photographed as he popped the question. And then we went for a walk on the beach and took some pictures together,” Nate remembered. “It was just the windiest day at the Oregon coast, as we know it can be. And there was just hair going everywhere, you know, October at the coast. And it was cold, but they were the sweetest couple.”
Elly and Tommy get engaged on the Oregon coast over a year before being married during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show – Image courtesy Nate Meeds
Nate said he was hosting a Super Bowl party at his house when he recognized Tommy and Elly on stage.
“All of a sudden a couple pops up and is getting married, and I go, ‘oh, I know those guys!’” Nate said. “I photographed their proposal like a year-and-a-half ago. And so, it was just kind of a shocking moment.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever been more surprised in my life than to see a couple that I photographed before, getting married on the biggest stage.
Nate said he reached back out to Tommy to congratulate him, and the newlywed replied with some kind words.
“Super kind, super fun. Obviously extremely excited to be getting engaged,” Nate said of his time with the couple.
A couple dressed as a bride and groom participate in the Bad Bunny performance during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The couple tied the knot about five minutes into the performance at Levi’s Stadium, complete with an officiant declaring the couple married, and the newlyweds sharing a kiss as dancers and musicians surrounded them.
After the couple stepped aside, Lady Gaga and Los Sobrinos, a Puerto Rican salsa band featured on Bad Bunny’s latest album and residency, performed part of “Die With a Smile.”
Bad Bunny served as a witness, signed the marriage certificate, and even included a real wedding cake, ABC reports, with the moment designed as part of the show’s broader celebration of Puerto Rican culture.
Oregon
Oregon Ducks’ Potential Path Through Newly Announced Playoff Dates
The NCAA and the College Football Playoff have announced the future dates and bowl sites for their quarterfinal and semifinal games next season.
Many Oregon Ducks and college football fans in general are disappointed to learn that there are 38 days separating the early first-round matchups for the No. 5 through No. 12 seeds in the field. until the National Championship on Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first round matchups will take place from Dec. 18-19 at the higher seed’s home field. After that, here are the College Football Playoff dates for the quarterfinals and semifinal matchups. This includes a two-week break between the quarterfinals and semifinals.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Dates/Locations
- Dec. 30, 2026: Fiesta Bowl (State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona)
- Jan 1, 2027: Rose Bowl (Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California)
- Jan 1, 2027: Peach Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia)
- Jan 1, 2027: Cotton Bowl (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)
College Football Playoff Semifinals Dates/Locations
Jan 14, 2027: Orange Bowl (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
Jan 15, 2027: Sugar Bowl (Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana)
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Oregon’s College Football Playoff History
In the first year of the College Football Playoff model in 2015, replacing the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) model, Oregon lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-20 in the national title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Under Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Ducks beat the Florida State Seminoles 59-20 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to get to that highest stage.
Oregon’s next appearance in the College Football Playoff would come ten years later in 2015, with the current 12-team playoff format in place. The Ducks were given the No. 1 seed, but were upset by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, 41-21.
This past season, Oregon beat the James Madison Dukes at home in front of a raucous Autzen Stadium crowd, 51-34. After that, they shut out the Big 12 Conference champion Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl, 23-0.
The 2025 season came to a close in a blowout fashion against the eventual national champion Indiana Hoosiers behind their own Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the Peach Bowl, 56-22.
Dan Lanning in the College Football Playoff Spotlight
Through the big pressure College Football Playoff matchups on a neutral field under coach Dan Lanning, his teams have struggled to make a winning impact. In the last two season-ending losses against Big Ten foes for the Ducks, they have been outscored 97-43.
On the brighter side, Oregon has continuously gotten better and better under Lanning since taking the job back in 2022. He’s gone from not making the College Football Playoff field in his first two seasons to the quarterfinals in 2024 and then the semifinals in 2025. Lanning’s growth as a premier recruiter, leader, and competitor has been evident in his early beginnings with the Ducks’ program.
Oregon
Oregon women can’t overcome 23 turnovers in home loss to No. 9 Ohio State
The Oregon Ducks put forth a spirited effort against No. 9 Ohio State during a women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena.
But that wasn’t enough to overcome a glut of turnovers and an inability to keep the Buckeyes out of the paint during an 80-64 loss.
The Ducks matched their season high with 23 turnovers. They committed 18 in the first half and 22 through three quarters to trail 56-44.
Oregon cleaned up its turnover issues in the fourth quarter, but failed to prevent the Buckeyes’ offense from thriving inside. Ohio State scored 34 points in the paint compared to 18 for Oregon.
“Disappointed,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves told reporters. “Obviously, in the outcome and kind of how we played … The turnovers just killed us.”
The Buckeyes specialize in forcing turnovers. They lead the conference in steals per game (12.7), forced turnovers (22.8) and turnover margin (plus-9.6).
“That’s who they are, that’s what they do …” Graves said. “They were just relentless.”
Oregon, which averages 15.1 turnovers per game, forced Ohio State into 20 turnovers. But the Buckeyes shot 51.9% from the field while the Ducks shot 36.7%.
“We just weren’t as sharp and composed as we needed to be (today),” Graves said. “I didn’t coach with poise and we didn’t play with poise. And it showed.”
WHAT IT MEANS
The Ducks (18-8, 6-7 Big Ten Conference) moved to 1-5 against currently ranked teams, having also fallen to No. 2 UCLA, No. 8 Michigan, No. 10 Iowa and No. 12 Michigan State. Oregon won 68-61 at No. 22 Maryland last weekend.
The Ducks likely must win two of their remaining five games to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.
Oregon last committed 23 turnovers this season during a double-overtime 92-87 loss to Michigan on Dec. 29.
TOP PERFORMERS
Ari Long led the Ducks with 16 points. Sarah Rambus and Mia Long each scored 13.
Ohio State’s 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmila took advantage of Oregon’s lack of size by scoring a career-high 23 points. She shot 10 of 12 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds.
Kennedy Cambridge scored 20 points, and her sister, Jaloni Cambridge, added 19.
Kennedy Cambridge made a career-best five three-pointers on seven attempts.
“She was feeling it tonight,” Graves said.
NEXT UP
The Ducks play at No. 24 Washington (17-6, 7-5) at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.
“We’ve got a whole week to kind of lick our wounds and heal up,” Graves said.
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