Cottonwood Chronicle

Prairie takes 2nd at Dusk 'Til Dawn Tournament

Tara Schlader and Kristin Wemhoff carried out the final step of their senior project this past weekend by hosting a 16 team JV and varsity bracket all night volleyball tournament at Prairie High School’s gymnasium starting at 4:00pm on Friday evening. The first part of the tournament was pool play where all 8 varsity teams and all 8 JV teams played all the other teams in their division. After those results, teams were matched up in a single elimination tournament to determine the overall winners. Prairie made it to the championship round in both divisions.
The varsity squad went undefeated during pool play, beating Mullan, Centennial Baptist (of Caldwell), Asotin, Horseshoe Bend, Tri-Valley (Midvale/Cambridge), and Lighthouse Christian (Twin Falls), and receiving a bye as one of the teams cancelled 2 nights before the tournament. Then they went into the single elimination tournament beating all teams to bring them to the championship game. They met Horseshoe Bend. They won the first game, lost a battle in the second game, and then lost the third - losing their only match of the night, thus losing the championship! The athletes participating on this team were Tara Schlader, Julia Rehder, Kristin Wemhoff, Alli Geis, Taylor Riener, Riley Enneking, Lexi Schumacher, Chloe Rowland, and Holli Schumacher.
In the JV division, Prairie had three teams; Prairie Red, Prairie White, and Prairie Black. These teams had to face off against Meadows Valley (New Meadows), Tri-Valley, Centennial Baptist, Lewiston, Lighthouse Christian, and each other. All three teams represented well. In the single elimination tournament, Prairie White ended up in the championship, playing Lewiston for the title. After a three game battle as well, Lewiston aced them out for the win. The players on the Prairie White team were: Kylie Schumacher, Ellie Nuxoll, Sierra Oliver, Rebecca Seubert, Ashlyn North, Avery Riener, and Katelyn Riener.
A big shout out to everyone who helped pull off this event that finished up at around 9:30 am Saturday morning. A lot happens behind the scenes to make an event like this happen and be as successful as it was. We have just the type of community to do this very thing. From Travis Mader helping the girls with invitations to all schools in Idaho and beyond and setting up the tournament play, to Lisa Riener organizing concessions, to Jennifer Enneking being the “go to” adult at the tourney, to Annette Wemhoff and Shelley Schlader providing breakfast for every athlete and coach, to Laurie Lorentz for helping organize rooms for teams to use as their “base camp!”, to Jon Rehder for being there making sure we had everything we needed in those last minute moments, to Tara Rowland for bringing in last minute blankets and pillows for teams that needed extra, and for the many others who helped out in anyway.
Tara and Kristin would especially like to thank the sponsors who were very generous and donated to the tournament so it could happen. A huge shout out to:
Inland Cellular, Livewire Electric, the Hangout, Camas Prairie Mini Storage, Arnzen’s Building Construction, Joe Forsmann Accounting, Lori Mader, Advanced Welding, Rieners, the HUB, Forsmann Accounting, Nuts 4 Storage, Uhlenkott Well Drilling, Schlader Photography, PCI, Tire Guy, and Coyotes. You guys are awesome and we really appreciate all the support you give to our schools repeatedly!

Tara Schlader and Kristin Wemhoff with their sponsors poster at the Dusk ‘Til Dawn Tournament. They combined to make the tournament their senior project. Photo by Julie Schumacher.

Varsity members plus some of the Prairie Black JV team relaxing in between matches. From left are Taylor Riener, Ember Martin, Tara Schlader, Aubree Rehder, Lexi Schumacher, Tamden Pecarovich, Riley Enneking, Alli Geis, Julia Rehder and Kristin Wemhoff. Photo by Julie Schumacher.

Alli Geis attempts to block a Lighthouse Christian hitter.

Holli Schumacher sets the ballas Taylor Riener, Kristin Wemhoff and Chloe Rowland watch.

Julia Rehder puts the ball past a blocker as Tara Schlader gets ready to play defense.

Lexi Schumacher serves. Also shown is Kristin Wemhoff.

Riley Enneking spikes the ball against Tri-Valley. Also shown is Julia Rehder.

Tara Schlader winds up for a spike as Chloe Rowland watches.

Taylor Riener pokes the ball away from a blocker. as Kristin Wemhoff watches.

Alli Geis goes for a spike as Kristin Wemhoff watches.

Kayla Schumacher during a timeout with the Prairie Black JV team. Shown are Kaylie Lockett, Sydney Shears, Aubree Rehder, Tamden Pecarovich and Hailey Hanson.

Ember Martin serves for the Prairie Black team. Also shown is Kaylie Lockett.

Hailey Hanson gets ready for a spike as Aubree Rehder watches.

Tamden Pecarovich sets the for for Hailey Hanson as Kaylie Lockett watches.

Avery Riener sets the ball for the Prairie White JV team. At right is Kylie Schumacher while in back are Sierra Oliver and Ashlyn North.

Kylie Schumacher blocks a spike as Sierra Oliver watche.

Harlee Brannan serves for the Prairie Red JV team as Grace Uhlenkott watches.

Grace Uhlenkott bumps the ball as Taeler Key watches.