BY TUCKER CRAIG

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9 STORY AND PHOTOS BY TUCKER CRAIG The Vale Vikings were once again Eastern Oregon League conference champions after the 2016 season, but failed to reach their ultimate goal of repeating as the Oregon 3A state champi- ons after winning the title in the 2014 and 2015 season. The Vikings will be a young team in 2017 after losing key players to graduation, but it is a hungry one that is ready to prove the naysayers wrong. “Last year’s team felt like it was riding the state champi- onship from 2015 and didn’t put in the work. This year feels different in that everyone is focused on trying to win state again,” said Senior line- man Wyatt Currey, 2016 EOL defensive second team and of- fensive first team selection, re- garding the feeling this year’s team has compared to the 2016 team. For coach Jeff Aldred, this is the type of mentality he is look- ing for out of his players. “Right now I’m looking for guys to step up and become leaders for our team. Hopefully that will start to work itself out as we start to get closer to ARGUS OBSERVER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017 /INDEPENDENT ENTERPRISE, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 VALE Full of young talent, Vikings look to get back in title picture Vale’s Wyatt Currey, front, and Karson Brown practice form tackling.

Transcript of BY TUCKER CRAIG

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY TUCKER CRAIG

The Vale Vikings were onceagain Eastern Oregon Leagueconference champions after the2016 season, but failed to reachtheir ultimate goal of repeatingas the Oregon 3A state champi-ons after winning the title inthe 2014 and 2015 season.

The Vikings will be a youngteam in 2017 after losing keyplayers to graduation, but it is ahungry one that is ready toprove the naysayers wrong.

“Last year’s team felt like itwas riding the state champi-onship from 2015 and didn’tput in the work. This yearfeels different in that everyoneis focused on trying to winstate again,” said Senior line-man Wyatt Currey, 2016 EOLdefensive second team and of-fensive first team selection, re-garding the feeling this year’steam has compared to the2016 team.

For coach Jeff Aldred, this isthe type of mentality he is look-ing for out of his players.

“Right now I’m looking forguys to step up and becomeleaders for our team. Hopefullythat will start to work itselfout as we start to get closer to

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VALEFull of young talent,

Vikings look to get back in title picture

Vale’s Wyatt Currey, front, andKarson Brown practice form tackling.