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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Quick read: A breakdown of the Breidenthal controversy ... Breidenthal removed as board chairman ... Jacksonville teen sentenced in sex abuse case ... Quick read: A breakdown of the Breidenthal controversy ... Breidenthal removed as board chairman ... Jacksonville teen sentenced in sex abuse case ... Former Grizz coach brings state team By GREG STILES MailTribune.com By GREG STILES Posted Nov. 9, 1999 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM By GREG STILES Posted Nov. 9, 1999 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM » Social News Prep Notebook — — It's not the pinnacle Jerry Wolfram envisioned when he became the head football coach at North Bend seven years ago. Nonetheless, the former defensive coordinator for the Ashland Grizzlies is savoring a long-awaited state playoff appearance as the Bulldogs prepare for Friday night's game against North Medford at Spiegelberg Stadium. Wolfram left his secure surroundings, where the Grizzlies, in a four-year span, won two state titles and finished second once, for a prep football backwater. He longed to run his own program, build a winner and, perhaps someday, build a champion to rival Ashland. He landed in North Bend, a school that has never been past the quarterfinals and owns a total of six playoff victories. Unlike in Ashland or even neighboring Coos Bay, there wasn't a consuming passion on Friday nights. Wolfram discovered complacency was among his first opponents. There also were other obstacles. Key players didn't turn out or transferred to neighboring Marshfield, where the regular-season winning streak is up to 54. We've finally gotten there, but it's taken awhile, Wolfram says. We have between 875 and 890 kids, and I think that's why it took a little longer than I expected. We still need to convince more of those quality kids wandering around to come out. I think we've gotten most of them, but it's been a long process. Doubtlessly, he could've walked away and gone to greener pastures. The thought crossed my mind several times during the course of seven years here, admits the 40-year-old. What I saw though was a little bit of progress every year. In 1997 and 1998, the Bulldogs were 4-5 and knocking on the playoff door. In 1997, Churchill beat us in the last second (36-30), and last year, Sheldon beat us in the last minute (14-7), Wolfram says. The critical thing has been getting the kids to believe in themselves in tight games. North Bend's wins over Sheldon (20-14) and South Eugene (14-7) the final two weeks of October secured the Bulldogs' first playoff appearance since 1990. North Bend defeated Thurston -- a team that later gave North Medford fits -- 26-12 the second week of the season. North Bend was 2-1 when it ran into Churchill, and the 81-7 licking the Lancers laid on the Bulldogs might have caused less-hearty souls to pack it in. We played poorly that night and Churchill played well, Wolfram says. It was a tribute to the kids to put that aside and reach their goals of a winning season and a playoff spot. We didn't even watch films that next week, didn't mention it, we just started preparing on Sunday for the next game. I have to give our seniors credit. There are only nine of them, but they've done everything they can to help our team. They're not the standout players; our juniors are the more visible kids -- next year will be our best team. But the seniors have done the little things behind the scenes. While Wolfram knows the SOC, its coaches and tradition well, his players are less familiar. The kids haven't been there before and don't know the stigma and haven't put anyone on the pedestal, Wolfram says. The kids were in a summer league with Ashland. They believe they can compete with teams like that. But granted, we have to play our best game to date to get past North Medford. — SPLASHDOWN-- Craig Manning spent the spring of 1998 playing water polo with the Ashland Water Polo Club. When the fall school season rolled around, Manning wanted to keep on playing for the Ashland Grizzlies. The only problem was that Manning attended school at South Medford and wasn't eligible to play for Ashland. Water polo isn't governed by the Oregon School Activities Association. But the state's coaches, hoping one day in the not-so-distant future that water polo will become an OSAA sponsored sport, adhere to OSAA guidelines. Although Ashland would've welcomed Manning's participation, it had to say no so the Grizzlies' state tournament hopes wouldn't be jeopardized. Thus, Manning, then a senior, was out of luck. Or so it seemed. Manning loved playing water polo too much to give it up. So, as a senior project, he began working on what by next year could be separate programs for North and South Medford. Manning lined up pool space, a coach and a dozen players and Medford had a co-school, co-ed water polo team for the first time. But because of the program's late entry, games were hard to find. But other schools were good about giving us short games and scrimmages, says Denna Manning, Craig's mom. They wanted us to grow. Craig Manning has gone on to the University of Colorado. But Denna Manning remains the linchpin for the club, working with parents, helping with finances, coordinating with schools and administrators. Southern Oregon University student Eric Day, the team's first coach, will also coach South's swim team this winter. He was assisted by Damara Fredette-Lehman this year as the club expanded from 12 to 23 players, including eight girls from South and seven from North. Although the team worked out at Hawthorne Park early in the season, it later retreated to SOU's indoor pool. Ashland was really nice to let us piggyback, so we could use their clocks and nets, Manning says. We want to buy our first net -- just one for practice. We haven't got one yet because they cost $1,100. There's also the matter of shot clocks, scoreboards, balls and caps -- which identify players like jerseys do in other sports. But, step-by-step, water polo is taking root in the shallows of local pools. Next year we're hoping to have a girls team from each school so we can qualify for state, says Manning. Anyone interested in getting involved in water polo at either school can call Manning at 772-2415 or e-mail her at By GREG STILES MailTribune.com By GREG STILES Posted Nov. 9, 1999 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:21 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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