Cardinals have new basketball coach

WAITSBURG-The Cardinal boys basketball team has a new head coach. Coach Roy Ramirez has retired and Westin Wallace, a new high school teacher, was hired to lead the program.

Wallace is a Toledo, Washington native and has played basketball since his youth. He played in three State tournaments with the 2B Riverhawks and received first-team All-State honors. At Toledo, Martin Huffman (a WHS alum) was Wallace's Principal.

After high school, Wallace played a year of college basketball at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions shut down the NWAC Tournament the year his team reached the Elite 8.

After graduating from SPSCC, Wallace received his teaching credentials at Eastern Washington University. He coached middle school basketball at Reardan for a year, was the assistant JV coach in his second year, and was the head JV coach last year.

Wallace said he is happy to be coaching the young men in Waitsburg, not just into great basketball players but into great men.

This year, the team is working on reestablishing itself as a hard-nosed defensive team and setting each other up for success in offense. 

The players will be at a team camp in Ilwaco, Washington, for the week of June 24 – 27. The seven boys attending camp include seniors Lucas VanHoose and Jackson Karl. The boys will play a few games each day and then spend time bonding at the beach, the arcade, and during other activities. 

Wallace would like to thank the Waitsburg Booster Club and the Waitsburg Lions Club for their generous contributions so the boys can experience this camp.