Sports

Hoot Owl is one of the oldest vineyards in Alexander Valley, but for the past seven years it’s been the training and competition course for Healdsburg’s cross country team. Known as the Top of the World for its expansive vineyard views, the 3.1-mile course provides an aerobic hill workout for runners—a challenge not only for Greyhounds but for visiting teams as well.

Their invitation hinged on being one of the top three Division 5 teams at the North Coast meet last weekend, Nov. 22, and the team pulled it off – finishing in third place behind the expected winner San Francisco University and Convent & Stuart Hall, also of San Francisco.

With just three regular-season matches remaining, the team’s focus is beginning to shift toward the NCS Championship at Baywood Country Club in Arcata on Oct. 27, where they’ll look to finish their remarkable season in style.

If nothing else the final score, 69-34, shows the Greyhounds were in the game, even after a forfeit the previous week kept them off the field. For the first time this year, they started with a full roster as the early season suspensions expired, giving the team a chance to get a tough game under their belt before the NBL-Mountain league debut this Friday in San Rafael.

The scoreboard showed a tie game, 14-14, which reflected the two touchdowns each the scored in the first half. But with Healdsburg's star player out with a twisted ankle, the second half was a disappointment.

The 76th annual Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament produced not only good high school basketball, but singing, dancing, rapping and some old-fashioned foolishness at the Smith Robinson Gym...

Said Meher Dhiman, " “The most valuable thing I’ve learned in these four years is to play for every point. It’s never too late to make a comeback—when games get hard embrace it, and leave it all out on the court!”

The judges selected senior Max Morris to the top tier as “Specialist of the Year,” based on his standout performance as kickoff receiver, as well as tight end and defensive linebacker.

Healdsburg’s cross country program is historically strong, but this year’s runners have set a high bar even for Greyhounds. At the North Bay League Championships meet last weekend, on Nov. 8, three of the top four finishers in the boys varsity, and five of the top 10, represented Healdsburg.

In their first-ever team appearance at the CIF State Championships, Healdsburg delivered a confident performance to finish 11th in the state, establishing a new benchmark for the program and proving they belonged among the high school elite.