Sports
2006
____________ 15
Club cheerleading focuses on competition
J acob G ianuzzi
Staff Reporter
Cheerleading: cheer
squads yelling encouragingly
using rhythmic cheering for
a sports team. This is not
the case with competitive
cheerleaders who haye
intense competitions of
their own. Cheer clubs from
around the nation meet to
compete.
Nicole Stadell, sophomore,
is a part of the senior 4-5
level which is the highest
level of the competitions
and she competes through
Thunder Elite Cheerleading
in Clackamas. They perform
routines against rival cheer
clubs such as West Coast
Extreme.
"It is a mix of gymnastics,
stunts and dance. We don't
really cheer during meets,"
Stadell said.
Rachel Sebastian, senior,
competes for West Coast
Extreme in Tigard. Sebastian
works as a back base and
her job is to make sure that
the girl in the air at the time
is safe. She recently stopped
participating in competitive
cheer but competed
previously for five years.
Teams travel to places
Stadell said cheerers from
competitions to end so the
such as Texas and Calif, for
Thunder Elite Cheerleading
turnout is less than it should
national meets. Thunder
have achieved multiple
be," Sebastian said.
Elite won the 4-5 level at
scholarships for college.
Those cheerleaders
JamFest in Calif, last year.
have some high standards
Stadell said she is interested
Their routines last two-and
considering their current
in doing cheer competitions
a-half minutes
turnout is hundreds
and they practice
of kids and parents.
often during the off
"You have to
season. Practices
want to do it; it's
occur three times
more intense then
per week and last
most people think
up to three hours
cheer competitions
per practice.
can be," Stadell
"Cheering is
said.
definitely a big
"Compared
time commitment,
to football I think
that's what made
it's as intense but
me quit because
in different ways.
it interfered with
Football is more
Members of the West Coast Extreme squad compete
school and work,"
winning oriented
in Honolulu, Hawaii. Marissa Clark, junior, and
seniors Samantha Swartz, Kylie Phillips, Korissa
and if you lose
Sebastian said.
Mehdikhan and Rachel Sebastian practiced many
its less fun than it
Stadell said a
hours to perfect their routine.
would be if you win
background in
Photo
submitted
by
Rachel
Sebastian
while in cheer it's
gymnastics or
more of the thrill
dance is a great
in
college
and
is
interested
everyone gets from the stunts
way to get to the 4-5 level.
Oregon
State
University,
we perform," Sebastian said.
She also did soccer for four
Thunder Elite
years and if helped her get in which has a good cheering
squad.
Cheerleading will have a
good physical condition for
The
competitive
cheering
cheering.
local competition sometime
world
is
taken
seriously
and
in Dec. Until then, Stadell
"A history in gymnastics,
is
frequently
in
local
news.
even a small one, can help
and her teammates will be
"People who participate
practicing their two-and-a-
someone to reach the 4-5
are
so
talented
but
it
half minute routine.
level in competitive cheer,"
takes
a
long
time
for
the
Stadell said.
Lions retain number two spot after Milwaukie win
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continued from page 14
Because of his injury, Zito
sat out the game, but that
did not impede the Lions
from winning. Bryce Baker,
sophomore quarterback,
stepped in and led the team
to a 20-0 win over Putnam.
Losing a starting
quarterback can be a bad
situation for any team, but
the Lions overcame it by
being aggressive. On their
first drive, the team was
faced with a fourth and short
situation while still in its own
territory. The Lions went for
it when many teams would
have punted, enabling rookie
Baker to sneak for a four-yard
gain and a first down.
On Putnam's first drive,
Putnam received and ran a
kick-off for 79 yards to the
WL six yard line. While the
situation looked grim to fans,
according to Quinn the team
wasn't worried.
"We knew we could do it.
We're ready to win," he said.
Brad Rose, senior comer,
blocked Putnam's field goal
attempt, and Zack White,
senior tight-end, ran it over
60 yards for a TD, which
brought the score to 20-0.
There were no scores from
the Lions during the second
half, but they managed to
hold off the Kingsmen for a
shutout.
This is the first year since
1999 that West Linn has gone
5-0. "The Senior Class is a
great strength. There are no
Kyle Quinn, senior running
back, runs the ball past Putnam
defenders at the Homecoming
Game. Quinn rushed for 123
yards in the game and has
been a consistent perfomer
throughout the season.
Photo by Cole Fiala
big egos. Everyone is ready
to step up and make bigs
plays and [just] as ready to
step back and let others,"
Chappell said.
Though ranked number
eight, the Lions lost to the
number nine Lakers on
Oct. 12,42-0. According to
coaches, though the team will
be without a first round bye,
the TRL-2 bracket is easier
which increases their chances
of making a post-season run.
The turnout by Lions fans
for the game was huge. There
was standing room only
in the stands. People came
decked out in green and gold,
ready to cheer on their team
no matter the outcome.
Coaches say the team is
approaching the first playoff
game in two years with a
positive outlook.
"As long as we
keep on getting
better...that's as
much as we can
do," Chappell
said.
An easy win
against Oregon
City, who has yet
to win any games,
is most likely.
The final
scheduled game
of the season is
Nov. 3 against
the McKay Royal
Scots. The TRL-
2 spot is most
expected for the
Lions and they
will play Metro-
4 , currently
Beaverton, in the
first round.
Boys
Soccer
game stirs
controversy
___________________________
m
continued from page 13
The Lake Oswego game,
on Sept. 21 was a positive
note for the new team. After
an uneventful first half and
down 1-3, the Lions were
looking at another loss.
However, when the game
started getting physical
West Linn was able to keep
their composure. During a
penalty kick by co-captain,
Abdelkaddar Elhabbassi,
senior, which brought the
game 2-3, a foul was made
by a Lake Oswego player,
awarding West Linn an
other penalty kick.
Elhabbassi made the sec
ond shot and tied the game
3-3. The game ended with a
furious Lake Oswego coach,
who resigned days later,
after being escorted off the
field by West Linn police.
"I'm proud of the team for
handling the difficult situ
ation. A year ago the team
would've broken into a fist
fight," Bean said.
Although the team's re
cord didn't go the way Bean
had hoped, they did achieve
other goals. Bean hoped
for a playoff spot as well
as a change in the team's
chemistry and persona.
"We had a bad reputation
in the league. I wanted to
change the culture of West
Linn soccer," Bean said,
"Changing a program is
a lot of work and is still a
work in progress. The real
ity is when we, as a team, are
really need to be a coach,
constantly motivating and
improving day in and day
out."
Bean is optimistic, saying
the team learned how to
play both halves of the
game. With a young team,
he is hoping for an even
better '07 season.