Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2007)
Sports Februar^ -------- W Kimbrow returns after injury, still dominates m S achie H opkins ____________ Staff Reporter On Jan. 5, a Friday night, Jennifer Kimbrow sat waiting for her name to be announced for the starting lineup of the Girls' Varsity Basketball Team. The Lions finished a surprising third in the tough Three Rivers League last year, and made a trip to the playoffs. They defeated Lakeridge and Lake Oswego, the first time in 10 years they beat either team. They continued with a victory over Newberg in the opening round of the playoffs before falling to Central Catholic...and all the while Kimbrow sat on the bench with a broken leg; an injury she suffered near the start of the season. She was sidelined for the rest of her junior season of basketball. Now she is completely healed and leading the Lions to so far, another successful season. One hour after waiting to hear her name, Kimbrow scored 23 points in an 81-48 victory over the Putnam Kingsmen in the league opener. "Jennifer Kimbrow is fully healed from the injury to her leg last season. She worked her tail off to get back into game shape in the off-season and is really showing signs of improvement with her overall game," Glen Lee, head coach, said. Despite facing many posts taller than her, she has shown herself to be a threat in many ways. She has a consistent close range jump shot, is a strong rebounder and is a dangerous passer. "Jennifer is a great passer out of the paint, so when teams double down on her she’s able to find our spot up shooters on the perimeter," Lee said. "Jennifer's strength right now is her defense around the basket. She makes life very difficult for our opponent's posts." Basketball has been a passion for Kimbrow for as long as she can remember. " I have been playing basketball all my life basically. I know that's what everyone says, but I probably played even in diapers," Kimbrow said. "To be honest though, when I was younger my dad was the one pushing me. I liked it, but I didn't dedicate myself until around my freshman year. That's when I realized, 'wow, I love this game.'" As for this season, Kimbrow and the team have high aspirations, but ones that are certainly not out of reach. After missing a trip to the Chiles Center, where the State playoffs are held, by one game last season, ever. Locke trains constantly and. can can be found running three or four miles every morning in order to stay in shape for the prep season. Locke was even willing to give up some of his other activities for the sport he loves. As a freshman, he played football and enjoyed it; however, in order to save himself from getting hurt, Locke quit football, but returned his senior year. "I came back to football because it is a really great group of guys and a fun sport," Locke said. Locke continually makes sacrifices for wrestling, but believes it is worth it. As a sophomore, Locke was District champion and made it to State. Last year, he repeated at District and was ready to head for State. However, two days before the meet, during training, Locke tore a bicep and was unable to compete. Locke hopes to remain injury free and to become a three time District Champ and win State in the freestyle division. In recognition of Locke's hard work in athletics and academics he was awarded the Scholar-Athlete scholarship. Locke's 3.5 grade point average, his Varsity spot on football, his outstanding wrestling record and his excellent sportsmanship earned him the $1,000 scholarship. Locke plans to use this money to pay for part of his tuition at Southern Oregon University, which he plans to start next year. He will join his brother who wrestles at SOU. league liiiier______________ m The Lions faced the toughest team so far this season when they went up against Oregon City on Jan. 22. The Pioneers have a strong history, winning several National Championships in the 1990's, and they are currently ranked second in the state. The Lions came out with an incredibly strong first half matching the Pioneers basket for basket. Going into the second half the Lions trailed by a mere point, 38-37 but were unable to keep up losing the game 76-61. The Lions entered the season knowing that they were going to have to prove that they were once again contenders. Off to an 11- 4 start and playing in a controlling fashion, they are certainly on their way. redemption is at the top of everyone's lists. "Before every game we always say, THINK PURPLE!' That just means to us the Chiles Center, because [the University of Portland's] school colors are purple and we want to be on that court, not just watching. We want to look up and see our fans in those purple seats. To do that would just be incredible," Kimbrow said. Much of the attention on Kimbrow was on the broken leg, but she just wants to move on, making the best of her final year playing high school ball, leading the team to a 11-4 record, and a 3-1 league record so far. "This season is my senior year, so I just want to give it my all and look back and really say to myself that I couldn't have done better. I did my best," Kimbrow said. Locke has his future locked a S arah C hicosne ____________ Forum Editor While most students are finalizing their weekend plans, Lane Locke, senior, is getting in the zone for his next wrestling match. Locke began his wrestling career in the third grade inspired by his older brother, Nick, Class Lions dominate the competition Lane Locke, senior, advances on his Milwaukie opponent during the dual meet held on Jan. 25 at WLHS. Locke has wrestled for four years and is hoping to become a three-tim e D istrict champ. Photo by Cole Fiala of 2005, and Kirk Spencer, a wrestling coach. Spencer, who coached Locke until his unexpected death in 2003, was a second dad and family friend to Locke. "Think big, believe big and the results will be big," is what Spencer always said to his teams. "That's how I live while wrestling—that's how I live. It's in all our hearts," Locke said. Ever since Locke started wrestling nine years ago, it has become a big part of his life and as he comes to a close on his high school sports career, is going as strong as continued from page 13 Also contributing to the Lions' early struggles was the zone defense presented by the scrappy Pacer team, who forced the Lions into making tougher perimeter shots. The Lions stepped up as Aden and Wattman-Tumer, junior, hit several key shots. Emily Locke, senior, also had several important rebounds and then put-backs, pulling out a close one, 45-41. Continuing their winning ways with big victories over McKay and Milwaukie, the Lions are 8-1 at home. West Linn defeated McKay 60-41, with an especially impressive first half. They led in every category against Milwaukie, with a 73-37 win and a strong bench performance. Jennifer Kimbrow, senior, waits to check in during a home against the Milwaukie Mustangs. Returning for her senior s e a ^ ^ after breaking her leg at the beginning of last year, the co-captain has led the Lions to an 11-4 record. Photo by Ann Breyne World class skatepark available at Tanner Creek u A lex F rye _________________ Contributing Writer Rock and rolls, crooked grinds, and kick flips are some of the tricks performed at the world-class Tanner Creek Skatepark. The local hotspot sits nestled into a hillside behind the Mackenzie Rose neighborhood, near Safeway, on top of the hill. The 14,000 square foot skatepark built by Grindline Skateparks features numerous bowls (deep round basins), a large over-vert (over vertical) pocket, and a sizeable street section that includes rails, ledges, and a large four stair. According to Wes Canterberry, college student, the Tanner Creek Skatepark is the best in the Portland/ Metro area. "I like it. It's a great place to skate," Steven Kulp, college student, said. Canterberry and Kulp are not alone, according to Melissa Skoczylas, nearby resident. Depending on the weather, there are usually about 30 people skating there at any given time. Cameron Mazzia, sophomore, noted that the close vicinity of the skatepark to multiple retail areas and neighborhoods is convenient. Most people who skate there are regulars and it’s great to get to know them according to Jordan LeVeque, freshman. He said that only occasionally does he see people there that seem to follow the "skater" stereotype of being drug addicts or troublemakers. "It's not as bad as you might think, there are a lot of nice people there," LeVeque said. He also thinks that the skaters take good care of the park. According to Daniel Loveland, Daddies Board Shop owner and webmaster for oregonskateparks.com, he has heard commentary that the Tanner Creek Skatepark was inappropriately designed. Some feel that the park was built in a manner too advanced for most of the skaters from the community. The advanced level of the park causes out-of-towners to come in and potentially frustrate neighbors with unruly behavior. Siitiparft
