Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2008)
2008 11 Swim Team off to promising start, obstacles still to overcome LI ClAVARELLO & C H R IS ERBIN Staff Reporters Before the season had even started, the Swim Team had a couple problems. To begin with, swim space was already limited, as the squad is the biggest in school history. Students were restricted to swimming behind each other, single file in already cramped lanes at the Tualatin Swimming Pool. To make things worse, the team has struggled to maintain coaches. The third new coach in three years, Jessica Hauser has taken over the helm. For the most part this year, swimmers have taken the absence of a coach as an opportunity to learn from each other. "We don't have a diehard coach. The competitive factor has taken a plunge. Hopefully we can reapply it. The competitive drive comes from the swimmers themselves," Alexander Jonsson, senior, said. Jonsson and Thomas Lord, seniors, have stepped up as team captains of the boys' squad, while Julie Wahlstrom and Kaitlyn Coffman, seniors, have taken over as team captains for the girls. "I think that the team has done a great job working *t'*er in order to learn niques to help jv e our swimming times," Mary Milton, senior, said. After a strong start to the season which included victories over Milwaukie and Oregon City, the Lions began their toughest stint of the season, as they prepared to take on both Lake Oswego schools. First up was Lakeridge, a team that has finished at the top of the Three Rivers League for the majority of the last decade. While the team struggled to keep up with the improved Pacer Milton said. Prince and Sells then teamed up to compete in the 200 medley along with Jessica Broberg, freshman and Whitney Finnerty, junior. Sells returned Freshman swimmers wait for the signal at the Jan. 10 Junior Varsity meet. The JV and Varsity teams have been working hard, according to coach Jessica Hauser, despite having a young team and facing tough TRL opponents. Photo by Alexandria Namhie squad, many strong swims and personal records highlighted the meet for the Lions. Josie Sells, junior, posted one of her best times of the season with a 1:08.56 in the 100 meter backstroke. She took first by nearly two seconds, while Elliot Prince, freshman, came in an impressive third with at time of 1:11.14. Prince also placed first in the 500 freestyle with a winning time of 6:08.14. "Elliot has really stepped up for our team. Even as a freshman she has already posted exceptional times," to compete in 50 meter freestyle. The race turned out to be the closest of the entire meet, as she fell to Lakeridge's top swimmer by just two tenths of a second. "I do four different events, but only two different strokes. It's a big challenge but the rewards outweigh the challenges," Sells said. The boys had an even more difficult time keeping up with Lakeridge's depth, as may individuals were forced to settle for second and third place finishes. West Linn took second and third place, getting the meet off to a strong start. Kevin Sellers, sophomore, cracked the top two in the 100 freestyle for West Linn with a time of 54.6. In his next event, Sellers' swam his best race in the 100 backstroke where he picked up another second-place finish with a time of 1:06.01. The only competitor to top him was Lakeridge's Jason Lou, the defending District champion in that event. The boys closed the meet on a strong note as Brian Laderoute, junior, took second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:17.63, just a second behind the first-place finisher for the Pacers. The Swim Team next faced the long winter break, before resuming it’s season against Lake Oswego. The break made it diffiuclt for swimmers to find time to practice, and West Linn needed it as they took on a Lake Oswego squad that had not lost a league meet in over a year, as they ran the tables in the TRL last year on their way to the league championship. The Laker team included some of the most dominant swimmers in the state. Lake Oswego may be the only team in the TRL that will top Lakeridge. The Lions were optimistic though, as they prepare for their biggest match-up of the season. Although the Lions lost the meet, they saw some of their best results of the season. Most notably, the 400 freestyle relay team of Sells, Prince, Finnerty and Broberg, won the final event of the night for the girls. It marked the only event West Linn would win on the evening. Sells had a pair of second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Prince picked up where she left oh before the break with a solid swim in the 500 freestyle to earn second place. One of the better swims of the afternoon came from Rosa Bhutarak in the 200 freestyle in which she also took second place. It was Bhutarak’s first time swimming in the event. On the boys side of the competition, Jonsson earned a pair of second-place finishes for West Linn in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, showing his versatility. Also garnering two second- place finishes was Thomas Hollingsworth, sophomore, in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. With their toughest stretch of schedule in the past, the team now focuses on some of the weaker teams in the league, as well as a non - league meet against McKay. McKay is known for producing strong swimmers who go on to have stand out performances at State. The Lions conclude their regular season with a meet against Clackamas, which it will most likely determine thrid place in the TRL. "Our team is full of strong swimmers and we are always eager to get in the pool with the best of them," Hauser said. "We love the opportunity to take on a big opponent even when we are the underdogs." Boys1 Varsity Basketball Team manages 7-5 season start ■ A dam H o lm es Staff Reporter The Varsity Boys' Basketball team began the season with a tough 6-4 non-league start. The team hopes to improve from pre season play and reaching the playoffs, and more specifically, the Final Eight. Their first game of the season, facing off against the Barlow High School Bruins, was a squeaker, with the final score 73-80. "Barlow ran right past us even though we scored 34 points in the fourth quarter," Aaron Downs, head coach, said. Other games included a 44-45 heartbreaker against Tualatin and a 51-70 loss to Westview. "I feel we have gotten off to a rough start, but we are improving every week and hm be ready for league," Bryce Baker, junior, we all enjoy each said. others company and Things seemed to play well together," be looking up when Baker said. the team scored its Starters are Justin first win of the season Monahan, Max on Dec. 11 against Cathcart, Spencer Sprague, 64-50 and Flores, seniors, followed it with and Bryce Baker another win against and Ryan Barnes, Southridge, 67-70. juniors. Rounding They then suffered out the team are defeats against South Jesse Pyrch, Reed Salem and South Nicholson and Taylor Eugene, 55-62 and 62- Reavely, seniors, 65, respectively. Josh Oltman, junior, The team is still Jeffrey Bush and hanging in there, Michael Underriner, as they managed to sophomores. clinch a win against On Jan 8, their first Aloha 52-49, a 72-66 league matchup of the victory against Central Guard Justin Monahan, senior, drives past a defender during the Lions' Jan. 4 non- year Lions pulled Catholic, and a 57-54 lea8ue win a8ainst TiSard' 71,6 win was the team's third in a row leadinS UP “> out a close win 63-60 . , Tf their Three Rivers League opener. Photo by Adam Holmes T . ., ' T win against Iigard. It o r j over Lakendge. In 44 at home on Jan. 11. the wins continue, the team good vibe. They are a good their next league game, they Downs says that versatility te^m with a lot of chemistry, might be able to beat its 17-8 fell to Oregon City, 72-51. is important for a functioning and a fun group," Downs track record last season. Tonight, the Lions will host the Milwaukie Mustangs In another non-league win, basketball team, and the team said. at 7:15. "I like our team chemistry, the Lions beat West Salem 61- has it this year. "There's a
