2010
Sports
13
Boys1 and girls1 rugby teams advance to State Championships
A liso n F ie ld h o u s e
The G irls’ Rugby Team
took fourth in State after
losing to Clackamas, 0-55,
on May 22. The Renegades
were unable to fend off
the Centaurs' continually
scoring.
"Although we didn't
score during the game, it
was an exciting match. The
of the game. Although the
Renegades came back and
scored a try, it was their
only try of the game.
"It was a shame that we
lost, but it was obvious that
everyone on the team gave
their all during the game.
In the end, we just weren't
able to pull through," Sara
Crawford, junior, said.
to describe why we're
different from other
teams: hard work. We
have players that have
never played a sport or
others who have no rugby
experience. We've come
a long way by working
hard on the fundamentals,
fitness and working on
having a positive attitude,"
The Renegades
won their last league match
meant that members from
the Renegades mixed in
with players from Bend.
"By mixing with Bend,
we had a chance to play
our own teammates and
still have fun while playing
them," Crawford said.
According to coaches and
players, rugby is a social
sport so teams learn to be
opponents on the field, but
friends off the field.
In their second to
last league match, the
Renegades beat the
Westside Pirates, 42-7.
Early in the game, the team
gained the lead and held
onto it until the second half
when the Pirates were able
to score.
The boys' team lost
its first playoff match to
Linn Benton, 10-48. After
taking the Division II State
Championship last year,
the team moved up to
Division I to face tougher
opponents. With its season
over, the team will rest
and prepare for next year's
season.
The team lost their
last league match to
McMinnville 7-42. Prior to
this loss, the team lost their
second to last league match
against Prairie 7-27.
"Despite the losses we've
had, we want to persevere
b y d efau lt against Bend on
and b rin g our A -gam e to
May 1. Bend was forced to
forfeit because they only
brought four players. This
State," Colton Erickson,
junior, said before the state
match.
start of the season.
The girls' team finished
second in league, 5-2;
the boys were seventh in
league with a 2-5 record.
"My expectations for
the team are to keep
improving as a team. We
have yet to play to our
potential. There's plenty of
good rugby to be played,"
Espinoza said. The
team faced tougher
opponents in the
State Championship
matches.
In preparation, the
Renegades increased
their practices from
three days a week to
four. The team was
hopeful that they
would perform their
best at State.
"We have to be
ready to face even
tougher opponents.
This means more
intense practices,"
Shelby Patterson,
junior captain, said.
Patterson was taken
out of the season due
to an ankle injury, but
continues to support
her team by showing
Photo by Elise W h ite U P to P r a c t i ce a n d
• . „
,
m
^
,
cheering them on at
Carly Hicks, sophomore, carries the ball into a tackle during the game against Bend on May 1. The team won by
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J
games.
default because Bend did not have enough players to fill a team.
team showed their skill
and the game was well
played. We will miss our
seniors, but we will take
a break and come back
strong next season," Marisa
Brookhouse, sophomore,
said. The team will
graduate four seniors this
year.
The team lost its match
in the State semifinals to
Reynolds 5-47. Reynolds
scored two five point tries
within the first 10 minutes
After the game, the team
Ernie Espinoza, head girls'
talked ab ou t w hat w ent
w rong and how they could
coach, said. Sixteen players
prepare for their next
match.
The team won its first
playoff match against
Columbia County, 32-27.
The Renegades pulled
ahead early with two tries.
From that point on, the two
teams took turns scoring,
consistently matching the
other.
"There are two words
B o ys' Tennis Team overcom es
odds to send doubles team to State
Bop' l a i »
continued from page 12
"Most other schools
didn't think we really had a
chance to be competition."
The team practiced and
prepared for matches by
planning and working on
their skills. They focused on
covering both the offense
and defense depending on
how the play would turn
out, according to Ward
Lewis, coach.
"I feel like our team had
great effort this year," Samra
said. "We all work hard and
come to practices all the
time. We expect a lot out
of each other and we help
each other improve every
day."
Outstanding athletes
cited by the team captains
include Samra and
Macemon.
"T h ey have stepped up
from being our third to our
second and are both willing
to improve by constantly
playing against me and my
partner," To said.
Both Samra and
Macemon achieved the
Most Improved award
which was voted for by the
team.
"I feel that we work
well together and we both
know our role on the team,"
Samra said. "We respect our
opponents well and we play
our hardest every match." -
In addition to Macemon
and Samra's Most Improved
award, there were further
awards voted for by the
team. Nathan Aden,
senior, attained the award
for Sportsmanship, Joel
Callagan, senior, won Most
Inspirational and Tsuruta
was awarded Most Valuable
Player.
graduated from the team
last year leaving the team
short on numbers at the
Track Teams, individuals, excel at District meet
mm
continued from page 10
the 800 meters, Jefferson
Chandler finishing first in
the 1500 meters, and Timothy
Donnelly continuing the
string of first place finishes in
the 3000 meters. All three of
the runners are juniors.
Chelsea Ollar, junior
finished first for the girls'
team in the 1500 meters.
They set out to prove a
point against the Mustangs,
winning 105-40, while the
boys also scored a sizeable
win, 81-64.
"Our distance crew is really
running well. On the girls
side they are led by captains
Kathryn Flyte and Kelsey
Guerins. Both are seniors and
are the backbone of a solid
group of distance runners,"
John Linman, Distance Crew
coach, said. "Our boys are
coming off their second third
place State meet finish with
some fine times."
On a May 1 meet against
Centennial, Wannarka ran the
3000 meter in a time of 8:45—
the third fastest time in WLHS
history.
However, the distance crew
is not the only group to have
made its mark this season.
Many of the short distance
runners, and members of
the field team, have
had success as well.
Keaton Hedman,
junior, has finished
first in all but two of
the 100 meter races
that he has run. In the
110 meter hurdles,
Zachary Valentine,
senior, has finished
first four times. In
the 300 meter hurdles
Livesay finished first
four times
On the field, first
place finishes have
been plentiful as
well. In the shot put,
Brandon Brooksby,
sophomore, received
first three times. Maria
Green, sophomore,
placed first five times
in the high jump.
On the boys' side,
Hedman will be going Photo by Matthew Sherman, West Linn Tidings
to State both in the
Madison Leek, freshman, overwhelms the
competition in the 200 meters at the District
100 meters and as a
member of the 4 x 100 Meet at Oregon City High School. Leek also
relay team. The other took first in the 100 meters and anchored the
members of the team 4x100 Relay Team and second place 4x400
relay team.
are Mason Finnerty,
sophomore, and Jacob
senior, in pole vault.
Gianuzzi and Maxwell
In addition to the girls'
Hays, seniors. West, Boyd-
relay teams, Livesay also
Helm, and Wannarka will
qualified for State for the 300
join them at State along
meters hurdles as did Ella
with Justin McKee, junior, in
Clow, sophomore, who took
javelin and Andre Armattoe,
third in high jump.