Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2010)
Sports 2010 oteç U A strange, unsettling phenomenon has infiltrated high school sports. Club teams have put high school teams in the backseat. Athletes are spending more and more time away from their high school teams as individuals focus on their own development as opposed to team development. It is difficult for many to accept that this is what our society has come to. Sports are no longer about representing the community and coming together as a high school. They are about individuals and, for the most part, their efforts to earn a college scholarship. It's true that some athletes are involved in club sports to improve their game in preparation for the high school season. But, the overwhelming majority pay club coaches to showcase their talents in front of college coaches in order to secure that Division I athletic scholarship that so many little boys, girls, mommies and daddies have had their eyes on since little Johnny or little Jane learned to walk. A few years ago, an incoming freshman blatantly told me that the high school soccer season doesn't matter. I was also told that many soccer players are quitting high school soccer to focus on what really matters-club competition. Does this seem as wrong to you as it does to me? However, I can't be hypocritical here because I, too, play on a club basketball team, but in no way does my club team take priority over my high school team. If any conflicts arise, my school team comes first. The whole point of playing club is to improve my skills so that I can help my team during the high school season. Athletes who openly admit that their club teams Despite painful losses, football team clinches spot in playoffs With a 4-5 overall record and a 3-2 record in the Three Rivers League, the Lions football team remained optimistic as it finished its season in third place, thus moving forward in the State playoffs. The Lions proceeded to the second round of the playoffs after a win over Thurston 21-14. During the season, the Lions suffered three heartbreaking losses against Canby, Grant and Lake Oswego each by one point and lost their running back Keaton Hedman, senior, for three games. According to Ron Chappell, head coach, these losses were difficult to overcome. "Honestly, I thought we'd have a better record," Chappell said, referring to the team's 2-4 record in early October. "We played a tough schedule." Chappell was confident the team would make the playoffs, the main goal being to advance as far as possible. According to Chappell, the Lions have a solid team, with strong offense and defense. "Our quarterback Connor Kelley (senior) is having a great year," Chappell said. "We have two of our linemen, Kalan Hoedl (junior) and Eric Pitassi (senior), who are doing especially well." "I try to give my best whenever I'm on the field. I do what I can," Pitassi said. The team bounced back and beat Lakeridge 14-7 during an away game on Oct. 15. The teams were tied 7-7 in the second quarter, but the Lions broke the tie in the fourth quarter with a catch from Ben Trussell, junior, which set up a two-yard run by Hedman for a touchdown. "We didn't execute as we should have in the beginning. We overcame their defense," Pitassi said. A week after the game against the Pacers, the team final game of the season on Oct. 29. The Lions won 21-7, rolling over Clackamas and securing their spot as third seed in the Three Rivers League. Late in the second Photo by Âlex Houston Dean Clark, senior, leaps for a catch against Lake Oswego on Oct. 22. The Lions ended up falling to the Lakers in a heartbreaker, 6-7, but went on to capture third place in the Three Rivers League a week later. took on the Lake Oswego Lakers at home, but had a painful loss of 6-7. "It was a game we could've won. Our players outplayed Lake Oswego, but you have to give Lake Oswego credit. They're a very great team. It was a great high school football game," Chappell said. The Lions hosted the Clackamas Cavaliers for quarter, Kelley went out due to a knee injury. Elijah Eaton, junior, replaced Kelley and helped extend the Lions' lead. The Lions will travel to Rosenburg on Nov. 19. Results were unavailable as of press time. "We lost five games. But it's still recognized around the state that we're a good team," Chappell said. ■ 1 l l = take precedence over their high school teams need a serious reality check. They need to sit down and readjust their priorities because the truth of the matter is, the chance that Johnny's ridiculously accurate fastball will earn him a free ride to college is about as narrow as his strike zone. It also must be understood that club teams aren't evil. There are a lot of positives that come from playing on one, besides the obvious fact that they give you an opportunity to play in front of college coaches. Club teams offer athletes the opportunity to work with athletes from other schools, forming friendships and making games a bit more personal. It can also be helpful for athletes to receive instruction from multiple sources, because everyone learns in different ways. The pros and cons of playing with a club team must be weighed by each individual and each athlete's decision to play with one will be based on his or her own situation. I would never urge athletes not to play with a club team that they felt was a good fit, but I would ask them to set their priorities straight before committing to play for both teams. My experiences with club teams have been very positive, but I have also watched them destroy high school teams, in basketball as well as other sports. My advice: do whatever is best for you, personally, but do what is best for your high school team first. Rainbows instill cloud of fear continued from page 12 it was the opposite for me. There’s an intense connec tion between us, and as we stayed together, the bells rang louder." As Emily Axelrod, junior forward, put it, "It's not just a team, it's a family." This con nection makes the play on Lazercats struggle while the field spectacular. Nathan hosting largest fan base Crandall, junior defender, said the team has "touched continued from page 12 him on many levels." "The world will know After a tough loss in the second game of the season that free men stood against against a Lake Oswego team a tyrant, that few stood that w as very "friendly" against many, and before with the referees, the team this battle was over, even a rebounded by reeling off god-king can bleed,? Cath- eleven straight wins, includ cart said. The Lazercats are led ing the four wins from the by their coach D ouglas Willamette Cup. "Straight as a Rainbow Thom pson, a w izard in has given me purpose in my the soccer world with an life. I now have something unbelievable am ount of to live for," Dylan Musalo, experience and immense talent. Much wisdom can be junior defender, said. The Rainbows are spear learned from the teachings headed by coaching extraor of Coach Doug, including dinaire James Gotchall, or his signature quote "if you as admirers call him, Jimbo. are having trouble passing, He is a legend on the co-ed focus on your passing." Today, the L azercats circuit and his wisdom on and off the field sets the tone have a cult following that for 90 minutes of pure soccer is dedicated to cheering for beauty each and every game. and celebrating the success "Coach Jim has been an of the team. "The Lazercats inspired emotional leader from the start," Dawson said. "He has me to find a cure for cancer promoted teamwork, com and run a mile every morn munication and friendship. ing," M adeleine Pellico, junior fan, said. He has taught us a lot." The support can be over As the season came to an end, fans and players whelming at times, with so were left with the magic many of the fans giving it of mesmerizing memories ^their all (including body of the year that was coined paint) during the games. "Lazercats taught me to "2010: The Year Straight as do my best. I love them," a Rainbow Ruled." Miles King, junior fifth Sophie Bangs, sophomore, string goalie, shared one said. With two games left in final thought about every one touched by the team: the regular season, the Cats "Love is supposed to start still have an opportunity to with bells ringing and go claw back and regain their downhill from there. But pride.
