Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2010)
2010 A leader by example, Christensen finishes legacy à ■MB M adison L eek Ever since she could walk, Amy Christensen, senior, has been playing basketball. Christensen, who made the competitive girls' varsity team as a freshman, is ready to lead the team into her final season at WLHS. "I'm looking forward to working hard and achieving the team goals," Christensen said. Christensen started playing basketball at an early age, the result of parents who were very interested in basketball. She began playing competitively in AAU from fifth to eighth grade. Along with playing AAU, she also played on a club team for four to five years. As a freshman on varsity, she started the second half of the season and has been a starter ever since. Over her four years as a varsity athlete, Christensen has played many positions such as center and wing. Being able to play many positions makes her important to the team. "She can finish around the basket, and hit the outside shot," Glen Lee, head coach, said. Each season Christensen has been with the team, she has become friends with her teammates that she plays with. She will miss them, and the team will miss her as well. "My freshman year when she was a sophomore, she would help me when I was nervous," Karly LeVeque, junior, said. "She is a good friend, and she works hard." "The team will miss her game attitude, and her leadership,” Lee said. This season, one thing Christensen hopes to accomplish is something every team thinks about at the start of the season, and would also like to achieve. "I would really like to be first in the Three Rivers League, and to be able to play at the Rose Garden," Christensen said. Along with being a senior this year, Christensen is also an important leader and role model for her teammates, which is an important factor for the team. "She has a positive attitude, experience, and she leads by example," Lee said. Not only does Christensen play varsity basketball, but she is also a member of National : m ’Ä m - 3 f m ^ . * ^ .AS s JS k W'. I. . ^ m ■ Hi?: Honors Society, and the Helping Hands Club, which performs community service every month. Some of Christensen's favorite classes are English, fiber arts, and AP Environmental Science . Other hobbies Christensen enjoys in her free time are hanging out with friends, reading and listening to music. Christensen is focused on her last season as a Lion, but is also looking ahead. "I could see myself coaching younger kids for basketball, but I am not sure about a job," Christensen said. As for her future basketball career, Christensen is still not sure. "I don't know if I would want to play at the next level, but possibly," Christensen said. Natty here they come: Civil War f £f win sends Ducks to title game » Lions lose second ■ Photo by Tracey Sitton J ir : T y C larke so big that ESPN's College Game Day was on hand, with as the team scored the next 17 points, and outscored the C om e Jan. 10, college fo otb all fans all across its p regam e sh ow centered in C orvallis. Tickets w ere scarce, B eavers 31-13 to close the gam e. The team w as lead b y Oregon will see something that they have never going for hundreds of dollars as fans scrambled to find a its youth, headed by the trio of Barner, Thomas, and All- American LaMichael James, all sophomores. The three combined for all six of the team's touchdowns. For the Beavers, this loss finished an up and down season. The team finished 5-7, and is ineligible to play in any postseason bowl game. Jacquizz Rodgers, the star junior running back who has been the focus of opposing defenses all season, caught a touchdown pass, as did sophomore Markus Wheaton, who is the cousin of former Oregon star Kenny Wheaton. Quarterback Ryan Katz, in his first Civil War start, threw three interceptions to detract from a two touchdown day. There is a very different story for Oregon. Playing in the biggest game in the program's history, there is no doubt the whole state will have its eyes on the team that has not been stopped the entire season. The Ducks will face Auburn University, a challenging opponent with Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Cameron Newton directing a potent offense. The game promises to be a high scoring affair, as both teams are in the top 10 nationally for both total points and rushing yards. A win for the Ducks would send the team and the entire state to a level never before seen. Photo from www.kansascity.com Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz attempts to elude the grasp of an Oregon defender. The Ducks won 37-20 and will now play in the national championship game Jan.10 in Glendale, Ariz. witnessed before; one of their own teams competing in the biggest game of the collegiate football season, the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. A 37-20 win over Oregon State capped off a perfect season by the Oregon Ducks. The team went 12-0 and won the Pac-10 for the second year in a row. The 114th Civil War was perhaps the biggest one yet. Never had one of the teams been in such prime position for national championship contention. The game was way to attend the game. The Beavers struck first, with quarterback Ryan Katz and running back Jacquizz Rodgers connecting for a six yard touchdown pass. Less than three minutes later the Ducks answered with a score of their own, a three yard pass from Darron Thomas to Kenjon Barner. A missed extra point followed, and with that, the first quarter was complete, with Oregon State holding a 7-6 lead. The rest of the game was mostly focused on the Ducks Amy Christensen, senior, shoots throw during a game against Linco Dec. 4. Her experience as a player a 1 k , leader is important to the team’s success according to Coach Glen Lee. round heartbreaker S ean P ebler After finishing third in the Three Rivers League with a 3-2 record and an overall record of 5-6, the Lions expected big things after advancing to the State quarterfinals last season. Those hopes were dashed Nov. 19 when the team lost its second round playoff game to Roseburg, 12-7. The Lions faced Thurston in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated the Colts 21-14 after Keaton Hedman, senior, ran them straight to the second round with two touchdowns. Roseburg, who has been a high-caliber team for years, finished second in their league with a 10-2 overall record. Both teams were eliminated by the West Salem Saxons last season, as Roseburg fell in the second round and West Linn was defeated in the third round Despite falling behind 12-0 early, the Lions roared back in the second quarter to score their only touchdown off of a 10 yard run by Christian Wilson, senior. Both offenses were shutout in the second half, as Roseburg outgained West Linn 257-107 in total yardage. Roseburg lost to the eventual State Champion Aloha Warriors the next week, 34-7, knocking them out of the playoffs. Photo by Hannah Morton Elijah Eaton, junior, commands the Lion’s offense in a second round playoff game against Roseburg on Nov. 19. The Lions lost the game, 12-7 ending their playoff run.
