2010
A leader by example, Christensen finishes legacy
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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
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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
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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.