10
Sports
March
Tennis
Every high school sports team, from football to golf,
includes winning a league title as one of its goals at the
beginning of the season. The boys' tennis team achieved
this goal last year, sharing the Three Rivers League
title with Lake Oswego and Lakeridge. With only two
seniors lost from last year, the Lions are looking to
compete for another title.
The team is led by a core group of seniors who head
coach Ward Lewis calls very talented.
"They enjoy competing against each other, and they
are friends," Lewis said. "Will they bring their 'A' game
to practice? Will they beat on each other? It's better if
they do because playing the Lake Oswego schools is
bloody."
While the Lake Oswego schools are the two biggest
competitors for the Lions, new league additions could
change the outlook of the league this year. Both Canby
and Grant are now in the TRL for tennis, and they bring
a new set of challenges with them.
"Grant has the third best player in the state, and we
wonder how deep they are," Lewis said.
Girls' Tennis
Expectations: A tougher league schedule with the
new additions: Canby and Grant
Impact newcomers: Mitchell Tingey, freshman,
Craig Wright, sophomore, and Anthony To, junior.
Thoughts on last year: "The Lions gritted out a
league title shared with Lake Oswego and Lakeridge.
They did it with hard work, but expect to be more
seasoned and play at a higher level this year—we will
have to," Ward Lewis, head coach.
Returning veterans: Seniors Arthur To, Ken Tsu-
ruta, Dylan Martin, Andrew Brown, Micah Wiard,
Kabir Samra, Thomas Ward, Ryan Scott-Deeter,
Christopher DelBene and Preston Rattle along with
Jonathan Macemon and William Risenhoover, juniors.
Big matches: All matches against Lake Oswego,
Lakeridge and Grant.
Pre-season training: Tryouts coupled with practice
single and double matches.
"For years Lake Oswego and Lakeridge passed the
TRL title back and forth across the lake. But the Lions
have won six of the last seven league championships,
and the Lake Oswego schools resent this, so they have
plenty of motivation to beat us."
—Ward Lewis, head coach.
Expectations: "I am expecting at least five girls to
make it to the State tournament and have the team
as a whole placed in the top three in league," Ke
Ounaphom, head coach, said.
Thoughts on last year: M
I think we could have done
better, but we were still learning and unsure of what
spots we would be playing," Eta Santoro, junior, said.
"I'm satisfied with our efforts last year and know we
can definitely improve this year."
Returning veterans: Amanda Wagner and Natalie
Smith, seniors, Emily Erbin, junior, and Emily Shea
Big m atches: Lake Osw ego, C lackam as and
Lakeridge
T y C larke ___________________
The Girls' Tennis Team has a new sense of calm
this season after struggling with a multitude of line
up changes that shook the Lions last year. The team
lost only two seniors from last season and is expecting
bigger things this year.
"I'm glad that our team is pretty much set this year
because we have a lot of the same people coming back,"
Eta Santoro, junior, said. "I think this can make us
successful because everyone has experience."
Last year, the team tied for third in the Three Rivers
League. Amanda Wagner, senior, was the sole member
of the team who qualified for State. Despite some
struggles that came with the line-up changes of last
season, the team expects to improve this year.
"The organization of who was playing what and
when was not so great," Kristin Nesbit, junior, said.
"Hopefully this year will be more organized so that
there's no confusion or anger among players."
The team started the season off with success, winning
a close match against St. Mary's on March 11.
Photo by Alex Houston
Megan Wakefield and Johanna Seider, sophomores,
participate in Girl's Tennis tryouts on March 1.
Expecations: With most Varsity players returning
and many experienced junior varsity golfers ready
to play at a higher level, the team has high expecta
tions to lead the team back to the State Tournament
Impact newcomers: CJ Sitton, Caleb Archuleta
and Hayden Coppedge, freshmen
Thoughts on last year: After placing second at
Districts, the team followed with a slightly disap
pointing State Tournament
Returning veterans: Zachary Foushee, Connor
Jetton and Bryant Bushnell, juniors, and Charlie
Moore, sophomore
Big games: Every week the team faces fierce com
petition, including the addition of Grant and Canby
to the Three Rivers League
Pre-season training: Individual responsibility of
practicing and putting in extra time at the course
"One of the things that sets golf apart is the ability
to play against everyone in the league every week.
Every match this season we play against the reigning
State Champions."
—Justin Paredes, head coach
S ean P ebler
_____________
The Boys' Golf Team returns this season after placing
second at Districts to the eventual State champion, Lake
Oswego, last season. Competition is set at a high level
with the addition of Grant and Canby to the league,
according to head coach Justin Paredes.
"We have added two teams to the Three Rivers
League that went to the State Tournament last year,"
Paredes said. "The bar is set high every week by our
competition."
In their first league match on March 28 at Stonecreek
Golf Course, the team placed second behind a strong
individual performance from Foushee, who shot a 67.
"Wet have a lot of confidence and talent this year,
and we have the potential to be one of the top teams in
the state," Bryant Bushnell, junior, said.
Fre*»ea«*<yn +rm ni r >g : In d o o r p la y to a v o id ra in ,
along with conditioning.
"We're a pretty tightly bonded group this year.
Everyone knows each other and their abilities."
— Eta Santoro, junior
Boys' G olf
Photo by Alex Houston
Carli Wilson, sophomore, cradles the ball as she advances
upheld during a recent lacrosse practice.
Girls' Lacrosse
Expecations: To place fourth or higher in the Three
Rivets League
Impact newcomers: Nearly 10 freshmen who are
ready to show their skills on Varsity
Thoughts on last year: Competed with the top
three teams in the league
Returning veterans: Connie Swanson and Claire
Offer, seniors, and Hannah Weber, junior
Big games: All league games
Pre-season training: Open fields scheduled peri
odically since the beginning of winter sports
"Although I hope to be more competitive this
season, we're always more than happy to take brand
new players or girls interested in a new sport. La
crosse in its higher levels takes an amazing amount
of athleticism and is an amazing cross-trainer for
soccer, basketball, and other sports."
— Megan Elston, head coach
Boys' Lacrosse
Expecations: Mark Flood, head coach, believes
the spring break trip to Arizona will contribute to the
chemistry of the team.
Impact newcomers: James Squires and Andrew
Weinhart, juniors , Payton Germain, senior, and Jack
McMenomy, sophomore
Thoughts on last year: Second half comeback by
Lincoln led to first-round playoff loss to the Cardinals.
Returning veterans: Eric Pitassi, Christian Wilson
and Brandon Schutzler, seniors, and Kevin
Cathcart, Sean Byme and Corey Etheredge, juniors
Big games: Non-league games against Lincoln, Or
egon Episcopal School and two Colorado teams, and
league play against Lake Oswego and Lakeridge.
Pre-season training: Speed and conditioning training
on Tuesdays and Thursdays since the beginning of the
school year, with open fields periodically.
"Even though we lost so many players graduating
last year, I'm very confident in the group of guys. If we
work hard the State Title is wide open for anyone to take."
—Kevin Cathcart, junior attack
S ean F ebler _________________
S ean P ebler ____________.____
As the Girls Lacrosse Team approaches the meat of
their schedule, the players are setting their sights on the
top tier of the Three Rivers League, according to head
coach Megan Elston.
"We're in the toughest league in the state, and
although we lost pretty bad to the three top teams in the
TRL, we showed noticeable improvement against them,"
Elston said. "We also had excitingly close games with
Clackamas, and I hope they become a new rival in the
girls lacrosse world."
With three upperclassmen as the leaders on the team,
many expect younger players to step up to compete for
a spot on the Varsity squad.
"We have a huge freshman class with a lot of potential
for our upcoming season," Weber, junior attack, said.
"Watch for West Linn Girls Lacrosse all around the state,
it's going to be huge."
The team played in their first game on March 15,
defeating Wilsonville in a close battle, 9-8.
The Boys' Lacrosse Team expects to come together
and build team chemistry at its spring break trip to
Arizona, according to head coach Mark Flood.
"Our spring break trip to Arizona will tell us a lot of
what we can expect from this team," Flood said. "We are
young but very skilled. This trip gives the kids a chance
to get in a lot of extra work and bond."
With such a short amount of time before the retreat
and many athletes missing the first few practices due to
winter sports, Flood feels that this trip is pivotal to the
team's early success.
"With only two weeks of pre-season practice and lots
of kid missing for skiing and other sports, this trip will
give us much needed time on the field together," Flood
said.
On March 16, the team played in their first pre-season
game of the season, defeating Liberty 15-2.
After a playoff loss in the quarterfinals to Lincoln last
season the team expects to travel deeper into the State
playoffs.