West Linn takes down Newberg in a thrilling victory

Tim+Harman%2C+senior%2C+squares+up+to+face+his+Newberg+opponent+in+the+160+lb.+weight+class.+By+winning+this+key+match%2C+Harman+sparked+a+row+of+wins+which+resulted+in+West+Linn%E2%80%99s+victory.

Brittany Park

Tim Harman, senior, squares up to face his Newberg opponent in the 160 lb. weight class. By winning this key match, Harman sparked a row of wins which resulted in West Linn’s victory.

The West Linn Varsity Wrestling Team won its meet against Newberg in a 31-30 victory. The Lions had a tough matchup, especially after witnessing the JV team lose. After a performance by Lali Diaz, sophomore, singing the National Anthem, the match was on.

The Lions began, losing by two pins in a row, putting the score at 0-12. For awhile, things went back and forth as matches were won and lost.

The tide was turned when Tim Harman, senior, 160 lbs. won a grueling fight, which roused the stands to cheer. Next, Jacob Taylor, junior, 170 lbs. pinned his opponent causing the crowd to go wild. Another key matchup came from Ryan Anderson, senior, 182 lbs., who pinned his opponent and brought the Lions to a comfortable lead, 31-18.

After suffering two losses in a row at a 195 lb. and 220 lb. classes, West Linn’s lead dwindled. They were now up by only four points, easily within Newberg’s grasp. It came down to Brandon Algren, sophomore, 285 lbs. to hold out. All he had to do was not let his opponent pin him, which would have given Newberg six points and allowed them to win the entire meet. Algren lost the heavyweight match but because it wasn’t a pin, Newberg scored just three points, leaving the Lions  the overall winner.

West Linn now leads the Three River League and faces the Tigers at Tigard High School this Thursday at 7 p.m. If they can pull off another win, the Lions will win the league dual meet championship.