No matter rain or shine, West Linn High School’s tennis courts are patrolled by no one better in the state. West Linn’s boys’ tennis coach Ward Lewis has been honored with the National Federation of High Schools Oregon State Coach-of-the-Year award for boys tennis. This is Lewis’s second time winning the award in the past three seasons.
“He’s a fun coach, and he helps a lot,” Andre To, senior, said. “ He knows what he’s doing.”
The NFHS is an organization that recognizes high school coaches in all 50 states who help student athletes succeed both on the playing field and in the classroom. Lewis won the award for the state of Oregon, which nominates him for regional and national honors.
“It feels good because it’s my second time winning the award,” Lewis said. “Since most coaches are turning pro now, the coaches and I that stay at our school for a long period of time (Lewis has been coaching tennis at WLHS for 30 years) are a rare breed.”







































![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)



























































![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)



