![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![All smiles. The group poses for a photo with last year’s book, “This is Our House,” along with their award for third Best in Show. Meikle, who was an Editor-in-Chief for the yearbook last year as well, holds both and stands at the center of the group. “That was an amazing feeling, going and grabbing the third place award,” Meikle said. “All of it paid off. I cried so much over that book, being able to receive [the award] was one of the highlights of my high school career, it was like the coolest thing ever.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8bookpose_philly-1200x800.jpg)
For a few select athletes, their season has one more day of life. Tomorrow, 13 Lion swimmers will be heading to Mt. Hood Community College for the 6A State Swim Meet. Multiple athletes, both boys and girls, qualified for a multitude of events.
“This year we have a much better team going to state compared to last year.” Curtis Klein, junior, said. “We’re taking two [boys] relay teams instead of one and one may advance to the finals.”
For individual girl swimmers, Brie Balsbough, sophomore, qualified for the 50 freestyle, seeded second and the 100 breaststroke, seeded third. The girls 200 individual medley relay team, consisting of Brianna Dyrdalh, freshman, Sarah Cooper, sophomore, Balsbough and Lindsey Gilmore, senior, qualified, as well as their 200 freestyle relay, seeded 12th. The freestyle relay team consists of Dyrdahl, Ciara Wolfe, sophomore, Balsbough and Katie Cooper, senior.
On the boys side, there will be a group competing with Oregon’s elite. Klein is competing in the 200 freestyle, seeded second and the 100 backstroke, seeded first.
“I’m pumped for my race, a little nervous too, but its how I normally feel. I think we will do well,” Klein, said.
Branden Brooksby, senior, is swimming in the 50 freestyle, seeded fourth and the 100 freestyle, seeded 11th. The West Linn boys also had both of their relay teams qualify. The 200 individual medley relay, seeded sixth, consists of Justus Highbarger, junior, Klein, Anthony To, senior and Brooksby. The swim teams 200 freestyle relay team, seeded 10th, qualified as well, made up of Klein, Highbarger, Ryan O’Leary, junior and Brooksby.
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