![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)
The West Linn Dance team continues to perform at the highest level in the state. On March 14 and 15, the Debutantes earned fourth place in the State Tournament at the Memorial Colliseum behind perennial elites Parkrose, Clackamas and Canby.
“I’m definitely going to miss the team itself,” Mackenzie Johnson, senior captain, said. “We worked so hard and being able to feel the success was phenomenal.”
This hard work paid dividends in the fall season particulary, as the team earned seven first place trophies in the Modern, Kick and Pom categories. They have also placed in the top four of the Show category in all the winter tournaments in which they have competed.
“This season definitely lived up to my expectations! We were a very successful team both fall and winter seasons,” Johnson said. “It was a great season to end my four years at West Linn.”
For many dancers at WLHS, the team has provided as a springboard into more concentrated and elite levels of competition. Many who decide against continuing to dance competitively past high school still keep dance in their daily lives.
“I probably will not be on a competitive dance team after high school,” Johnson said. “But dance has been a huge part of my life for so long that it will most likely find a place in my life in the future.