![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)
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.