![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)
Some people jump for joy at the idea of missing school; others jump in a pool. On Dec 5, Briana Balsbough, junior, and Curtis Klein, senior, left to compete at the national level for swim. They were heading down to Knoxville, Tenn. to compete in the 2012 Speedo Winter Junior National Championships from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8. The meet is only for swimmers 18 and younger, and they must make a cut to attend. Once there, they swim preliminaries, and if they place in the top 24, they move onto finals.
Balsbough and Klein traveled with their families to the competition and both agreed that missing school was tough. They passed each other quite frequently and were actually on the same flight down, which was a pleasant surprise since both know each other from their swim team, the Dolphins.
“I have been swimming with the dolphins for about three years. I like how we are like a big family since we all support each other,” Balsbough said.
Balsbough has been swimming since a young age and is one of the best swimmers in the district, and she says she is always looking to improve.
“I was excited to compete at the national level,” Balsbough said. “It has always been a goal since I was little.”
Balsbough competedin the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke . Although she didn’t place in any of the preliminaries, she plans to train harder than ever for next year.
Klein swam the 100 and 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle and 200 IM. Klein didn’t place in any of the preliminaries.
“This was my fourth and most likely second to last junior nationals competition,” Klein said. “ I’ve always had the goal of getting to that next level, whatever it may be. This year I didn’t do so great but considering the fact that I was dealing with an injury for most of the season, I think I actually did pretty well.”
