![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)
On the night of their final season before the start of their high school careers, the West Linn youth varsity gold football team claimed victory over Tigard with a score of 37-8 on Oct. 26.
For Dylan Baltz, wide receiver and defensive back, playing on this team meant more than just playing football.
“[I] always looked up to the eighth graders as a younger kid, so to be a leader of the program was a lot better,” Baltz said.
West Linn youth football is a program that organizes teams for youth of different ages, but this team in particular is made up of eighth graders in West Linn. Although this team is a combination of 27 students who go to different middle schools, they work together to represent West Linn as a whole.
Owen Ferguson, eighth grader, enjoyed the social aspect and connections within the team.
“[One of the best things about playing with the program is] playing football and also getting to play with friends,” Ferguson said.
For players such as Baltz, this program has been a part of their lives for many years.
“I’ve played for four years,” Baltz said. “Seeing [the program] grow is very good.”
The next step for the team is moving on to high school. For the players who currently attend different middle schools, high school could unite the team once more.
“I’m excited,” Baltz said, “it gets a lot more serious being with different coaches and playing with other kids in a more competitive setting [in high school]”.
Both Baltz and Ferguson have witnessed the competitive nature of West Linn high school football.
“It’s a lot more competitive, and kids’ dads aren’t coaching,” Ferguson said.
After spending years together in this program, being together five days a week and playing alongside one another each game, the gold team has now wrapped up its final season and ended on a win.
