![Reaching out. Christopher Lesh, student at Central Catholic High School, serves ice cream during the event on March 2, 2025, at the Portland waterfront. Central Catholic was just one of the schools that sent student volunteers out to cook, prepare, dish, and serve food. Interact club’s co-president Rachel Gerber, junior, plated the food during the event. “I like how direct the contact is,” Gerber said. “You’re there [and] you’re just doing something good. It’s simple, it’s easy, you can feel good about it.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/interact-1-edited-1200x744.jpg)
![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)
On Feb. 6, the wrestling team had their senior night as well as a three-way duel between them, Tualatin, and Harrisburg high school. The night started out against Tualatin, where seniors David Wheeler, Oscar Doces, Lucas Gray, and Michael Smith, won their matches and helped contribute to a 52—24 win.
Soon after was the start of senior night recognition, where seven of the nine seniors were represented on varsity. Wheeler, Docs, Gray, and Smith were among the seniors recognized as well as Zach Welch, Nate Gusdorf, and Ryan Muzii. Lastly, the second duel against Harrisburg took place where the Lions won 41—22 including a win from Smith in 79 seconds and an overtime win from Welch.
“[I feel] pretty happy,” Welch said. “I haven’t had the best senior year in terms of wins and losses, so to get one tonight in overtime was really, really special.”
With this being the end of the regular season, the wrestling team is hoping to carry on their success to districts, which take place on Feb. 15.
“I’m looking to go win districts and then looking to go win a state title,” Wheeler said.
The team is led by head coach Kevin Keeney, who has helped these athletes throughout most of their high school careers. To Doces, Coach Keeney has been a big support and help.
“I definitely would not be here without Coach Keeney. He’s definitely played the biggest role out of any of my coaches [with] my confidence, and
he lets me know that I can just really do whatever, I just have to go do it,” Doces said. “He’s a really special coach to me. I’m really, really thankful for that.”
Gusdorf has also had positive experiences with coaches.
“My whole career, not just coach Keeney, [though] he’s done so much for me, all the assistant coaches, all the people at Peninsula, they’ve done so much for me,” Gusdorf said.
With districts on Feb. 15, the winners will move onto the state competition, taking place between Feb. 27 through Mar. 1
