The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

Joseph Murphy

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor

Joseph Murphy, junior, has been a part of the journalism program for two years. He enjoys football, basketball, running cross country, and a good book.
All content by Joseph Murphy
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[Photo] Mark Hamper

March 22, 2023

Reese Hunsaker, senior, plays the bassoon as well as the piano.

Amplifier preview: Performing in harmony

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
March 21, 2023

There are a plethora of ways to express music, including choir and band. Based on their achievements, no one plays music better than Reese Hunsaker and Luci Clemo.  Reese Hunsaker Hunsaker plays bassoon...

From deep. Shelstad launches and makes a three-pointer towards the end of the third quarter. The leading scorer of the game with 41 points, Shelstad made seven three-pointers.

Men’s team moves past Jesuit Crusaders for quarterfinal spot

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
March 6, 2023

It’s official. The men’s team, previously ranked number one in the nation, punched their ticket for the state quarterfinals after defeating the number 16-seeded Jesuit Crusaders in front of full...

On Dec. 9, 2022, an official closely watches as Audrey Sepp, junior, gets trapped in the corner. Though the referee shortage is a local problem, it’s also a national issue–over 50,000 referees have left since the 2018-2019 school year.

Parents and athletes perpetuate ref shortage

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
February 21, 2023

You can hear the swish whisper throughout the gymnasium and the crowd, on their feet, go crazy. Though not all— some are sitting down, sullen, stunned. The buzzer blares. The losing team is sent home,...

Melinda Lin and Zoe Tupper, junior and senior, respectively, have done the most coordination for Ethnic Studies.

Promoting and proposing ethnic awareness

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
February 17, 2023

Within the social studies department, no curriculum has ever primarily focused on ethnic heritage, until now. On Feb. 8, the school administration passed an Ethnic Studies class proposal created by Affinity...

Melinda Lin and Zoe Tupper, junior and senior, respectively, have done the most coordination for Ethnic Studies.

[Photo]

Melinda Lin and Zoe Tupper, junior and senior, respectively, have done the most coordination for Ethnic Studies.

The team goes through the tunnel, preparing to face Jesuit, on Jan 13. They entered the game as the top team in the nation, according to USA Today Sports.

[Photo] The lion kings

January 26, 2023

The team goes through the tunnel, preparing to face Jesuit, on Jan 13. They entered the game as the top team in the nation, according to USA Today Sports.

After earning a spot on the Homecoming Court, Hogan Stevenson, junior, goes through the football players’ tunnel. The Homecoming Court featured 12 students, six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshman. However, not all nominees purposely ran for Homecoming court. “All my friends nominated me even though I didnt really want to be,” Stevenson said. “It was pretty funny.”

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After earning a spot on the Homecoming Court, Hogan Stevenson, junior, goes through the football players’ tunnel. The Homecoming Court featured 12 students, six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores,...

In unison, football players and cheerleaders do the player-cheerleader dance in front of all students and staff. This dance is a yearly tradition for Homecoming. For the first time ever, the pep rally assembly was held at the football stadium. This assembly is the start of the celebration of Homecoming. From presenting the 2022 Homecoming court to a student cheer-off, a competition to see what grade was the loudest, the pep rally created a loud entrance for this year’s Homecoming. Beatrice Gilroy, junior, is an Associated Student Body (ASB) member who helped organize the assembly. “Just look at the energy of some of our leaders in the assembly,” Gilroy said. “You take that and carry it with you throughout all of our school events.”

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In unison, football players and cheerleaders do the player-cheerleader dance in front of all students and staff. This dance is a yearly tradition for Homecoming. For the first time ever, the pep rally...

Quarterback Sam Leavitt, senior, surveys the field, looking for a receiver. The football team got out to a fast start facing Lake Oswego, scoring 28 points in the first half. At the end of the day, Leavitt threw for 247 yards on 14 completions. “I felt great,” Leavitt said. “We came out, played Lake Oswego, and killed them.”

[Photo]

Quarterback Sam Leavitt, senior, surveys the field, looking for a receiver. The football team got out to a fast start facing Lake Oswego, scoring 28 points in the first half. At the end of the day, Leavitt...

The Schreck twins hold hands as they chase the ball against Barlow on Nov. 2, 2022.

[Photo] Freshman twins make waves on varsity soccer

December 12, 2022

The Schreck twins hold hands as they chase the ball against Barlow on Nov. 2, 2022.

After not qualifying in 2018 the U.S. Mens National Team will play in the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

Predictions: World Cup

Audrey Lippert and Joseph Murphy
November 21, 2022

Every four years, the World Cup rolls around, bringing together the best soccer players in the world for roughly a month while fans across the world tune in to watch the spectacle. Legends, like Pele and...

Anwesha Chowdhury, freshman and Affinity Club member, who helped at the mehndi station, smiles towards the end of Diwali. Diwali is just one holiday that Affinity celebrates. Affinity meets every other Friday in the Forum and they are open to all students, specifically students of color. This is Garg’s first year as an Affinity club member. “I have loved it,” Garg said. “Ive met so many new people and its great to share experiences. [To] just talk and get to know other people and hear about how their experience has been at the school as people of color. I think its a good bonding experience that I wouldnt get in another space.”

Affinity for the community

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
November 10, 2022

Center stage. Sofia Gomez, junior, plays Miss Honey in the musical Matilda. This is her second musical, as she appeared in last falls Pirates of Penzance.

Stepping into the limelight

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
October 28, 2022

“Matilda” has arrived under the spotlight, after many rehearsals and practices. Sofia Gomez, junior, is a part of Thespians, a club advised by Annie Kaiser and Steve Beckingham and led by students....

Grace Boyer (left), sophomore, and Brooke Thomsen (right), sophomore, take center stage with the rest of their dance team on September 8th’s football game.

[Photo] The dance team prepares for the upcoming season

October 6, 2022

Grace Boyer (left), sophomore, and Brooke Thomsen (right), sophomore, take center stage with the rest of their dance team on September 8th’s football game.

During halftime of the football game, Sky Gomes, senior and ASB president, crowns Ajani White, senior, for Homecoming royalty. Out of six seniors, three were elected to be royal. Among elected were White, Angie Nelson, and Drew Ness. “I was in shock,” White said. “I really did not expect it. I feel great. I feel like its a great group and I feel honored to be a part of it.”

A prideful Homecoming

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
October 4, 2022

The cheer team takes the sidelines at football games to encourage the team and rile up the fans.

[Photo] Is there more to cheer than pom poms?

October 7, 2022

The cheer team takes the sidelines at football games to encourage the team and rile up the fans.

Our boys soccer team posing for a group picture after they shutout Cleveland 3-0.

[Photo] Rebuilding season

September 30, 2022

Our boys soccer team posing for a group picture after they shutout Cleveland 3-0.

“A personal goal for myself would be win defensive player of the year in the state.” Picture of wide receiver Mark Hamper

[Photo] Coming home to Homecoming

September 28, 2022

“A personal goal for myself would be win defensive player of the year in the state.” Picture of wide receiver Mark Hamper

The Lions play their first home game on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.

Soaring into a new season

Joseph Murphy, Photography Editor
September 8, 2022

The Lions lost to Tualatin in last year’s state semifinal. After previous Head Coach Chris Miller’s resignation, the Lions hired Jon Eagle, who coached quarterbacks at Portland State University...

Trevor Menne, school principal, has been hard at work attending meetings about a new bell schedule, school safety, and creating a successful school culture.

School administrators provide update on academic calendar and school safety

Joseph Murphy, Sports Editor
April 27, 2022

On a Tuesday morning, district administrators, including Trevor Menne and Jocelyn McIntire, principal and assistant principal respectively, attend a meeting to discuss a revamp in the academic calendar. District...

Everything you need to know about UNC-Duke’s Final Four matchup

Everything you need to know about UNC-Duke’s Final Four matchup

Joseph Murphy, Sports Editor
April 2, 2022

On Apr. 2, the Duke Blue Devils, 2nd seed of the West region, and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the 8th seed of the East region, will battle for a spot in the National Championship. Not only are these...

As of Mar. 17, March Madness 2022 has kicked off. The wlhsNOW staff will be producing live updates, following each game result.

Live updates: March Madness

March Madness is back, and so is the endless flipping between google classroom tabs and score updates as students monitor games while simultaneously completing assignments. To streamline the process, the...

David Tyree (85) performs the “helmet catch” to help defeat the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

The Super Bowl’s history

Joseph Murphy, Sports Editor
February 11, 2022

Originally called the AFL-NFL Championship, the Super Bowl debuted in 1967 between the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. This was the only Super Bowl to not have a sold-out...


Quarterbacks Matthew Stafford (left) and Joe Burrow (right) look to complete their teams’ title runs in Super Bowl LVI after dismantling the 49ers and the Chiefs in the championship round.

Preview: Super Bowl LVI

Joseph Murphy, Sports Editor
February 10, 2022

Last year’s Super Bowl averaged 91.63 million viewers across the U.S. To put that in perspective, the 2021 Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony averaged 16.7 millions U.S viewers. Super Bowl Sunday has...

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Joseph Murphy