No matter rain or shine, West Linn High School’s tennis courts are patrolled by no one better in the state. West Linn’s boys’ tennis coach Ward Lewis has been honored with the National Federation of High Schools Oregon State Coach-of-the-Year award for boys tennis. This is Lewis’s second time winning the award in the past three seasons.

“He’s a fun coach, and he helps a lot,” Andre To, senior, said. “ He knows what he’s doing.”

The NFHS is an organization that recognizes high school coaches in all 50 states who help student athletes succeed both on the playing field and in the classroom. Lewis won the award for the state of Oregon, which nominates him for regional and national honors.

“It feels good because it’s my second time winning the award,” Lewis said. “Since most coaches are turning pro now, the coaches and I that stay at our school for a long period of time (Lewis has been coaching tennis at WLHS for 30 years) are a rare breed.”