One Last Spotlight: Highlights from West’s athletes' fall sports accomplishments

One Last Spotlight

RECOGNIZING ATHLETES FROM FALL SPORTS, THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE SEASON, AND SEVERAL OF THE TEAMS THAT PLACED IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR

By Melia Rasmussen and Gigi Roldan

The Athletic Department tested the ice to resume sports in April 2021 during COVID-19, and the ice stayed strong. Now, the ice has melted and the fall sports season was able to set sail with less obstacles than last year’s freeze. They didn’t hesitate to show they’re not going to waste this year. The volleyball team, both water polo teams, a single cross-country runner, and the football team all fought their way forward to the state championships in the 5A league. The Hi-Steppers, although not solely a fall sport, are in their fall season of competitions. From November to December, they compete against other schools in various leagues based on categories of dances. These categories include hip hop, jazz, novelty, pom, kick, and contemporary. The Hi-Steppers won first in Jazz and Contemporary during the 27th Annual Celebration of Dance on Nov. 20.Continuing to practice throughout the year, state dance competitions are hosted in February and March. 1A through 4A leagues compete against each other. 5A competes against 6A. Although winter sports have already started practicing and competing, these teams get one last light on them because, for many, this is the end of the high school chapter of their lives, and along with it their sport. For others, it’s the prologue of a collegiate chapter.

FOOTBALL

4TH STATE

10-3 OVERALL

With a strong 6-1 win/loss record during the season, the varsity football team advanced to compete for the state title after beating Scappoose 33-0 in the first round. They then beat Dallas 28-9 and advanced to the final four. The Bulldogs lost to Silverton on the road in the semifinals, landing fourth and ending their season.

2ND STATE 18:53.10 TIME

A cross country team needs at least five varsity runners in order to receive points in a race. The placing a runner gets is the number of points the team gets, and schools strive for the least number of points. The entire team heads to districts, with the top seven runners heading to state. Senior Megumi Ludlow was the sole qualifier for state, earning second in the 5A Championship race. Senior Megumi Ludlow

Q: What was your greatest accomplishment? A: I think my greatest accomplishment would be breaking 20 minutes in a 5k because I’ve been trying to do that since sophomore year... I was able to break 18 [minutes].

Q: What did you wish you’d done differently? A: I wish that I could have started doing track workouts earlier, but I think I did everything pretty well.

Q: What was your favorite/most memorable moment? A: The most memorable moment would probably be the finish at state because I thought I was going to be placing third, but I was just able to pass the girl who was running in second at like the last 200 meter finish. It was crazy.

TO READ MORE OF LUDLOW’S STATE CROSS COUNTRY RACE, GO TO WAHSWHIRLWIND.COM

SOCCER

5TH LEAGUE

6-7-1 OVERALL

The boys varsity soccer team had a 4-4-1 win/loss/ tie record by the end of their season. With an 0-2 loss against North Salem, the Bulldogs did not qualify for the state championship. Ending their season ranked 5th in the 5A league, the team did not go down without a fight. Q: What was your greatest accomplishment? A: I just wanted to have a more relaxed year compared to junior year, less AP classes, and just enjoy the last soccer season... I still feel like I’m not that great, but somehow I got MVP.

Q: What did you wish you’d done differently? A: Because we hadn’t played a soccer game in a while, I was more nervous on the ball. So at the start I was just trying to get rid of it, but then after a few games I got more confidence. So probably from the start, just trying to hold on to the ball for a bit longer to let plays develop.

Q: What was your favorite/most memorable moment? A: I think the most memorable moment of the season is when my boy [junior] Neil [Morse] jumped up and hit the header on the back post. So like it came in from the corner and he just banged it in.

Senior Jeremy Geno

1ST STATE

29-3-2 OVERALL

The varsity volleyball team had gone undefeated in their season with a 16-0 win/loss record. They advanced into the state championship bracket first in their seed, knocking down Parkrose 3-0 and La Salle Prep 3-1. After beating Ridgeview 3-1 in the semifinals, the Bulldogs fought their way to the top, claiming MidWillamette state championship title against Wilsonville, 3-0, and winning a new plaque for first place. Q: What was your greatest accomplishment? A: The state championship was obviously a pretty big deal. But I think just growing as a team because we’ve all been playing together since middle school—or playing against each other.

Q: What did you wish you’d done differently? A: During practices, a lot of us would complain, I especially would complain, about things. And now that it’s over, there’s nothing to do and there’s moments when I want to go back. But during the season, there were moments when I was like, I’m so ready for this to just be done.

Q: What was your favorite/most memorable moment? A: My favorite memory is our team sing and dance along parties before games. So whether it was a home game or an away game, we’d sing a song that was not very appropriate and we’d sing it before every game.

WATER POLO

1ST STATE

19-6 OVERALL

The boys varsity water polo team had gone 6-0 in the 5A league, placing them first in the South water polo standings. The Bulldogs beat South Albany in the first round with a score of 20-8, and then went on to beat Hillsboro 13-4. The team placed first and claimed the championship title after defeating Hood River 11-6.

SOCCER

4TH LEAGUE

10-6 OVERALL

With the girls varsity soccer team ending their season 5-2, they were ranked 4th in the 5A league. Heading into the state championship tournament, the Bulldogs beat Ashland 1-0 and advanced to the elite eight. But their run ended there after losing to North Eugene 0-1, finishing their season ranked 11th of 31 other schools.

Q: What was your greatest accomplishment? A: I was one of the only two or three defenders and there was a big hole to fill. But as a team, we managed to find people to fill those slots, and we had a really solid defense.

Q: What did you wish you’d done differently? A: I feel like just preparing for the season, there’s probably some more stuff I could have done. Like getting better fitness.

Q: What was your favorite/most memorable moment? A: We did team dinner before every game and those were super fun because we’d always get to talk. There was one in particular where we went to [junior] Ava [Remington’s] house and we’re eating outside around her fire pit and we probably stayed two extra hours just telling stories and stuff.

Senior Nicole Beers

WATER POLO

4TH STATE 10-6 OVERALL

Senior Hailey Wadlington The girls varsity water polo team had a South standing score of 2-1 before heading into the state championship bracket against Cottage Grove. They beat them 21-7 and advanced to the elite eight. They lost against Ashland 6-7, and then again to Hillsboro 6-7, placing the Bulldogs fourth to finish their season.

Q: What was your greatest accomplishment? A: My greatest accomplishment was probably getting fourth in state, we worked really hard as a team, and I’m very proud of where the girls have gone and how they’ve improved.

Q: What did you wish you’d done differently? A: I wish I would have taken the time during the summer to work on legs and stuff like that, out of water strength, so later in the season I can help my teammates more.

Q: What was your favorite/most memorable moment? A: My favorite moment was probably when we got the girls and some of the guys together at my house and we just had a lot of fun doing karaoke and dance offs and had a fire and stuff like that.