Category: Sports

Going into the 2017-18 NBA season, there were a few question marks about how the Blazers would perform. With the trade of Allen Crabbe to the Nets and the strengthening of other Western Conference teams during the offseason, it was estimated by fans and news coverage that the team would fall low in rankings and maybe even miss out on a playoff spot. Despite these challenges, the Blazers have been performing above expectations, and beating the odds.

The team started with a strong pre-season, winning almost every game and finishing with a record of 3-1. They have continued to battle in the regular season, maintaining a record of 12 wins and 8 losses, and ranking fifth in the Western Conference as of November 26. Their key to success so far has been the performance of their big three: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic. Their compatibility on the court and their individual ability to score many points each has created an unstoppable offense during games. Their defense has also been surprisingly solid thus far. “The defensive ability of Nurkic can’t be overstated as he has proven himself to be a solid anchor to lead an already strong front court,” states Blazers fan, Max Berger (11). Guys like Shabazz Napier and Pat Cannington in the offence are also able to come off the bench for a quick offensive spark when needed.

With the team’s current success also comes drawbacks. The biggest problem so far for the Blazers has been closing games late. “Whether it’s a defensive breakdown, a late turnover, or simply stagnant offense, our execution has been weak,” says Berger.

Playoff eligibility will depend on whether other Western Conference teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans continue to underperform and how well the Blazers can address their problem with finishing games. “I think if we can figure out a unit we can put out there and trust during crunch time, then we should have no problem securing playoff birth and might even be able to move up a spot or two,” said Berger.

Sports are a big part of Franklin’s community, from the homecoming football game, to Powder Puff, to golf, and swimming. But when these athletes get injured, there’s one crucial person they go to: Stephanie Lyda, Franklin’s athletic trainer.

Lyda has held the title of athletic trainer since 2014, and is in her second year at Franklin. Before Franklin, Lyda worked at a physical therapy clinic in Lake Oswego. Enthusiastic about the new facilities, Lyda appreciates the location of the training room, which is directly across from the field on the basement level of the gym building. The shelves and drawers are full of physical therapy equipment, including braces, bands, and tape. Lining the walls are exam tables where players are treated and diagnosed. There’s a stationary bike, exercise balls, and boards to aid athletes in their injury recovery.

Lyda grew up playing sports and was very interested in working in the medical field, so becoming an athletic trainer was a natural career choice. “I get to hang out with high schoolers who are awesome and super fun, and I get to watch sports and then help [those] who get injured feel better,” says Lyda. She says her favorite sport to treat is soccer because she loves watching the game. “I appreciate the athleticism and I feel like the injuries are not as catastrophic.” She adds, “I like almost every sport I cover, there isn’t one I really don’t like.”

Prioritizing time is one of the challenges that comes with being an athletic trainer. Often staying until 8:30 or 9pm, Lyda ensures that all athletes are treated and cared for. “Realizing I’m one person, and there’s only so much I can do with each athlete… The volume and number of athletes I need to see while also getting out to games can be challenging.” Lyda also attends away games, ensuring Franklin’s health at home and across Portland.
As for the worst injury Lyda has ever treated, a dislocated and fractured ankle took the prize. “It wasn’t bloody, but when I looked at the x-ray, the bone almost could’ve been sticking out of the skin,” details Lyda.

Franklin also has a sports medicine clinic class in which students attend games and help out in the training room to learn and receive hands-on experience from Lyda in the medical field. Nora Harbison (12), a former clinic student, says “I liked doing clinic because it gave me a more hands-on way to learn, and [gain] exposure to actual injuries and how they are treated.” Just like Lyda, clinic students often stay late to assist at sports games. “They get to see the process of injury evaluation,” says Lyda. Clinic students are also able to watch the process of assesing whether or not an athlete is able to continuine play, the return-to-play process, and how different injuries are treated, “which I think is really cool because even if they don’t want to do athletic training, say they’re interested in another medical field, they still can understand what it’s like here when patients return from injury,” says Lyda.

Julia Povich (12), center back for the varsity soccer team, says “[Lyda] has been a great addition to our school. Ever since she arrived she’s been a fan favorite throughout athletics.” Povich appreciates how invested Lyda is in helping the athletes, no matter the size of the injury. “Most of us, especially the soccer team, have discovered that her office is a fun and safe place where we can go to do our exercises or just hang out before practice.”

Lyda is an instrumental part of the Franklin sports program, and continues to provide helpful support to athletes and students alike.

The Franklin fall sports season has been a blast for both viewers and players. With the season coming to a close, there have been many exciting matches against fellow PIL schools and the greater Portland area.

Football: The homecoming game has traditionally been the highlight of the football season. Everyone is always excited to cheer on their team and attend the dance after the game. This year, Franklin did not disappoint. On a clear fall night the Quaker men dominated Roosevelt, winning 31-0. “We stuck together as a team and played pretty well,” stated quarterback Clifford Carlson (12). Although Franklin lost some key players from last year, they continue to play strong.

Women’s Soccer: With the poor air quality earlier this fall, many sports games in Oregon had to be rescheduled or even cancelled for health reasons. Franklin women’s soccer had to reschedule one of their preseason games against Hood River Valley to a Saturday evening later into the season. This meant that they would have to play a total of three games in one

week. Despite this, the women showed their resilience and battled in cold, rainy conditions. Hood River led 1-0 against the Quakers until late in the second half, when Zoe Zelinsky (9) equalized with a goal. The game ended in a 1-1 tie that helped the Franklin women clinch a play-in spot at the state championships.Unfortunately, the girls lost the game 5-0, but captain Julia Povich (12) kept it positive. “I was very proud of how our team [had] performed these last couple weeks.”

Cross Country: The team raced at a unique meet this season. They traveled on a rainy Saturday to Heiser Farms, located in Dayton, Oregon, where fall festivities were in full swing. Right off the bus, runners were greeted with a barn of farm animals. “It was something I had never seen at a meet before,” said Delaney Griffin (11). “It made my day.” The farm also had a corn maze, hay ride, and a pumpkin patch available. The team enjoyed the fun, but immediately became serious once the meet began. The course was a long, flat loop around the farm and into the surrounding woods. The varsity girls raced first and placed sixth overall with 164 points. The junior varsity girls also placed first with 44 points. The varsity boys placed first overall with 48 points. The junior varsity boys placed second with 108 points. Overall, it was a great showing from the Quaker runners.

Men’s Soccer: The clash between Franklin and Cleveland men’s soccer, better known as the “Southeast Cup,” has been a rivalry game for many years. “It’s a big deal,” said Henry Myers (12). The senior boys even continued the recently created tradition of bleaching their hair for the game. Going into the game, both teams were amped. A packed stadium helped cheer on the game, with food trucks provided for hungry viewers. The game began with an early surge from Cleveland, resulting in a goal not even five minutes in, but the Quaker boys battled it out to keep the Warriors’ lead slim. Late in the game, Franklin came back with a much-needed equalizer from Myers. The game ended in a tie (1-1), but Myers believes Franklin should’ve claimed the win. “I think we outplayed them. We had more opportunities.” Their success was rewarded as they earned spot in the state playoffs.

With a new school year in session, clubs and activities are getting started. Rugby Club, a club dedicated to informing people about what rugby is and connecting those who love it with each other, is one of the many clubs at Franklin this year. According to Matthew Manley, Rugby Club advisor, teacher, and coach at Franklin, the club has been around for the past five years. Rugby and football are very similar. The game is made up of fifteen players. To gain points, each team scores tries, which are like touchdowns. This is because the ball must come into contact with the ground while a player is holding it behind the goal line. It’s very important to learn how to tackle correctly because if someone were to do it incorrectly they could hurt themselves and the other person.

Though they haven’t met this year, Rugby Club has always been more of a team than a club. According to Destiny Sagli (11), one of the club’s student leads, the club has a “great family atmosphere.” Sagli was introduced to Rugby Club last year because she was looking for a new sport to join and was encouraged to join by a friend.

Kya Bailey (11), the other student lead, had said, “since rugby’s more of a new sport, newcomers are more welcome.” Bailey joined the club last year also and has played many sports before. She was intrigued by the fact that, unlike a lot of other sports, rugby isn’t something most people are expected to have played since they were a kid.

The rugby season officially begins this spring, and Rugby Club is a passageway into this interesting community and sport.

Michelle Jaramillo (12), like many of her fellow Franklin athletes, is excellent at what she does. Now on the varsity soccer team, she started playing soccer when she was just five years old. Her family members were raised on the field. “We’d go there [the park] every weekend, just kicking the ball with my family,” said Jaramillo. She stays involved and motivated with the sport by keeping it light and fun. However, Franklin intramural soccer isn’t her only focus.

When she isn’t kicking around for the home team, Jaramillo enjoys playing basketball in the park. “I play [recreational soccer], and I’m thinking about joining a [soccer] club.”
Beyond sports, her academic performance is quite the feat. After all, the moniker “student athlete” does have two parts. Jaramillo elaborated upon the former saying, “this year I’m in government, English literature, intermediate algebra, and I’m a TA for Ms. Olivera.” It’s no small task to balance with the responsibilities of a varsity soccer player.

“My favorite thing about Michelle, as a teammate, is that she’s such a motivational person,” said Ilse Stacklie-Vogt (11). She recounted an anecdote relating to how Michelle often commands inspiration and optimism among her teammates, specifically in the aftermath of a game earlier this year against Madison High School. “It was a quiet bus ride home and everyone was crying,” Stacklie-Vogt recalled. “Then, Michelle stood up on the bus and said, ‘we love playing soccer, and I want all of you to walk off this bus with a smile on your face!’” Stacklie-Vogt went so far as to describe Jaramillo as a “loud-spirited person.” “That’s exactly the kind of energy you need on a team,” said Stacklie-Vogt.

On the matter of what keeps her coming back to soccer, Jaramillo posited, “I like how we as a team can all have things in common, and you make new friends every time, and meet new people,” said Jaramillo. “I think it’s another way to get together and make a second family.”
Finally, for anyone considering becoming a student athlete like herself, Jaramillo advises trying things out of the ordinary: “I feel like you should just step out of your comfort zone and give it a try!”