Boys’ Basketball

Record: 9-8

State Ranking: 24th

Sam Noland, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: [There have] been some ups, more downs, but we’re working on it. Hopefully as time goes on, we’ll be a better team and peak at the right time in the season.

Q: How has the team meshed together so far?

A: Off the court, everyone is good friends. We talk a lot and laugh a lot. On the court, our chemistry and communication could be better.

Q: What has been your best game so far?

A: Against Centennial because we beat them by 50. It wasn’t necessarily considered a good game, but we had lots of fun out there. A lot of people got to play [and] a lot of people got to score.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: Even though I didn’t really play, I’d probably go with the [playing at] Chiles Center my sophomore year. Or when I scored my first varsity point. That was cool, too.

Q: What is your favorite part of basketball?

A: Probably just the process. A lot of my free time is spent shooting in a gym or working out, and that’s what I enjoy most.

Q: Which team are looking forward to playing the most?

A: I got to say Tigard. That rivalry is always something special, so hopefully a lot of people show up and we can get a win.

Girls’ Basketball:

Record: 12-4

State Ranking: 12th

Sidney Dering, junior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: It has gone really well. We have a new coach this season, so we’re excited about that. He’s brought a new energy, which is awesome. We lost a lot of seniors, but we have been able to make up that deficit by hard work. We put a lot of time in, so I think that’s why we’ve been successful so far. We’re number one going into league, so preseason went awesome.

Q: What has been your best game so far?

A: Our best preseason game had to either be the Clackamas game or the Jesuit game. It’s always great to go play schools that bring out large crowds. It’s fun to play with, even if it’s against you. You can use it as motivation. I think Clackamas was our most energy and we came out ready to play.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: I think the best moment of my personal career wasn’t necessarily a moment, but it was sort of a culmination of things that I went through. [I had] a lot of personal growth as a basketball player because it was tough to run an entirely new position and deal with everything that came. This year I feel more ready to go and play for my teammates and for myself. I genuinely love basketball, so now I’m happier to play for Tualatin and contribute to this team.

Q: What team are you looking forward to playing?

A: We beat West Linn once last year, so that was huge for us and not a lot of teams can say that they did that. I think we’re really looking forward to playing [anybody]. We have a strong league this year, which is something that is unique. There are seven strong teams, and I don’t know if can pick one. We’re just ready to roll through league.

Cheer:

Karina Portscheller, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: Our season has been great! We bonded immediately, and that has really translated into our competition season, as we are undefeated so far.

Q: What are some big upcoming events/competitions?

A: Nationals are Feb. 1-2 and state [cha
mpionships] are Feb. 15.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: My best moment was winning State in 2018.

Q: What is your favorite part of cheer?

A: My favorite part has been the friendships I’ve made and the confidence I’ve gained.

Q: Do you have any future plans in cheer?

A: I plan on continuing to cheer in college at Oregon State University on their stunt team.

Dance:

Jillian Plahn, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: Our season so far has been pretty good. We’re now starting state season, so we’re learning a new routine, which is really fun.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: Our first competition for state season is on Feb. 15 and state is Mar. 21.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: The best moment of my personal career was making the 6A All State Dance team. I was super proud of myself and so were my coaches. I’ve been dancing and competing as a team for so long that being recognized as an individual was really rewarding.

Q: What is your favorite part of dance?

A: My favorite part of dance is being a part of the team and making friends. I’ve grown so close to all of the girls on the team and have made so many friends.

Q: Personal and team goals?

A: A team goal I have is for us to place at State. We’ve come close a couple of times and this year I really hope we can place.

Boys’ Swimming:

Record: 2-3

Tyler Dickson, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: This season has been great! Swimming is unlike any sport I’ve ever done before. It combines blunt strength, cardiovascular endurance and technique. The sport is fun to compete against yourself, yet also work with your teammates to beat the competing school.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: Senior Night against Tigard Feb. 6 and Districts on Feb. 13.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: I PR’d in 100-yard breaststroke and beat my previous time by seven seconds. To be fair it was my second meet because this is the first and only year of swim team for me, but it was exciting to see my efforts in practice show up in the meet.

Q: What is your favorite part of swim?

A: The friendships made on the team. Time spent in practice goofing around and the support shown from teammates and the extremely positive sportsmanship from competing schools.

Q: What are your goals for this season going in?

A: My goals for the season were to PR in a single event and to be able to swim a mile in preparation for the triathlon I’m competing in in June. Originally the triathlon is why I joined the swim team to get prepared. However, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with the team and in the water competing against myself.

Girls’ Swimming:

Record: 5-1

Kira Shelter, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: So far, our season has gone really well. We’re 3-0 going into our away meet in Canby this Thursday, so that is really exciting.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: On Feb. 6 we have a home meet vs Tigard, so everyone should come out and support. Districts are Feb. 14 so Valentine’s Day and 15 for Finals.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: The best moment of my career is probably last year at Districts. I had a big PR.

Q: What is your favorite part of swim?

A: I definitely like competing. It’s really fun just to get to show how hard you’ve worked and see it pay off. The team is fun too, so it’s a good atmosphere.

Q: What are some of your goals for this season going in?

A: Some of my personal goals are to obviously to get faster times and so far, I’ve gotten PRs in all of my events. As a team, we really wanted to place at Districts and we are really setting ourselves up well.

Skiing/Snowboarding:

Jeffrey Jost, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: It’s been a little bit rough since we haven’t had a lot of snow. This weekend they actually had to put salt on the course because the snow was just slushy. We had to miss our first race because of blizzard conditions. Now the season’s going pretty well. In our current standings, Tualatin is in 5th.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: We have three more races. Depending on how well we do in those, we will either make it to State or we won’t. Last year was our first time ever making it to State as a team. That’s what we are in it for. We really want to go to State, it’s so much fun. We get to travel to Ashland. Otherwise, it will be whoever does well enough to qualify as an individual.

Q: What is your favorite part of skiing?

A: My favorite part about skiing in general is that they put you in an environment where you completely send it down the mountain and race you’re a** off as fast as you possibly can. I mean, it’s dangerous but they literally give you an excuse to completely let loose and go as fast as you possibly can without getting in trouble. It feels really fast.

Q: What are some of your goals for this season going in?

A: Make it to State as a team. It’s going to be hard-Tigard is beating us right now. They only allow five teams to go and right now we are the fifth so we’ve really got to fight for it. We’re not too worried about making it as individuals, but really just want six people to be up there.

Megan Jost, junior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: Pretty good. I’ve been top 20 every weekend, so that is good, for me at least.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: The next couple ones are really vital for making it to State for my team and stuff. We’re all trying to do really good.

Q: What has been the best moment of your career?

A: I made 10th one time last year and that was pretty good because it was out of 89, so I was pretty proud of myself.

Q: What is your favorite part of skiing?

A: The people. The people are my favorite part. Just going up and spending time with all my friends and just getting to know people from different schools are really fun.

Q: What are your goals for this season going in?

A: Personal goal is to make it top 10 constantly and then, [for] team goals, we all want to make it to State.

Wrestling:

Jake Reser, senior

Q: How has your season gone so far?

A: This year has gone pretty well. My record is 18-7, so it’s my best record so far. I’ve been improving a lot in different spots.

Q: What are some big upcoming events?

A: Each week we have a dual [meet] and we have the Reser Tournament of Champions. It’s the hardest tournament in the state of the year. It’s harder than State and it would be fun to win that.

Q: What is the best moment of your career?

A: Sophomore year when I won my consolation semifinals to make it to State.

Q: What is your favorite part of wrestling?

A: Winning and building a good team around us. It brings me to new people who I usually wouldn’t hang out with and allows me to be a part of a new family [rather] than football and normal school.

Q: What are some of your goals for this season?

A: Personal goal: win districts and place at State. Preferably 3rd place or better because my brother got 4th. A team goal would be to win districts as a team.