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Cole Tomlinson

Lincoln sports has a long and tumultuous history, with the two most successful teams of the sample size being volleyball and women's water polo. In this sports article, Cardinal Times reporter Cole Tomlinson compares team statistics.

Since 2000, Lincoln High School sports have won 36 individual state titles and 13 as a team. The quantity each has won varies, though all have enjoyed substantial amounts of success.

In the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL), Lincoln baseball has won four titles and Lincoln volleyball eight, the most out of all volleyball teams in the league. Baseball won their four titles in the 2010s. Volleyball, during the eight years they won titles managed to garner 17 wins, and only one loss in 2003 specifically. 

Of all Lincoln teams, none have had more recent success than women’s water polo and men’s tennis. Both teams finished second in the state in 2017 and 2018, and in 2019, men’s tennis placed second for a third time. Men’s tennis competed in state against Jesuit all three years, placing second by an average margin of 14 points.

In 2018, the water polo team won in the semifinals against Newberg, the overwhelming favorite, but they lost the finals to Sam Barlow, who was also favored.

Men’s water polo has also had relative success, notably in 2012 when the team had their best record and finished third in the state. This past season the team struggled, but new players including Freshman Dexter Eldred may raise the team’s ceiling going forward. 

“Right now, the plan is to do club water polo, […] I really enjoyed doing water polo my freshman year so anything I can do to get better is cool,” said Eldred. 

For both men and women, cross country, swimming and golf teams have performed at a high level. Men’s swimming has won nine individual state titles and the golf teams have won seven. Men’s and women’s cross country have consistently had quality teams that competed in state, this peaking with a men’s second place finish in 2015 to Central Catholic. This year, Lincoln also performed exceptionally well with both teams placing third.

This is only the tip of the iceberg as Lincoln has won 13 state titles as a team amongst dance, women’s tennis, and track and field.

Between 2002 and 2010, Dance proved themselves to be one of the most dominant in not just Lincoln history, but in Oregon as a whole. Of all Lincoln’s eight state titles, over half were won by Dance.

This span included a five year stretch from 2002 to 2007 that was followed up with two more successes in 2009 and 2010. 

“At the end of the day, we want to win,” said senior Jessica Grossi, a member of the Dance team, “but if we don’t as long as we feel good with what we put on the floor then the placing doesn’t matter that much.” 

Women’s tennis, headed by coach Sue Bashman and duo Kadie and Alie Hueffner delivered Lincoln the best tennis in its history. They won state each year from 2010 to 2013, placing second in 2014. In 2007.

Men’s and women’s track and field won state by getting first in four events combined. The men’s competitor was West Salem who they beat in a close matchup and the women’s was Jesuit who they beat with ease. The following year, men’s made the finals again and placed second to Sam Barlow.

Out of all the teams since 2000, Dance has won the most team titles with seven, followed by women’s tennis with four. Individually, men’s track and field have won the most with 11 player awards, men’s swimming being  second with nine. While not all teams have had the same amount of triumphs, they all have stories of success to tell.