By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

WOODBURN, Ore.–  Weird accidents happen all the time in sports and what happened to West Salem junior Morgan Duke was sadly no different.

A fluke accident really during the last day of try-outs last year, during her sophomore year, when a teammate clipped one of her ankles from the back and broke her ankle in the process.  Knocking out one of the then-sophomore before her season could really get off the ground.

“It was difficult for sure, but everyone at West is family.  So they were all supporting me through it and I felt like I never missed a step,” Duke described being out last season.  “It was nice to have a little time off, but watching the games and stuff, it made me appreciate it more.”

The Titans went 7-6-2 in 2021 and reached the first round of the 6A Postseason before falling to Forest Grove in a heartbreaking 2-1 game last November.  Now as West Salem went to work Thursday morning at Woodburn, playing in three jamboree games in the Woodburn Jamboree on this day, the Titans Duke was back on the field and had a few opportunities to help the West Salem offense.  Bringing some aggression to close out the Jamboree against the 4A State Champions in the Bulldogs who are returning to 5A this season.

“”It was fun.  I’m happy to be back out here.  We were working on a few new formations, so we’re just trying to get the kinks out a little bit and I think it worked,” Duke said.

The Titans open the season August 31 when they travel up to Nelson before hosting Churchill September 6.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald