A letter from Valley Catholic High School Principal Dr. Sara Bruins

Dr. Sara Bruins, V C H S Principal, resting arms on a bookshelf

Dear VCHS Families,

There are some moments in a school year that just feel bigger than the game, bigger than the season – and this past month was one of them.

VCHS boys’ and girls’ basketball teams recently competed in the 3A State Basketball Tournament in Coos Bay and it was a very special weekend.  It wasn’t just about wins (though there were plenty of those!). It was about community, pride, and the kind of shared experience that reminds us what it means to be part of Valley Catholic High School.

A Championship Season to Remember

Our boys basketball team brought home the 3A State Championship — the third in school history — and what made it even more meaningful is the story behind it. If it felt familiar, it’s because it was.

In 2014, Valley Catholic won the Lewis & Clark League, went to Coos Bay, and won it all, right before moving up to 4A. This year? The exact same thing. League champions. A dominant run at state. And once again, we close out our time in 3A before heading back to 4A next year.

This team did not just win — they did it in a way that will be talked about for a long time:

  • 27–3 overall
  • 16–0 at home
  • Highest scoring team in the state (any classification!) at 78.9 points per game

This group pushed each other and raised the bar:

  • Hank L.  broke the single-season scoring record with 626 points and set a new state game record with 34 points
  • Michael M. hit 84 three-pointers, breaking a long-standing record
  • Cooper B. dished out 190 assists, another school record

And the honors reflect just how special this group is:

  • Bryan Fraser – Coach of the Year (and yes, a state title in his first season!)
  • Andy Haugen – now a state champion as both a player and a coach
  • Garrett F., Hank L., and Michael M. – All-State honorees (our first time ever with three in one season!)
  • Elijah S. – first Valiant male to win state championships in three different sports (Cross Country, Track and Basketball).

Our Girls: Tough, United, and So Fun to Watch

Our girls basketball team had an incredible season of their own:

  • League Champions
  • District Champions
  • 4th place at State

They won 17 of their last 19 games and finished with 23 wins, the most in more than a decade.

Led by seniors Calista E., Ava H., Emmee K., and Brooke W., this team was defined by their energy, their defense, and honestly, how much they genuinely enjoyed playing together. You could feel it every time they stepped on the court.

What stood out most was not just what happened on the court — it was everything around it.

The student section.
The families who made the trip.
The alumni checking scores and sending messages.
The younger students watching and imagining their own turn.

State tournament weekends become something bigger for a school like ours. They remind us who we are – a community that shows up, supports each other, and celebrates together.

Next year, we head back to 4A. There will be new challenges, new opponents, and new goals, but if this season showed us anything, it’s that Valley Catholic doesn’t shy away from those moments.

We rise to them.

Thank you to our players and coaches. You gave us something really special to celebrate.

Thank you to our families, alumni, and community for showing up the way you always do.

This is what it looks like to Live Valiantly.

Valiantly,



Dr. Sara Bruins