Athlete 2000 - 2003
Known for his contagious intensity, fire and passion, two-sport star Ray Lions left an indelible impression at Linfield from 2000 until 2003. He achieved All-America recognition twice as a decathlete in track & field, and once as a safety in football.
Linfield football coach called Lions “quite possibly the finest player I have ever coached.” Smith said that Lions set the standard for all safeties who would follow.
“Ray’s physical play was awesome to behold. No one came across the middle without great fear. Very few running backs eluded his hard, sure tackles in the open field.”
Lions piled up numerous honors in football, including Northwest
Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and first team All-America honors from both D3football.com and Football Gazette. His 110 assisted tackles rank among the top five all-time at Linfield. He ended his career with over 200 total tackles and eight interceptions.
In 2003, Lions suffered a serious neck injury in the opening game, cutting short his senior season. Nonetheless, he was voted the Wildcats’ Most Inspirational Player that fall. Smith recalls Lions’ impact on his teammates, saying, “Ray’s rare ability to infuse confidence and belief in all around him, that’s what set him apart.”
Lions’ contributions to Linfield Athletics went beyond the football field. In the spring, his athletic abilities remained on display as an All-America decathlete and top-flight javelin competitor.
Killgore described Lions as “probably the best five-step javelin thrower I have ever seen. He was a great person to work with.”
Lions ranks second in the Linfield record book in the javelin with a throw of 216 feet, 2 inches. He is 10th in program history in the decathlon with 6,369 points.
Lions is head football coach at Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington, where he also works as a school counselor. Lions applies the values he learned at Linfield every day to his students.
“Quite often I share my personal story to high school students of how Linfield accepted a student-athlete who did not have the highest SAT/ACT score, the highest GPA, the greatest athletic accolades, but rather a holistic person,” he said. “Linfield saw something in me and chose to ‘make a difference in that one.’ Let me tell you, a difference was made and it has inspired me to pay it forward. To live up to my true potential and give permission for our youth to do the same.”
Ray and his wife, Mandy (Webber), a former Linfield swimmer and track athlete and a 2005 Linfield graduate, live in Vancouver with their three children: Xavier, Emery, and Andres.
