[Editor’s note: “Take Five” is a recurring feature designed to offer a quick look at some of Oregon’s most interesting high school sports standouts. This spring, Take Five will focus exclusively on seniors, whose final high school seasons have been canceled by the coronavirus. Today, we get to know senior Jason Vanginderen, a three-sport standout for the Bruins of Brookings-Harbor. Vanginderen played football and basketball for B-H all four years and was on his way to doing the same in baseball before COVID-19. Last year, Vanginderen, who’s been playing baseball since he was 4 years old, was a Second Team All-State first baseman and led the team in RBIs and doubles. Involved in Knowledge Bowl and a member of the robotics team, Vanginderen, a member of the Honor Roll, aspires to continue playing baseball at the collegiate level. We asked Vanginderen to answer five questions from the 25 we posed to him. Here’s what he told us…]
OSAAtoday: If you could be any professional athlete for a week, who would you be and what would you do?
Jason Vanginderen: I would be the rock climber Alex Hannold. I would climb El Capitan and the other big walls in the Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Valley was one of the coolest places I have ever been and it was a crazy experience that I will always remember. I would love to go back in the future and hike the 17-mile Half Dome trail.
OSAAtoday: If you HAD to go on a reality show, which would it be and why?
Vanginderen: I would go on Survivor. I have grown up watching and enjoying it. I like being outdoors and challenging myself physically and this is one of the most physical games anyone could ever play. Also having the chance to winning one million dollars is pretty awesome.
OSAAtoday: What about going to college scares the bejeebers out of you?
Vanginderen: What scares me most about college is that I’m going to have to pay for it. College is a huge financial burden, which is terrifying to any normal kid. Another thing that is a little scary is the fact that I’m going to have to find and make an entirely new friend group while still balancing that with schoolwork at a school that almost none of the kids from my school are going to.
OSAAtoday: Would you rather be famous on Instagram, YouTube or Twitter? Why and what would you be famous for?
Vanginderen: I would choose Instagram. Instagram is a platform that is made for short clips and photos, which is how I prefer to post on social media. I would be famous for nature photography and adrenaline junky type cliff jumping and rock climbing type videos. Cliff jumping is my absolute favorite thing to do in the summer and the pursuit of new places to see and photograph is something I enjoy.
OSAAtoday: If you find yourself stranded on a deserted island and can only have one movie that you’re able to watch, what movie do you choose and why?
Vanginderen: The movie I would choose would be The Wolf of Wall Street because it is one of the funniest movies I have ever watched and it makes me crack up every time I watch it. Leonardo DiCaprio is very good in this movie. He is an incredibly good actor every time and he just seems to live his character so well.
Read other Take Five articles published in connection with the 2020 spring season:
Monroe softball pitcher Tyler Warden
North Salem sprinter Maliyah Thompson
La Grande catcher Logan Paustian
Lake Oswego thrower Parker Williams
Lakeridge netter Nicole Rogers
Westside Christian sprinter Alvin Lai
Stayton softballer Emma Heuberger
Westview outfielder Maddie Curaming
Central Catholic utility Brianna Perkins
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