Smooth sailing for Camas swimmers over Columbia River

The Camas and North County boys swimming connection knocked off Columbia River and Hudson’s Bay Thursday, at Propstra Pool in Vancouver.

The Papermakers sailed over Columbia River 116-54, and manhandled Hudson’s Bay 130-37. Hockinson also defeated Hudson’s Bay 94-72.

Nick Kabel finished first for Camas in the 50- and the 100-meter freestyle races with times of 23.87 seconds and 54.9 seconds. He also helped the Papermakers place first in the 200 medley relay and second in the 200 freestyle relay.

“It’s a start. I’m not quite where I want to be yet, but I’m getting there,” Kabel said. “Winning these meets are good for motivation. We’re going to have to train even harder during Christmas break, so it’s good to have something like this to look back on.”

Jake Yraceburu grabbed first place in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.11) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (56.34). He also helped Camas finish first in the 200 medley and the 400 freestyle relay races. Kevin Li (59.2) and Trent Harimoto (59.55) earned first and second in the 100 butterfly. Li also placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.36).

Ian Ulmer, Yraceburu, Li and Kabel won the 200 medley relay (1:47.65). Yraceburu, Ulmer, Conner Sullivan and Harimoto won the 400 freestyle relay (3:46.24). Kabel, Joey Sitzel, Alastair Graham and Tyler Travis snatched second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.96).

Ulmer notched second in the 100 backstroke (1:06.34) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (56.67). Travis took third in the 50 (25.58) and the 100 (55.04) freestyle events. Sullivan snatched third in the 200 free (2:04.32) and sixth in the 500 free (5:47.27). Panebianco placed third in the 500 free (5:36.26).

“We have a lot more people and depth, but mostly everyone on our team is really working hard this year,” Kabel said. “Our goal is to beat Mountain View, win districts, move on to state and see how we do there.”

Camas and Mountain View meet Thursday, Jan. 20, at Grass Valley Aquatics Center, next to Lacamas Swim & Sport in Camas. Now that Mountain View is in the mix, it makes the race for league championship more exciting.

“We’re always neck-and-neck with each other,” Kabel said. “That’s why it’s so great to have Mountain View in our league. Now that the meet really counts for both of us, it’s going to be wild.”

Callum Mackintosh captured first place in the 200 freestyle (1:51.99) and the 100 backstroke (59.78). Mackintosh, Cooper Budden, Nicholas Carssow and Alyosha Weyman finished first in the 200 freesyle relay (1:37.27) and second in the 200 medley relay (1:59.97).

“Our relays are giving Camas a run for their money,” Mackintosh said. “We have a good chance to get our relays to the finals at state, and maybe win one of them if we can get our guys into shape. It’s exciting.”

Although winter break means no meets for two weeks, the Papermakers and the North County swimmers have to continue to train hard if they want the results in January and February.

“What you do during the break separates the top teams from the others,” Kabel said. “This is the time you need to step it up. Districts comes a lot faster than you think it will.”