Papermakers with bright futures

Ten Papermakers put pen to paper toward their future destinations after gradutation on National College Signing Day Wednesday.

“I’m excited to play football and not have my parents tell me to clean my room,” said Drew Clarkson after signing with Oregon State University.

It has been a crazy road up to this point in Clarkson’s life. Eleven months ago, he found out that he had stage 2 testicular cancer. Though surgery, rest and recuperation, Clarkson never lost sight of his goal. He was going to play football during his senior year.

Clarkson returned to the front line without losing a step. He helped the Papermakers become league champions again, return to the Tacoma Dome for the third year in a row and play for the state championship.

Five Camas football players confirmed their college destinations. Zach Eagle and Reilly Hennessey are both going to Eastern Washington University. Jorden Payne is on his way to Eastern Oregon and Jason Vailea will play for Western Oregon.

Dylan White played in the state championship football game for the Papermakers with a broken hand. He signed on to play baseball at the University of Portland.

“I’m looking forward to building a brotherhood with my new teammates, but I’m also looking forward to coming back home and having a home cooked meal when I’m homesick,” White said.

Blake Christopher is going to play baseball for George Fox University. He can’t wait for one more Camas spring in the sun with White and Hennessey.

Softball players Harli Hubbard and Lena Richards both have bright futures. Hubbard will pitch for North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, N.C., and Richards will shore up the diamond at the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. Both said they learned what it takes to be a winner in their own backyard thanks to their families, friends, coaches and teammates.

Teylen Sheesley helped the Camas girls soccer team place fourth in the state tournament in 2012 and return to the state quarterfinals in 2013. She is on her way to Hamline University, in St. Paul, Minn.