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Stories by Dan Trujillo

email icon dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com

May 8, 2012
Alexa Efraimson chases another school record for the Camas track and field team. The freshman finished in first place in the 1,500-meter run at the Nike Jesuit Relays Friday, in Beaverton, Ore. Her time of 4:23.41 is the second fastest in the nation.

Efraimson turning heads

Still just a freshman, Alexa Efraimson is breaking school records for Camas every time she steps on the track. On Friday at the Nike Jesuit Relays in Beaverton, Ore., Efraimson finished first in the 1,500-meter elite run with a time of 4 minutes, 23.41 seconds. "I've really pushed myself to times I never thought I could reach until I was a senior," Efraimson said. "It makes me realize how fortunate I am to have the talent I have and the capability I have. I hope it just gets better with time." Head coach Alisa Wise said Efraimson dropped about 10 seconds off her winning time at the Oregon Relays, April 21. It is also the second fastest 1,500 in the nation.

May 8, 2012

WHS track achieves league titles

The Washougal track and field athletes came home from Longview May 1 with crowns on their heads. It was a special way to symbolize league championships for both teams. The girls finished first in league for the fourth year in a row, and the boys rose to the top of pile for the first time since the 2000 season. "It was a very loud bus ride home. That's all I can say," said junior Joe Harris. "It's just really cool to be the league champions. It shows that working hard in our events and helping others has such a good outcome." The Panther boys defeated Mark Morris 77-68. Isaac Bischoff grabbed first in the discus (125 feet, 6 inches) and shot put (41-7). Nathan Milojevic clinched first in the javelin (135-7) and the pole vault (12 feet).

May 1, 2012

Camas tennis turns tides on Columbia River

Every game counted between the Camas and Columbia River girls tennis teams Wednesday. Esther Kwon, Jen Lewis and Lily Hsu won three singles matches for the Papermakers, but the Chieftains countered with three victories in doubles to force a tiebreaker. After the sets were also tied at six, Camas won with 43 total games to Columbia River's 41. Head coach Jonathan Burton didn't want to hang around and find out what would have happened if the teams tied in total games as well. He had been waiting long enough for this win. "I have been coaching the girls since 2000, and I don't ever recall us beating River until now," he said. "I've been hanging around and waiting for this win for 13 years, but most of these kids haven't been around that long. I could see some high fives and smiles when I explained to them how big this win was for our program."

May 1, 2012
The Washougal girls track and field team won the Panther Invitational Friday, at Fishback Stadium. The ladies leaped over Mark Morris by 25 points, as well as six other schools, for the first-place trophy.

Washougal track teams go for more glory

A special Friday night in Washougal sets the stage for an even better today for the Panther track and field teams. They could both be coming home from Longview as the league champions. "That would be a very good ending to our regular season," said head coach Dave Hajek. "Winning league is a goal, but it is not the only goal these kids have. It would definitely be something nice for both teams to achieve, but if it doesn't happen it's not the end of the world. Just to have the opportunity for both teams to be in that spot is pretty good." The Washougal teams increased their potential by performing well for their hometown in the Panther Invitational Friday, at Fishback Stadium. The Washougal girls leaped over Mark Morris by 25 points, as well as six other schools, for the first-place trophy. The Panther boys rose up to second place, and finished just 10 points shy of Mark Morris.

May 1, 2012
Austin Barr laces a single into right field Friday, at Mountain View High School. In the first inning, the Camas High School senior crushed a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence for his 100th hit.

Austin Barr has more career hits than any Camas baseball player

As Austin Barr rounded the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning, it felt like it was going to be a better day for the Camas baseball team Friday. But then Mountain View scored four runs in the bottom of the first to put the Papermakers in another hole they could not dig themselves out of. On Thursday, the Thunder shocked the Papermakers with a 10-0 victory on the Camas field. On Friday, they defeated the Papermakers 7-2 on their home field to capture the league championship. "It definitely hurts. You get that choked up feeling in your throat after two tough losses," Barr said. "The important thing to remember is, we're not done yet. As much as this hurts right now, we can get another shot at Mountain View if we come back and play a great game on Wednesday. That's what we want." Camas (12-5) has already locked up a spot in the bi-district tournament. This week is about redemption and playing for a higher seed in the district tournament. On Wednesday at Propstra Park, the Papermakers will play in the semifinal game at 4 p.m. If they win, they get another crack at Mountain View in the championship game Thursday at 4 p.m.

May 1, 2012

Prairie softball rattles Camas in rematch

The Camas softball team took one on the chin Monday, at Prairie. After the Falcons tied the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the Papermakers loaded the bases and Cailyn Grindy came off the bench and delivered a pinch hit 2-run single into left center to give Camas a 6-4 advantage. But those pesky Prairie batters nibbled for three runs in the last two innings to win the game 7-6. "You want to try and get a lead on them early and keep adding on," said Camas head coach Ken Nidick. "I don't think there's ever a comfortable lead against them because they have so many quality hitters. And so do we. The fact that we can play at a high level like Prairie has for so many years shows the growth of our program."

April 24, 2012
Washougal's Isaac Stinchfield (front) and Sean Eustis (left) push each other in the 3,200-meter run at the Kalama Invitational Friday. Eustis won this event with a time of 9:41.02. Stinchfield placed first in the 1,600 (4:28.46) and third in the 3,200 (9:54) with personal best times in both events.

Panthers finish third at Kalama Invitational

Isaac Stinchfield was twice as fast Friday night at the Kalama Invitational. After setting new personal best times in the mile and the two mile runs, the Washougal High School junior jumped right into the 1,600-meter relay race to complete the trifecta. Stinchfield won the mile in 4 minutes, 28.46 seconds and took third in the two mile in 9:54. "After the mile, I didn't think I would have anything left," he said. "To be able to come back and still get a 12-second PR in the two mile is just mind-boggling. "I feel amazing right now," Stinchfield added. "Just the energy that I have. I want to keep running and get as many points for the team as possible. It's just a rush and I want to keep it going."

April 24, 2012

Camas baseball aims for Mountain View

The Camas High School baseball team took care of Columbia River 10-4 Monday. This sets the stage for a league championship showdown between the 9-1 Papermakers and the 8-1 Mountain View Thunder. The teams play Thursday in Camas and Friday at Mountain View. Both games start at 4 p.m. "These guys set a goal at the beginning of the season to be league champions. It's right in front of us now," said Camas head coach Joe Hallead. "All the hard work we have put into this season has led us to this opportunity. We just have to go out and execute now, and put something on the banner."

April 24, 2012
Amber Corbett tosses the javelin during the Oregon Relays, at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Camas High School junior clinched second in the event with a throw of 126 feet, 7.5 inches.

Camas track teams rise at Oregon Relays

The Camas boys and girls track and field teams combined their efforts to finish in ninth place out of the 46 high schools who competed at the Oregon Relays Friday and Saturday, at Hayward Field in Eugene. "The atmosphere and ambiance of that meet is so big," said head coach Alisa Wise. "We want these kids to experience a big meet type atmosphere so they learn how to control their emotions and adrenaline. You can be physically prepared, but if you're not disciplined mentally, you're going to be all over the place." Amber Corbett was one of the many Papermakers who thrived in the spotlight. "It's a big stadium and tons of people are watching. You're right in the middle of it all," she said. "It's intimidating, but a great experience at the same time."

April 17, 2012
Zach Vergillo (302) gets off to a fast start in the Washougal MX Challenge Sunday, at Washougal Motocross Park. The Camas High School cycler completed three laps on the four-mile course in one hour, 1 minute and 55 seconds, which was good enough for fifth place in the junior varsity boys race. See the online photo gallery at www.camaspostrecord.com.

A great racing day in Washougal

Climbing 500 feet on a bicycle to the top of Washougal Motocross Park was worth it to the 68 riders from the Washington High School Cycling League Sunday. They saw nothing but beauty for miles and miles and miles, and were able to coast back down the mountain in minutes. "It was just like a ride in my backyard," said Susannah Hart, a 14-year-old from Washougal. "I only live about a mile away from here."