Subscribe

Stories by Dan Trujillo

email icon dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com

February 17, 2011
Brendan Casey captured second for Washougal in the 160-pound bracket of the 2A regional wrestling tournament Saturday, at Tumwater High School.

Camas-Washougal wrestlers are destined for the Tacoma Dome

To be one of the 1,300 wrestlers competing for a medal this weekend, at Mat Classic XXIII inside the Tacoma Dome, is the thrill of a lifetime. Only five Washougal High School wrestlers, and four from Camas, get to experience it. Leading the way for the Panthers are seniors John Barrette, Brendan Casey, Michael Huck, LaDwana Jurgens and Chism King. "If you let down at all at state, you're not going to be able to come out with a win," said WHS head coach John Carver. "When this weekend is over, we want every Washougal wrestler to know they gave all they had and that they didn't hold anything back."

February 16, 2011
Kevin Li was one of several Papermakers who propelled the Camas boys swimmers to the district championship Saturday, at Kelso High School.

Aquatic avengers

Revenge tasted sweet for the Camas High School boys swimmers Saturday, at Kelso High School. The Papermakers racked up 368 points, left league champion Mountain View in their wake, and captured their third district championship in the past four years. The Camas quartet of Ian Ulmer, Jake Yraceburu, Kevin Li and Trent Harimoto clinched first place in the 200-meter medley relay. Harimoto finished first with a time of 1 minute, 44.53 seconds. Robert Short of Mountain View was right behind at 1:44.58. "It was bang, bang! [Harimoto] beat him on the reach to the wall," said Camas head coach Mike Bemis.

February 13, 2011
Kevin Li was one of the many Papermakers who propelled the Camas boys swimmers to the district championship Saturday, at Kelso High School.

On the sidelines: Camas swimmers capture district championship

Revenge tasted sweet for the Camas High School boys swimmers Saturday. The Papermakers racked up 368 points during the 3A district swimming meet at Kelso High School, left league champion Mountain View in their wake, and captured their third district title in the last four years.

February 8, 2011
Kevin Basilio and the Camas High School boys basketball players are on the fast track to the district championship game. On Friday, the Papermakers beat Mountain View 60-37 to win their first league title in 49 years.

MAKING CAMAS HOOPS HISTORY

Bryan Butler will never forget this birthday, and neither will his best friends on the Camas basketball team. "I had the ball in my hand as time was running out, and I couldn't stop smiling," Butler said. "I couldn't believe this was happening." On a night when Butler turned 18, 1,800 screaming fans stood on the bleachers and the track above Friday to watch the Papermaker boys beat Mountain View 60-37 for their first district championship in 49 years. "I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling right now. It was the perfect birthday present for me," Butler said. "To win districts with these guys is amazing. This is something we've been dreaming about since fifth grade, and it's been a great road."

February 8, 2011
Chism King was crowned Outstanding Wrestler for the 2A sub-regional tournament Friday and Saturday, at R.A. Long High School.

Washougal wrestlers send eight to regional tournament

Wrestling in the sub-regional tournament for the final time as a senior, Washougal's Chism King wanted to make a statement. "It's my last year. I got to out with a bang." Those were King's words after being named Outstanding Wrestler of the five-team meet Saturday, at R.A. Long High School. He pinned his last two opponents in less than a minute to capture the 112-pound sub-regional championship. "It was neat to be named outstanding wrestler, and it gives me a lot of motivation," King said. "I'm going to continue to work harder so I can be ready for whoever gets in my way."

February 5, 2011
The Camas High School boys basketball team captured a league championship for the first time in 49 years. Pictured, left to right: Addison Owen, Richard Schultz, Kevin Basilio, Jacob Kaler, Dobilas Zalpys, Kyle Friend, Bryan Butler, Marc Eppinger, Michael Neff and Damon Kosaki.

On the sidelines: Dreams do come true

If you were one of the estimated 1,800 fans inside the Camas warehouse Friday night, I don't have to tell you what happened. But for those who missed out, the Camas High School boys basketball team beat Mountain View 60-37 to win a league championship for the first time since 1962.

February 4, 2011
Camas High School seniors (left to right) Odin Coe, Addison Owen, Melissa Williams, Drew White and Kurt Yinger eagerly sign their college letters of intent Wednesday.

Signing day at Camas High

Odin Coe signs with Montana State, Addison Owen signs with Montana, Melissa Williams signs with Eastern Washington, Drew White signs with Washington and Kurt Yinger signs with UC Santa Barbara.

February 1, 2011
Jacob Kaler glides to the hoop to score two of his 35 points Jan. 25, at Camas High School. The Papermakers beat Hudson's Bay 84-57 to take over first place.

Playoff basketball fever

Before delivering 35 points to help the Camas High School boys basketball team beat Hudson's Bay 84-57 on Jan. 25, Jacob Kaler remembers two words the Papermakers wrote down in the locker room before the game. "Win league," he said. "Seeing the goal on the board motivated me even more. Those words were pounding through my head the whole game." Kaler racked up 17 points in the first half. At one point, the Papermakers were rolling on a 26-2 scoring drive in the first half. Kaler collected another 14 points in the third quarter. He capped off a night to remember with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter, and a shot clock beating jumper in the fourth quarter.

February 1, 2011

Papermaker propellers

With propeller power generated by 11 different relay combinations, the Camas High School boys swimmers captured the Southwest Washington Invitational championship Saturday, at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool in Longview. The Papermakers racked up 509.5 points to finish ahead of Skyview (487.5), Union (341.5), Aberdeen (323), Mountain View (315) and nine other schools. Hockinson, who swims with Camas in the North County co-op, placed seventh with 208 points.

February 1, 2011
Alicia Hamlin earned second place on the floor exercise for the Papermakers Wednesday, at VEGA North in Vancouver.

Camas gymnasts go for the glory at districts

After going undefeated in six dual meets, winning districts Friday at Naydenov Gymnastics Center in Vancouver would give the Papermakers all of the glory. The grand prize is an opportunity for every Papermaker gymnast to represent Camas at the state meet, Feb. 18 and 19 at the Tacoma Dome. This is dream Amanda Bolton, Ashley Gjserswold, Grace Giordano, Alicia Hamlin, Amy Siebenthaler and Hayden Sutton have shared since middle school. It only became more possible when the Papermakers set a new school record by scoring 162 points as a team, Jan. 22.