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Stories by Dan Trujillo

email icon dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com

February 1, 2011

Wrestling for a ticket to the Tacoma Dome

After finishing in the top half of their respective leagues, the Camas and Washougal high school wrestlers are taking separate paths to Mat Classic XXIII at the Tacoma Dome. The Camas Papermakers compete in the 3A district tournament Friday and Saturday, at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver. The Washougal Panthers wrestle in the 2A sub-regional tournament Friday and Saturday, at R.A. Long High School in Longview. "In the last five years, we had won two league titles and R.A. Long won two league titles before capturing number three this year. Now, they're up 3-2," said Washougal coach John Carver. "The question now is, can we topple R.A. Long at the sub-regional tournament in Longview?"

January 25, 2011
Swimmers from Camas and Mountain View high schools cheer on their teammates during a wet and wild meet for the league championship Thursday, in Camas.

Crowded at pool side

When the Camas and Mountain View boys swimmers collide, it gets pretty crowded at pool side. Thursday's showdown at Grass Valley Aquatics Center in Camas was even more special because the league championship was on the line. The edge of the pool was the place for the Papermakers and the Thunder to be, cheering their lungs out. "Both teams got behind everybody in the water," said Camas team co-captain Conner Sullivan. "Showing support for your team is a big part of swimming." Mountain View kicked off the pressure cooker by winning the 200-meter medley relay with the state qualifying time of 1 minute, 56.69 seconds. It began a relay sweep for the Thunder, and a league championship clinching 152-134 victory.

January 25, 2011
Kevin Monsrud and the hungry Panthers feasted on the Woodland Beavers Thursday, at Washougal. The Panthers sunk their teeth into a 67-39 victory.

Panther basketball is on the rise

Panther basketball is rising. If Washougal can knock Hockinson or Mark Morris off its pedestal this week, it would be a dream come true for the 12 boys in the orange and black. "We beat Woodland and we beat R.A. Long, but we have to find a way to beat Hockinson and Mark Morris," said head coach Malcolm Estes. "I think we can do it. The boys are starting to believe in themselves. They are all doing a terrific job out there, and together they are finding ways to win. This is turning out to be a really fun year."

January 18, 2011
Miguel Salamanca was one of four Camas High School wrestlers who captured third place at the Clark County Championships Friday and Saturday, at Skyview High School in Salmon Creek.

Papermakers claim fifth at county

No finalists, no problem for the Papermakers. Marcus Hartman, Dakota Safford, Tyler Weiss and Miguel Salamanca all brought home third-place medals from the Clark County Championships Friday and Saturday, at Skyview High School in Salmon Creek. Gabe Wells grabbed fourth, and Tye Lommason and Lucas Nicacio finished fifth. These seven medallists propelled the Papermakers to fifth place at the 15-team event, with 120.5 points. "We got off to a really good start, and several of our kids made it to the semifinals. We were hoping for a little magic, but we were a little overmatched in that round," said head coach Glenn Hartman. "I was pleased that our kids did not give up, and they used that disappointment as motivation to finish as strong as they could."

January 18, 2011
Chism King marched to second place for Washougal at the Clark County Championships last weekend, at Skyview High School.

County wrestlers test Washougal

One champion and seven other medallists put the Panther girls wrestlers in the running for another Clark County Championship Saturday, at Skyview High School in Salmon Creek. In just her first year wrestling, Allicia Cain pinned Heritage's Diana Chavez and Mountain View's Avery Miller for the 130-pound county championship. "My friend Tara Duey kept on encouraging me to go out for wrestling," Cain said. "She said, 'it's really fun, and you're going out for it [this] season.' And here I am. I can't believe I'm a county champion."

January 18, 2011

Panther basketball teams tame Lumberjacks and Jills

Whether they were in Washougal or Longview, the Panther boys and girls basketball teams got the best of the Lumberjacks and Jills Friday. The Washougal and R.A. Long boys traded baskets in a nail biter, but the Panthers held on for a 52-50 victory at Washougal High School. All nine Panthers contributed points, which made head coach Malcolm Estes smile. "So many kids are stepping up every time their number is called," he said. "All these kids care about is winning. Whatever it takes for us to win a game, I can count on these kids to do it."

January 11, 2011
Camas High School senior Odin Coe (57) is thrilled to be one of the four defensive linemen on the Class 3A all-state football team. He was the only all-state selection from the 3A Greater St. Helens League by the Washington Associated Press.

Odin Coe Ave

There are many ways Odin Coe makes his presence felt on a football field. The Camas High School senior is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound wrecking machine built by all of those weight lifting sessions with best friends Erik Clay, Brent Hill, Damon Kosaki, Zach Marshall and Addison Owen. All of the years of commitment to football paid off for these Papermakers when they won their first state playoff game in school history. "Looking back, it was a good run," Coe said. "I hope we are not just remembered for our wins and losses, but as a group of guys who showed up, worked hard every day and paid their dues.

January 11, 2011
Sarah Brown goes to the hoop for the Washougal High School girls basketball team. The Panthers nailed nine 3-pointers Friday night, but the Woodland Beavers prevailed 59-48.

Three-point Panther surprise

Washougal High School girls basketball captains Maddie Down and Darcy Akers are reunited, and it feels so good. In her first game back from an extended Christmas vacation, Down delivered 13 points for the Panthers on three 3-pointers. She also grabbed 11 rebounds and snatched four steals. Akers added 10 points on two 3-pointers, six rebounds and five assists. "It was very exciting in the first half. Everybody was contributing," Down said. "It was euphoric. I've never heard the crowd so loud at a Washougal game. Ever." The Washougal girls nailed eight 3-pointers in the first half, but the Woodland Beavers outscored the Panthers 30-20 in the second half to win 59-48 on a ferocious Friday night in the jungle.

January 11, 2011
Bryan Butler takes on two Eagles Thursday night, at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver. The Camas boys lost this exciting contest, but bounced back by beating Prairie to move into first place in league.

Papermaker Ring of Fire

St. Helens is about to blow, and the Papermakers are the magma. After a week without any seismic activity, the Camas High School boys basketball team plunged into the Ring of Fire and wound up in first place. Jacob Kaler scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Bryan Butler provided 14 points, to propel the Papermakers to a 58-45 victory over the Prairie Falcons Saturday night, in Camas. The Papermakers cracked through the magma chamber, after the Hudson's Bay Eagles lost to the Mountain View Thunder on the same night.