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Stories by Dan Trujillo

email icon dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com

September 5, 2013
The new 32-foot long scoreboard stands 31 feet, 6 inches tall at Doc Harris Stadium. Camas football fans can see it in action for the first time when the Papermakers play Jesuit Friday, at 7:30 p.m.

New scoreboard will light up Doc Harris Stadium Friday

As the hours count down to the Camas High School football season opening kick off, a new scoreboard at Doc Harris Stadium has risen. "It will be terrific to have it. I think it will be a great addition to the stadium," said Helen Charneski, project manager of capital programs for the Camas School District. The 32-foot long scoreboard stands 31 feet, 6 inches tall. The $151,000 project was funded by the Capital Projects Bond passed by voters in 2007. The new scoreboard is the final piece to the Doc Harris Stadium renovation project that began in 2009. Football fans can see it in action for the first time when the Papermakers play Jesuit Friday, at 7:30 p.m.

September 3, 2013
Tanner Baldwin (pictured during a summer practice) wrestled in New Zealand and Australia. The Washougal Panther helped Team USA Red finish in fourth place at the Down Under Duals.

Washougal wrestler sees another part of the world

The next time Tanner Baldwin is down on a wrestling mat, he is going to remember the people who helped him raise $4,200 to make it to New Zealand and Australia this summer. "I want to thank the Washougal community and all the businesses that helped out. It really meant a lot to me," Baldwin said. "I did a lot of training, a lot of fund raising and a lot of plane travel, but it was definitely worth it in the end. I got to see a lot of cool places and meet a lot of cool people." The Washougal High School junior helped lead Team USA Red to fourth place at the Down Under Duals in Auckland, New Zealand. He teamed up with wrestlers from Arizona, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana and other U.S. states. Baldwin also won a match in the single's tournament that took place before the team duals. And finally, he wrestled on the beach in Brisbane, Australia. "You didn't have much traction on the sand, but it was fun and the weather was beautiful," Baldwin said. "We also stayed in a penthouse on the 56th floor. The view from up there was incredible."

September 3, 2013
Washougal community members will be given the opportunity to run around on the new field at Fishback Stadium Friday, between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The Panther football team plays Hudson's Bay at 7 p.m. Opening ceremonies will occur about 15 minutes before kick off.

Washougal community welcomes new turf field and gym floor

The Washougal Panthers are back to school today with a little spring in their step, thanks to having a new synthetic turf field and a new wooden gym floor to play on. "I'm excited to see the reactions from the students and the community," said Washougal School District Facilities Director Joe Steinbrenner. "It was a push this summer. We started the day after school got out and we're working all the way up to the first day of school. "Will it be worth it? Absolutely," he added. "The new and improved facilities help reinforce the pride the community already feels for their schools."

August 27, 2013
Drew Clarkson leads the Papermakers in a rally cry at the start of football practice Thursday. The 17-year-old Camas High School senior conquered testicular cancer over the summer.

Defining a hero

Drew Clarkson is the definition of a hero in the eyes of his Camas High School teammates and coaches. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 275-pound left tackle had surgery in March to remove a tumor in his right testicle. He also endured four rounds of chemotherapy to remove the stage 2 cancer that was later discovered so he could get back on the football field in time for his senior year. Clarkson was already receiving offers from several colleges, including a few schools in the Pacific-12 Conference. Suddenly, he found himself fighting for his life at the age of 17. "I was just starting to do track and I was in the middle of rugby season," Clarkson said. "It all started to go downhill from there. I had to stop everything."

August 27, 2013
Quarterback Chase Duey delivers a pass from the orange Washougal "W." The Panthers play their first football game on the new turf at Fishback Stadium Friday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., following a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Washougal football team breaks in new turf

There's new turf in town, at it belongs to the Washougal Panthers. As the football players began their first practice of the season Wednesday, head coach Bob Jacobs gave them a little advice. "As you guys step foot on that field for the first time, I want you to think about how grateful you are to be able to play this game. There are plenty of people who would love to trade places with you," he told them. "Don't be satisfied with just wearing that uniform. Wear it with pride by giving your maximum effort every time." The Panthers remembered their coach's words as they marched out on that new playing surface at Fishback Stadium as one family. They growled with excitement. One of them sretched out like he was creating a snow angel. After a few sprints, and agility and balance drills, it was time to throw the football around and have some fun. "This makes the old turf seem like cement," said senior quarterback Chase Duey. "Normally after the first practice, everybody has sore feet. Nobody's complaining right now."

August 27, 2013
New Camas High School cross country coach Laurie Porter gets excited as she watches the Papermakers practice Monday.

Porter shares her passion for running

New Camas High School cross country coach Laurie Porter aspires to share her knowledge of running with current and future Papermakers. "If you want to continue to run for a long time, you have to enjoy it," Porter said. "I still enjoy running all the time at the age of 51. I want these kids to develop a lifelong passion for this like I have." Porter takes over for Mike Hickey, who is now the head cross country and track and field coach at Clark College. She is stepping into a program with a girls team that won its second straight state championship and a boys team that cracked into the top 10 at state in 2012. "The girls are primed to win state again. I really want to see the boys move up to the next level," she said. "I know that they can. I see a lot of dedication and motivation in them, and I know they will succeed."

August 13, 2013
Brian Humphreys watches his chip shot land on the 15th green during the Hogan Cup Saturday, at Riverside Golf and Country Club. The 15-year-old from Washougal contended for the lead after shooting even par on the first day of the tournament.

Humphreys ties for fifth at Hogan Cup

The birdies didn't fall into the holes for Brian Humphreys during the Hogan Cup, but the 15-year-old from Washougal kept his cool and shot even par. "My ability to recover and make par on hole after hole was nice," Humphreys said. "Perseverance is key to playing consistently well. You can't blow up if you have one bad hole. It's going to happen." Humphreys shot a 72 Saturday and Sunday for a combined total of 144 strokes, at the Riverside Golf and Country Club course in Portland, Ore. He finished tied for fifth place out of 48 golfers from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii and British Columbia, Canada. Humphreys dropped 14 strokes off his final tally from playing in his first Hogan Cup a year ago. "I definitely learned a lot from playing here last year," he said. "I really like this golf course. It's cool to have such a big regional tournament close to home."

August 13, 2013
Around 65 kids attended the Macaya Soccer Camp July 15 to 19, in the grass fields behind Doc Harris Stadium. Another 75 children came to a camp last week.

More than 230 kids attended three Macaya Soccer Camps this summer

Dan Macaya ushered in the 10th anniversary of his soccer camp by juggling three of them this summer. Enthusiastic kids, feedback from parents, use of the Camas School District's fields, donations by local sponsors and time given by fellow coaches are the lifeblood of his camp. As long as that heart beats strong, Macaya said there will always be a soccer camp to run. "Over 230 kids attended a soccer camp this summer," he said. "It's really crazy when I see all of these kids running around with a soccer ball. I don't think it could happen in any other community. "Soccer is the mecca in Camas," Macaya added. "We had so many great sponsors this year. Without them, we wouldn't have the fields, the coaches or the prizes."

August 6, 2013
Alexa Efraimson represented the stars and stripes at the 2013 World Youth Track and Field Championships July 13, in Donetsk, Ukraine. The 16-year-old from Camas earned a bronze medal in the 1,500-meter run. She crossed the finish line in 4 minutes, 16.07 seconds.

Efraimson embodies American spirit

As the American flag draped across her shoulders, Alexa Efraimson beamed with joy.She couldn't catch two Ethiopians in the 1,500-meter race July 13, but the 16-year-old from Camas beat athletes from Great Britain, Germany, Kenya, South Africa, Japan, Denmark and China to capture a bronze medal for Team USA at the World Youth Track and Field Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine. "I'm so tired right now, but this is a really proud moment," Efraimson said. "This is what I had been training for all year long. For it to all pay off in that moment was really special." Dan Efraimson flew from Portland to New York to Moscow to Donetsk to see his daughter compete. Watching her run around the track with other world class athletes sent shivers down his spine. "You realize these are going to be the next Olympians. They are doing things that you don't get to see on a regular basis. It's amazing just to experience that and to realize Alexa is a part of that," Dan Efraimson said. "This was not just Camas and not just the Evergreen Storm; this was representing your entire country. For her to travel to the other side of the world and find the strength to compete on an international level will always be impressive to me."

August 6, 2013
The Camas Outlaws captured the Junior Baseball Organization's Midget American State Championship July 14, in Corvallis, Ore. Players are Nate Adams, AJ Anhorn, Drew Fishburn, Morgan French, Brig Griffin, Chase Howington, Jake LeBlanc, Ty Mairs, Mason Packer, Easton Rheaume, Ethan Tobey and Tyler Willis. Coaches are Tad Mairs, Eric Rheaume and Aaron Howington.

Outlaws capture Midget American state championship

After winning the Milwaukie Invitational, the Banks Invitational and the Tri-County district championship, there was only one trophy left for the Camas Outlaws to obtain. The team of 9- and 10-year-old baseball players from Camas and Washougal put the finishing touches on a perfect season when they defeated Sweet Home, Ore., 18-7 for the Junior Baseball Organization's Midget American state championship July 14, in Corvallis, Ore. "It's surreal for us to be 31-0. One of the parents said it was like catching lightning in a bottle. Everything went our way," said head coach Tad Mairs. "The kids were ecstatic. There were high-fives and big hugs all around. Some of us even had tears in our eyes. It was a very special moment." The Outlaws beat Oregon City in the opening round by the score of 14-4. They also defeated Liberty 7-5 and Keizer 12-11. Camas then rallied from five runs down in the first inning to beat Selwood 6-5 in the semifinals.