Camas-Washougal Post-Record

March 26, 2013

Washougal High School senior Kari Johnson (right) and a Mark Morris Monarch go toe-to-toe in the 100-meter hurdles at the Tiger Invitational Saturday, at Battle Ground High School. This track and field meet featured 19 schools from Clark County, Kelso, Longview and Chehalis.

Camas and Washougal fuel their expectations at Tiger Invitational

Camas went the distance on the track and in the field to defeat 18 schools from Clark County, Kelso, Longview and Chehalis Saturday, at the Tiger Invitational, in Battle Ground. "It's important for all of these teams to be able to come together as a county and showcase the best athletes we have to offer," said head girls coach Alisa Wise. "This meet gets a lot of kids involved before you come back from spring break and hit the ground running. It's just a great way to break the ice." Washougal head coach Dave Hajek said he enjoyed watching the Panthers compete and getting reacquainted with all the other athletes and coaches in the area. "Track is very friendly competition," Hajek said. "That's what makes this meet so fun to be a part of. We all know each other and respect each other."

March 26, 2013

Camas High School senior Tyler Hallead fired four scoreless innings pitched before a hail storm suspended play against Skyview. The teams will pick the game up from where it left off in the bottom of the fourth inning Thursday, at 4 p.m., in Camas.

Following the Camas arms and gloves

Pitching and defense wins baseball games, but so does a few timely hits in the right spot. The Papermakers explored all of those avenues to find a way to beat Battle Ground Friday, Evergreen Monday and begin the season with a 2-0 league record. "I'm happy with how everything has started out," said junior pitcher and first baseman Dylan White. "We're doing what we need to do to win ball games. I feel really comfortable throwing strikes with these guys behind me."

March 19, 2013

Camas sophomore Katie Schroeder didn't allow Washougal to get a hit in her first varsity start on the mound. The Papermakers scored 12 runs for Schroeder March 12, at Camas High School.

Washougal softball can’t touch Camas

Katie Schroeder never dreamed she would pitch so well in her first varsity start. The Camas High School sophomore didn't give up a hit to Washougal in the five innings it took for the Papermakers to beat the Panthers 12-0. She also racked up 11 strikeouts. She was only two walks and a hit batter away from throwing a perfect game. "To get my first varsity start was such an awesome feeling. This is something I've worked hard for my entire life, and now it's finally happening," Schroeder said. "I didn't even know I was throwing a no-hitter until the end of the game. It was such a surprise to me. It was not that I did so well, but that the whole team did so well."

March 19, 2013

Contributed photos
The Camas High School dance team qualified for the state competition Friday and Saturday, at the Yakima Sun Dome. Their hip-hop routine pays homage to the movie "Happy Feet."

Camas dancers razzle, dazzle to state

With a razzling hip-hop routine and a dazzling jazz display, the Camas High School dancers are on their way to the 4A state dance and drill championships Friday and Saturday, at the Yakima Sun Dome. Head coach Ranae Scott is thrilled that the Papermakers earned this opportunity in just their first dancing season in the largest classification in the state. Most of the 4A teams have more members coming up through middle school programs every year. Camas doesn't have that luxury. When new girls join the team each year, they are starting from scratch. "These girls have come a long way from not dancing to doing break dancing, headstands and building very technical routines," Scott said. "Some of the strongest dancers we have on the team have never danced before this year. They have a lot of natural talent, and we're harnessing that talent and taking it to the next level."

March 19, 2013

Panthers net third place at tennis tourney

The Washougal High School girls tennis team clinched third place at the Longview tournament Friday and Saturday, at the Mint Valley Racquet Club. Seven Panthers earned ribbons for their efforts. The team of Taryn Boni and Jenni Ladwig reached the championship match in the doubles bracket and settled for second place. "Jenni's serves were on, and Taryn was able to take advantage at the net. They had a good system going," said head coach Linda Balholm. "They lost by a tiebreaker. That's how close they were to winning the championship."

March 12, 2013

Jason Vailea walks his teammates through the rucking formation Thursday, at Skyridge.

Rugby warriors fight

Thirty-two athletes from Camas, Columbia River, Mountain View, Hudson's Bay and Union high schools are building an unbreakable bond through rugby. They are called the Clark County Warriors. "A warrior is somebody who keeps fighting for what we want," said CHS junior Jason Vailea. "Our team is a family, and we will keep fighting for each other until the end of the match." Vailea enjoys playing the game with Papermakers Nick Gadbaw, Jesse Kiesser, Riley Moss, Drew Clarkson, Michael DiGenova, Matt Walser, John Ashford, Gavin Grable, Tanner Aldridge and Dylan Tauscher. Many of them participate in rugby and football together during the school year. The Clark County Warriors defeated the Westside Alliance 65-14 Saturday, at Liberty Middle School, in Camas. The Warriors compete in the High School Boys Club Championship Division. Log on to www.rugbyoregon.com to look at the team's scores and schedule.

March 12, 2013

Photos courtesy of Jamie Valdez
Camas High School graduate Caleb Malychewski grabbed second place for Pacific University at the West Regional Championships March 2, in Minneapolis. He also qualified for the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships Friday and Saturday, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Malychewski embraces wrestling

Camas High School graduate Caleb Malychewski still has a soft spot in his heart for baseball, but wrestling is what gets his blood pumping at Pacific University, in Forest Grove, Ore. "In baseball, there's lots of politics on who plays. In wrestling, you beat the guys in your weight class and you get to go to the varsity level. There's no question about it," Malychewski said. "There's a saying that 'once you have wrestled, everything else in life is easier.' I think there's a lot of truth to that. "You can fail seven out of 10 times in baseball and still be successful. But in wrestling, you only got seven minutes on the mat. One or two mistakes and you're done. The matches always seem to come down to one takedown or escape," he added. "There's nothing like getting your hand raised at the end of a match after all the hard work that went into it. Every day, it's a grind. That's what I love about wrestling."

March 5, 2013

The ball is rolling fast toward the first Camas High School lacrosse season. The Papermakers are playing in a tournament Saturday, at Hanford High School, in Richland, Wash.

Bringing lacrosse to Camas High School

Camas High School juniors Cassius Johnson, Oliver Stanchfield and Bryce Tabbut live for lacrosse. "When we get up every day, this is the first thing on our minds. We can't wait to get out here," Stanchfield said. "Once you find something you love, you never want to stop doing it. I never realized how fun this sport could be until I started playing it all the time." Lacrosse coach Jim Avino has been attached to the sport his whole life. He played the game for State University New York, in Cortland, and at Colorado State. He then coached at Colorado State for five seasons, coached a club team in London and coached at North Rockland High School, in New York, where he went to school. Avino moved to Camas in 2003. After coaching his son's baseball teams for several years, Avino missed his lacrosse stick.

March 5, 2013

Jordin Seekins settles into her comfort zone before throwing the javelin. The 2009 Washougal High School graduate is now a senior at the University of Washington.

Jordin Seekins and her javelin are going places

As she prepares for her final season of track and field for the University of Washington, Jordin Seekins is ready to let that javelin fly. "Coming off indoors and all my training, I feel really good about everything that is about to happen," said the 22-year-old team captain from Washougal. "I want my teammates to compete with fire and passion for the school. You can't step into the circle or on the runway and be scared. You have to be confident in your ability to be a good thrower." Seekins qualified for the NCAA West Prelims the last two seasons. The goal for her senior season is to make it to the NCAA Championships June 6 to 8, at Autzen Stadium, in Eugene, Ore. Size has been a disadvantage for Seekins since high school, but she makes up for it with hard work and determination. "The girls just keep getting bigger, while I've pretty much stayed the same size," she said. "Nobody cares about how tall you are. The only thing that matters is how far you throw. I wanted a challenge, and that's why I came up here."

March 5, 2013

As the artificial turf at Fishback Stadium has reached its life expectancy, Washougal High School Turf Campaign members Kyle Eakins, Amanda Klackner and Rick Thomas (pictured left to right) designed a fundraiser to help the school district purchase a new turf field for Washougal students and athletes.

BRICK BUILDERS

The artificial turf at Fishback Stadium in Washougal is ripping and peeling apart. The Washougal School District maintenance staff has done an admirable job of maintaining and repairing the field since it was installed in 2002, but gluing, re-stitching and taping can only do so much after more than a decade of wear and tear. There is a growing foundation of community builders who are determined to save this field for future generations, but they need more bricks. Since the 2011 school year, Washougal High School Turf Campaign members Rick Thomas, Amanda Klackner, Kyle Eakins and Gordon Torstenbo have asked local businesses and residents for donations to help the school district purchase new synthetic turf for Fishback Stadium. The estimated cost for replacing the turf is $450,000. The district committed to donating $200,000 toward the project, leaving it up to the committee to raise the remaining $250,000 needed.