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Stories by Dan Trujillo

email icon dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com

January 15, 2013
Washougal High School junior Sara Sanchez cinched in a quick pinfall victory to become the 124-pound Clark County champion Saturday, at Skyview High School.

Washougal girls wrestling team wins county again

When it comes to girls wrestling, the Washougal Panthers are still the big cats of Clark County. The defending champions scored 107 points to beat 15 other schools and stand on top of the mountain for the second year in a row Saturday, at Skyview High School. Jessica Eakins, Erin Locke and Sara Sanchez were crowned individual Clark County champions. Yaneli Martinez and Katelyn Purkeypyle also reached the championship round, but settled for second place. Tara Duey and Romney Kellogg took third place, and Emily Alder-Storm finished in fourth place. "It feels good to share this moment with my teammates," Locke said. "We beat each other up in practice every day. Sometimes you wonder if it's worth it. When everybody on the team works hard for the same goal and you get it, those are the moments when it really pays off."

January 13, 2013
The Washougal girls wrestling team captured the Clark County team championship for the second year in a row Saturday, at Skyview High School.

On the sidelines: Big cats of Clark County

When it comes to girls wrestling, the Washougal Panthers are still the big cats in Clark County. The defending 2012 county champions beat 15 other schools to stand on the top of the mountain again Saturday, at Skyview High School. Washougal racked up 107 points and Battle Ground followed in second place with 85 points. Jessica Eakins, Sara Sanchez and Erin Locke were crowned individual Clark County champions for the Panthers. Yaneli Marinez and Katelyn Purkeypyle finished in second place. Tara Duey and Romney Kellogg took third place, and Emily Alder-Storm earned fourth place.

January 11, 2013
The Panther Pit Crew feels the intensity on their finger tips as Aaron Deister shoots a foul shot. The Washougal boys basketball team defeated Mark Morris for the first time in 41 games, 66-58.

On the sidelines: Washougal believes

Thirteen Panther boys basketball players signed on the dotted line for Washougal Thursday, and then they went out and beat Mark Morris for the first time in 41 games by the final score of 66-58. "I went into the locker room before the game and wrote 'Do you believe?' on the board and then walked out," said head coach Malcolm Estes. "They all signed their names below it."

January 8, 2013
Camas High School seniors and twin sisters McKenna and Paige Jackson (left to right) like to keep their opponents second guessing on the basketball court.

Twin Papermakers

McKenna and Paige Jackson know each other so well, they finish each other's sentences. That's what happens when you are born 34 seconds apart and have been playing on the same basketball team for seven years. "We both like the same things and we have the same friends," Paige said. "I guess that's identical part of being twins," McKenna added. "It's feels great to always have your best friend by your side, whether we're on or off the court."

January 8, 2013
Nate Adams scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Panthers Thursday. "I don't pay attention to who's in front of me, I just go for the ball," said the Washougal High School senior.

First league win in the basket for Washougal boys

Aaron Deister didn't take his eyes off the basketball for a second as it clinked and clanged off the rim. "I was just hoping for it to go in," said the Washougal High School senior. "I couldn't buy a bucket all night, but we really needed that one. I was just feeling it off the rebound." Frustration set in on the face of head coach Malcolm Estes as he watched the ball swirl around the glass. "Can we just get one to drop?" He thought.

January 8, 2013

County wrestling week arrives

Clark County Championship week is the one Camas and Washougal wrestlers and coaches look forward to every year. For one night only, classifications are thrown out the window and the best wrestler in the county for each weight class is determined. Several wrestlers from these 16 county schools are dreaming of obtaining district, regional and state medals next month. Winning a county championship medal is the first step toward making those dreams come true. This year's Clark County boys and girls tournaments return to Skyview High School, 1300 N.W. 139th St. in Vancouver. Matches begin Friday at 4 p.m., resume Saturday at 10 a.m. and conclude with the finals Saturday evening. The Washougal girls are determined to defend their 2012 county team championship. Several Panthers and Camas Papermakers have their hearts set on wrestling in the finals, but it is never an easy road.

January 8, 2013

CHS basketball teams build for the long haul

Seven losses during the preseason made the Camas High School boys basketball players angry, but Thursday was an opportunity for a fresh start and the Papermakers capitalized on it. "We started to take ownership of the season and set our goals high," said junior forward Trevor Jasinsky. "We want to show people that even though we are the underdogs, we are going to give all we can every game." Propelled by a 14-2 swing in the second quarter, Camas defeated Skyview 54-49 in the school's first 4A Greater St. Helens League basketball game. Trent Johnson delivered 13 points, Jasinsky netted 12, and Jordan Lenard and Kyle Robb each added eight. "It was a great start for league," Johnson said. "A lot of people didn't expect us to go to Skyview and do that. I hope we can keep improving and get more and more wins."

January 1, 2013
Nick Lopes netted 13 points to help the Camas boys basketball team beat Washougal 51-47.

Papermaker boys gain revenge on Panthers

The Camas boys basketball team caught fire in the second half of a tie ball game, while the Washougal boys went ice cold. "We were tired of morale victories," said Camas head coach Skyler Gillispie. "We wanted to go out there, finish strong and win this game." The Papermakers played with more urgency and composure, and were rewarded with a 51-47 victory against their longtime rivals. Camas rallied to tie the score on a 15-9 scoring drive in the second quarter. Nick Lopes and Jordan Lenard attacked the basket and ignited a 17-10 swing for the Papermakers in the third quarter.

January 1, 2013
Washougal's Zach Oster turns Fort Vancouver's Isaiah Johnson on to his back and captures the 113-pound championship at the Washougal River Rumble Saturday.

A day to celebrate Washougal wrestling

With only one match to wrestle Saturday, Zach Oster still made a big splash in the Washougal River Rumble. The sophomore from Washougal High School hooked Fort Vancouver's Isaiah Johnson like a fish out of water and reeled in the 113-pound championship medal. Oster caught Johnson off guard with a single leg takedown and had him trapped. He rolled Johnson over onto his back and pinned his shoulders to the mat. "He was trying to do too much with his hands and wasn't paying attention to his legs," Oster said. "I saw my opportunity and didn't let go." Although he would have loved to wrestle more matches, Oster kept his game face on as he paced through the halls in anticipation for his championship match. As easy as his road was to the finals, it would have been just as easy to lose focus. But this was Oster's opportunity to show what Washougal wrestling was all about and he wanted to get his hand raised.

December 25, 2012
Camas High School senior McKenna Jackson tricks three defenders and passes the ball to an open teammate. The Papermakers beat the Eagles 60-19 Thursday, in the Camas warehouse.

Play with passion

Ferocious defense and relentless rebounding helped the Camas High School girls basketball team defeat Hockinson by 42 points and Hudson's Bay by 41. "Defense leads to offense," said sophomore guard Brenna Khaw. "Our goal is to shut the other team down." The Papermakers disposed of the Eagles 60-19 Thursday. Hudson's Bay never got comfortable in the Camas warehouse. The Papermakers rolled to a 12-5 advantage in the first quarter. The Eagles cut the deficit to nine points by halftime, but then the Papermakers scored the first 13 points in the third quarter before the Eagles could get one back. Camas outscored Bay 23-5 in the third quarter and 15-1 in the fourth. "We were defending better, and that led to a lot of transition baskets for us," said head coach Chuck Knight. "When we get the ball in Brenna’s hands, she's going to find players."