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Sports

December 14, 2010
Washougal Panthers' Sara Brown (left) and Maddie Down (right) make life miserable for a Fort Vancouver Trapper. Six arms plus two determined teams going after one basketball equals a fun game to watch.

Lots of fun and games in the Washougal jungle gym

When the Washougal High School gymnasium turned into a jungle Friday night, the Panther girls and boys basketball teams felt right at home. Darcy Akers, Maddie Down and Kendall Utter delivered 41 points on six 3-pointers to lead the Washougal girls to a 51-41 victory over Fort Vancouver. "All preseason games are a learning experience, and that definitely was one," Down said. "We're at a point where this team has never been before. Our skill level is incredible, and we feel we have all the potential in the world. If we rise to our potential, I think we can go pretty far."

December 7, 2010
Winning is a reflection of hard work and dedication on the mat every day. Brendan Casey is a big believer in that Washougal High School wrestling tradition.

Winning is a Washougal wrestling tradition

The first time you step into the jungle to wrestle with the Panthers, you are part of a family that strives for excellence. "We have a great tradition of quality wrestling in Washougal, and the coaches want that tradition to continue," said head coach John Carver. "We believe the development of work ethic, confidence, self-discipline and training are great motivators for life after high school. We want these kids to come back here as adults and say 'wrestling for Washougal got me where I am today.'"

December 7, 2010
Miguel Salamanca looks to lead the Camas High School wrestlers on the mats this winter.

Papermaker wrestlers look to improve every day

After an unbelievable ride with his best friends on the Camas High School football team, the pads are off and Miguel Salamanca is ready to wrestle. "I think it's going to be an exciting season for wrestling, especially if we can build on the success of football," he said. "Everybody thinks we're just a young team, and we want to prove everybody wrong." As he makes up for lost time on the mat, Salamanca is anxious to be a part of Thursday's rivalry match at Washougal High School. Coming off a fourth place finish at state last season, the senior looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

December 7, 2010
Nick Kabel is one of several younger swimmers propelling the Papermakers.

Young Papermaker swimmers are eager to please

After a banner season of league and district championships and state medals, more boys are jumping into the water to be a part of the Camas-North County high school swimming connection. In addition to the 42 Papermakers in the pool, head coach Mike Bemis is pleased to have three swimmers from Washougal, 15 for Hockinson, two from Battle Ground, one from Prairie, and the first Woodland High School swimmer to be a part of the program.

December 7, 2010
Camas High School senior gymnasts Amanda Bolton, Amy Siebenthaler, Alicia Hamlin and Ashley Gjerswold hope to give the program a solid footing for years to come.

Camas gymnasts balanced by seven years of togetherness

After seven years of building a gymnastics family in Camas, the four senior aces are looking forward to the next three months and dreading them at the same time. Amanda Bolton, Ashley Gjerswold, Alicia Hamlin and Amy Siebenthaler have been together with head coach Jennifer McDonnell since their days at Skyridge Middle School. They all share the same dream, to give every Camas girl an opportunity to compete at the state meet in the Tacoma Dome. It is a special honor awarded to only the top two teams at districts.

November 30, 2010
See the contrast in sizes on the Washougal boys basketball team. Michael McElroy (3) is the shortest at 5 feet, 4 inches tall, while Isaac Bischoff (10) and Kyle Monsrud (12) are both 6-6. Patrick McCarthy (background) is 6-4.

These Panthers might be giants

Get used to looking up at the Washougal High School boys basketball players. Kevin Monsrud and Isaac Bischoff both rise above the pack at 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder are Kyle Anderson and Joey Rubino at 6-5. Patrick McCarthy (6-4), Aaron Diester (6-3), Conor Mackenzie (6-2), Karsten Short (6-1) and Colton Pace (6-0) are only inches apart, and Mustapha Bah (5-11) and T.C. White (5-10) are just under 6 feet. These Panthers might be giants. Going up against some of these large tree trunks in practice, guards Erik Ackerman (5-6) and Michael McElroy (5-4) look pretty small.

November 30, 2010
The Camas High School girls basketball players work on passing and pressure packed defense during practice.

Papermakers bound together by basketball

Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, a date Camas High School girls basketball players are never going to forget. On that historical night, the Papermakers defeated the Prairie Falcons 59-46 for the district championship. Prairie had won 136 straight games against Greater St. Helens League schools, before Camas brought the decade long streak to an end. Sitting around the table in the CHS commons room, seniors Kaeliana "Kat" DeVera, Katelyn Henson, Kayla Roche and Melissa Williams reflected on the evening that changed everything. "This is the first time we feel we have a chance to be a really successful team," Henson said. "Beating Prairie put Camas girls basketball on the map, but our goal and our dream has always been to go to state."

November 30, 2010
Camas High School seniors Marc Eppinger and Jacob Kaler (left to right) hope to leave a legacy on the hardwood for the Papermakers.

Breaking through the Camas basketball ceiling

The bitter taste in the mouths of the Camas High School boys basketball players has been sweetened by the beginning of a new season. After the Papermakers beat league rival Union last January, they plateaued and saw their season come to an abrupt end in the first round of the district playoffs on a circus 3-pointer off the backboard by Hudson's Bay. Those spoiling Eagles also nipped Union in the district finale, but the Titans rebounded at bi-districts and went on to win the state championship. Union is now out of the 3A Greater St. Helens League, and Kelso and Mountain View are in. Columbia River, Fort Vancouver and Prairie remain a thorn in Camas' side. And before league starts on Dec. 14, the Papermakers play Skyview, Evergreen, Union and Centennial.

November 30, 2010
Chandler Audette (left) reaches out to defend a shot by Maddie Down (right) during a Washougal High School girls basketball practice.

Panther girls basketball hopes to build on playoff experience

After an amazing autumn on the soccer field, Darcy Akers and Maddie Down are ready to lead the Washougal girls on the basketball court. Overcoming incredible odds in the final few weeks of the 2009-10 season, the Panthers galloped into the district tournament for the first time in recent memory. The coronation came after Washougal defeated Hockinson 70-63 in overtime on "Senior Night." Five nights later, the Panthers beat Mark Morris on the road 61-60 to qualify for the district tournament. They lost to Centralia in the first round, but they will never forget the journey. "The team got so much closer and alive," Akers said. "Hopefully, we can build off that intensity and add it to our game."