With propeller power generated by 11 different relay combinations, the Camas High School boys swimmers captured the Southwest Washington Invitational championship Saturday, at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool in Longview. The Papermakers racked up 509.5 points to finish ahead of Skyview (487.5), Union (341.5), Aberdeen (323), Mountain View (315) and nine other schools. Hockinson, who swims with Camas in the North County co-op, placed seventh with 208 points.
After going undefeated in six dual meets, winning districts Friday at Naydenov Gymnastics Center in Vancouver would give the Papermakers all of the glory. The grand prize is an opportunity for every Papermaker gymnast to represent Camas at the state meet, Feb. 18 and 19 at the Tacoma Dome. This is dream Amanda Bolton, Ashley Gjserswold, Grace Giordano, Alicia Hamlin, Amy Siebenthaler and Hayden Sutton have shared since middle school. It only became more possible when the Papermakers set a new school record by scoring 162 points as a team, Jan. 22.
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?"
The Camas boys basketball team blisters Hudson's Bay 84-57 to take over first place in league.
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.
The Camas High School gymnasts delivered an all-time best 162 points to defeat Evergreen Saturday, at the Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy North facility in Vancouver. Amy Siebenthaler clinched first in the all-around competition by racking up 34.7 points. She finished first in the floor exercise with 9.7 points, first on the vault (8.7), first on the bars (8.3) and sixth on the beam (8.0).
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."
Four finalists and two champions led the Washougal High School wrestling team to fourth place, and five medalists pushed Camas to sixth place, at the Gorge Invitational Saturday, in Stevenson. Two Panthers had a friendly tangle for the 160-pound championship. Brendan Casey beat John Barette 10-6 for first place, and Barrette settled for second place.
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."
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."
