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August 31, 2010
Stefani Sorensen puts the hammer down for the Papermaker volleyball team during practice.

Packing a Papermaker punch

Stefani Sorensen is one of several Camas High School volleyball players ready to rise. "I'm very excited about this year," she said. "It's my senior year, and I want to make it the best it can be." On Saturday, the Papermakers venture to the University of Washington to play in the Emerald City Volleyball Invitational. Doors open at noon, and admission is free. Camas faces Union at 1 p.m.; Christian Faith at 2 p.m.; Mount Si at 3 p.m.; Life Christian at 3:30 p.m.; Eastlake at 4 p.m. and Bellevue at 5 p.m.

August 24, 2010
Levi Kitchen, who says his favorite part of racing is "winning," was invited to join Kawasaki Team Green through Pro-Caliber in Vancouver. This photo was taken when Kitchen placed fifth at the World Mini's Grand National, in April.

Kitchen it up a notch

At first glace, Levi Kitchen seems like any other 9-year-old: Full of energy and a bit shy around adults. But give him a minute or two, and you'll soon see a different side. He's a bit of a motocross prodigy, having placed in the top percentage at several national races. He recently returned from a cross country trip with his family to compete at the Loretta Lynn National Motocross Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Levi won an area qualifier in Richland, Wash., followed by a regional championship in Milford, Calif., to earn the opportunity to race against some of the best competitors in the nation during the week of Aug.2-7.

August 24, 2010

Local swimmers plan to cross the Columbia

Individuals who intend to participate in the "Roy Webster Columbia River Cross-Channel Swim" are reminded in the registration materials that the event is not a race. Instead, it's an opportunity to swim approximately 1.1 miles across the Columbia without any threat of an oncoming barge or other river traffic. The canal is temporarily closed on Labor Day for the early morning event. Swimmers are asked to arrive by 5:45 a.m., at the Hood River Visitor Center. The swimming begins after participants jump from a sternwheeler.

August 24, 2010
With the Interstate Bridge as the backdrop, the Hoops on the River three-on-three basketball tournament took place in Vancouver this past weekend. Several local teams competed, including the Camas Heat, which took first place in the sixth-grade division by winning all six of its games.

Heat places first at Hoops on the River

The Camas Heat won six games over two days to capture the sixth grade division of "Hoops on the River." It was the third year in a row for the local team to win its division. After defeating Scan Basketball, of Portland, 11 to 8 in the semifinals, the Heat beat West Basketball, of Vancouver 10 to 7. "I love representing Camas at these tournaments," Tanner Fogle said after the championship game. "We wear the Camas red with pride.

August 24, 2010
The Washougal River Greenway Trail in Camas offers a 1.1 mile paved route that runs across a 370-foot pedestrian bridge. Amenities also include picnic tables and bike racks. There are trail heads at Northeast Second Avenue and Yale Street, and at Baz Park along the Northeast Third Avenue Loop.

In the shade of the old oak trees

A celebration to mark the completion and opening of the Washougal River Greenway Trail will be held Thursday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. The event, open to the public, will include light refreshments under the natural canopies of the Oregon white oak trees that look out onto the Washougal River at Southeast Yale Street and Second Avenue in Camas. A variety of local, county and state officials and elected leaders have been invited to attend.

August 17, 2010

Local golfers excel in North Carolina

It has been a great summer for two local golfers - particularly with a recent trip to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Brian Humphreys, of Washougal, placed second out of 152 golfers in the boys age 12 division. "It was really great," he said. "It was the biggest tournament of the year. My goal was to finish in the top 10. This was way beyond my goal." Humphreys shot a 71, 69 and 68 at Pinehurst Resort. It was his fourth time participating in that tournament.

August 17, 2010
Adam Neiffer warms up before an event at the CrossFit games.

Local CrossFitters take first at national championships

If those who participate in CrossFit training have one phrase hammered into their heads, it's, "expect the unexpected." And never did that phrase ring more true than during a three-day contest where local gym members pushed themselves to the limit in a variety of physical challenges. "It was a super high energy environment," said Adam Neiffer, CrossFit Fort Vancouver owner. "The events varied and it was just tons of fun and constantly changing." The team's persistence and adaptability paid off big time, when they captured first place at the international competition at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

August 11, 2010
Jake Rose conquers Mather Pass, elevation 12,100 feet. "I had to dig in with my ice ax each time, and basically climbed straight up," he said. "I was sweating hard, but at the top I felt very rewarded."

Touching the sky

Bruised, sun burnt and blistered, Jake Rose has never seen so much beauty. Since May 18, the 21-year-old hiking enthusiast from Camas has walked from the Mexico border, through California and into Oregon on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. "The miles don't get easier. It gets a little bit harder each time," Rose said during a phone interview Wednesday. "Although it's tougher than I thought it would be, it's definitely one of the best summers I've ever had. You meet a lot of great people, and make hiking partners and friends for life. I love to explore, and I get to see new scenery all the time. It's definitely one of the best things I've ever done."

August 10, 2010
Gage Dillon (left) and Blake Adair (right) get ready to grapple Wednesday, during the Clark County Coach-A-Roo wrestling camp at Skyridge Middle School in Camas.

Wrestling camp brings county grapplers together

As many as 60 young wrestlers were anxious to learn from Clark County champions during the first Clark County Coach-A-Roo wrestling camp, which concluded Friday at Skyridge Middle School in Camas. Camas High School wrestling coach Brody Faler organized the camp to build relationships between high school and middle school wrestlers, and the upcoming youth. He dreams of this camp becoming as prestigious as the Clark County Championship wrestling tournaments.