Local student-athletes announce college picks

Three standout East Clark County prep athletes have announced plans to continue their athletic careers at the college level.

Washougal High School rising senior Holden Bea announced June 29, that he will join the University of Idaho football program in the fall of 2024.

“I chose Idaho because I built a strong relationship with the coaching staff early on in my recruitment and believe that they can develop me to reach my full potential,” Bea told the Post-Record. “I’m really blessed and excited to join this program because this coaching staff has a proven track record of winning and developing their players.”

Bea, the Panthers’ quarterback, led Washougal to a 2A Greater St. Helens League championship and 2A state tournament appearance in 2022, throwing for 2,559 yards and 30 touchdowns.

“The University of Idaho is building something special, and I believe that we have an amazing opportunity to make a run at a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championship during my time there,” he said. “They also have great academic choices available, as well as football facilities and offer everything a player needs to succeed. Overall, I’m really grateful that I was able to make my decision before I enter my senior year so that I can focus on being with my team and winning another league championship.”

Bea will join his sister, Skylar, and cousin Jaiden, both members of the Vandals’ women’s basketball team, in Moscow, Idaho. Bea’s other sister, Beyonce, played basketball for the Vandals from 2019 to 2023 before transferring to Washington State University for the 2023-24 season.

“I fell in love with the Moscow area and UofI campus during the multiple times I visited my sisters while they played basketball,” he said. “A huge part of my decision was that it gave me the ability to stay close to home so (that my) family and friends can frequently watch games, but (I can) also get the full college experience and build new relationships.”

Max Fraser, a 2023 Camas High School graduate, announced on Tuesday, June 27, that he will join the University of Washington baseball program this fall.

Fraser, a pitcher, led the Papermakers to a 4A Greater St. Helens League (4AGSHL) championship and 4A state tournament appearance in 2023, posting a 1.62 earned-run average and striking out 73 batters in 43 innings.

On the same day, Addison Harris announced her commitment to the Montana State University women’s basketball program after graduating from Camas High in 2024.

Harris, a post player, led the Papermakers to a 4AGSHL championship and second-place finish at the 4A Hardwood Classic state tournament in 2023, averaging 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Bea, Fraser and Harris were chosen as the Athletes of the Year in their respective sports by The Columbian, the Post-Record’s sister publication.

WHS bowler heads to national tournament

Washougal High School rising sophomore Addysen Case is competing in the 2023 Junior Gold Championships bowling tournament July 14-22, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Junior Gold is a national bowling tournament where you qualify and bowl against the best bowlers in the United States that have also qualified, and I’m beyond excited that it allows me to showcase for many college coaches that will be attending as well as make many new friends from around the country,” Case wrote on a GoFundMe page. “This will be a challenge, but I’m ready to face whatever obstacles are thrown in my way.”

As a member of the Skyview (Vancouver) High School bowling team, Case led the Storm to a team championship at the 4A state meet in 2022 as a freshman, placing fourth in the individual standings. In 2023, she took fifth at state as Skyview took second place in the team standings.

“This year during league, I averaged 190, and I’m stoked to see that all my work is starting to pay off as I continue to grow,” Case wrote. “I am so grateful for my high school teammates being there to support me and push me to continue to grow and get better. I also would like to thank our coach, Ron Henderson, for having confidence in me and always pushing me to strive beyond limits, and my softball coaches for allowing me to participate in this event and for wanting what’s best for me and my future.”

Equestrian riders state champs again

The Washougal High School equestrian team has won the Washington High School Equestrian Team medium-size school state championship for the second year in a row.

Nine Washougal riders — Aubrey Hettling, Braedyn Domeyer, Carmen Rish, Hermoine Rivera, Kali Buchanan, Karen Phelps, Lillian Grindy, Natalie Bratton and Olivia Eldridge — competed in 16 events during the May 19-21 meet, held in Moses Lake, Washington. Domeyer took first place in the pole bending event and combined with Buchanan, Hettling and Eldridge to take first place in the versatility event and second place in the in-hand obstacle relay event.

Buchanan finished third in saddle seat equitation.

The team said on Facebook that the excellent results were a team effort: “There was some seriously tough competition at state, as there always is, but none tougher than our fellow District 6 athletes. It truly feels like every meet is state in this district, and we are grateful for the competition, but even more so, the camaraderie.”