Four Clark County youth athletes compete for national award

When Alexis Pringle first stepped onto a volleyball court, she was shy and unsure of herself, and didn’t believe that she belonged. “This is the kid who, on the first day, was afraid of the ball,” said Lexi Pringle, Alexis’ mother. During her first competitive season, however, Alexis developed confidence — and a passion. She didn’t just find a sport; she found herself. “She has made massive improvements,” Devlin said. “She went from not really knowing the game very well to being obsessed with it. It’s amazing watching the change happen.” For her efforts, Alexis, a Camas resident, was selected for the Sports Illustrated Youth Athlete of the Year competition. She is one of four Clark County student-athletes in the competition as of Sept. 4, joining Zion Coles of Washougal, Avery Anderson of Battle Ground, and Michael Belden of Vancouver. The winner of the nationwide competition for athletes aged 7-17 will take home $25,000 and appear in an advertisement in Sports Illustrated for 3BRAND, a youth apparel and accessory company founded by New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, pop star Ciara. “This competition has really been a game-changer for her, just going through it and seeing herself (advance through) each round and being supported,” Devlin said. “It’s really evolved into something bigger than what we expected. It’s been a great experience, not only for Lexi, but also for the community and the people that she’s around.” Fans vote for their favorite athlete in each round, raising money for the competition’s charity partners — the Why Not You Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty, and the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. The four local athletes, each placed in a different group, advanced through the initial four rounds of voting, which began on July 28, to qualify for the group finals. The winner of each group moves on to the quarterfinals, and the runner-up in each group advances to a “wild-card” round for another opportunity to qualify for the quarterfinals. Voting will continue through the semifinal and final rounds, which will conclude Oct. 2. The winner will be announced on Oct. 17. Alexis Pringle Alexis, 11, a sixth-grader at Skyridge Middle School, is returning for her second year in the Camas Youth Volleyball organization. She plans to play in middle school and high school, and hopes to attain a college scholarship and play professionally. “She’s obsessed with volleyball,” Devlin said. “We now have a professional-sized volleyball net for our yard, and she’s out there every day playing. She genuinely went from not being so great to a phenomenal volleyball player.” Alexis has also been a member of the Camas-Washougal Youth Cheer squad for the past six years. “In cheer, she found another passion — performing with strength, creativity, and heart,” Alexis’ profile on the Youth Athlete of the Year website states. She is in the quarterfinal round, which voting ends on Sept. 18. athleteoftheyear.org/2025/alexis-c372 Zion Coles Zion Coles, 11, a sixth-grader at Canyon Creek Middle School, is a member of Washougal’s Clark County Youth Football League squad. His nomination showcases “not just his athletic skill, but his perseverance, determination, and heart,” according to his mother, Jessica Coles. “Despite facing challenges along the way, Zion’s grit and unwavering positivity, paired with his trademark big smile and impressive strength, have made him a role model for his peers and a source of pride for the Washougal community,” she said. Zion dreams of playing for the University of Oregon and the NFL someday, and “embodies the dedication and drive it takes to chase big goals,” Jessica said. “Zion has overcome so much adversity, yet continues to inspire with his determination and attitude,” she added. “We are so proud of him and excited to see our community support him on this journey.” Zion placed second in his group. His profile is online at athleteoftheyear.org/2025/zion-0bf2 Avery Anderson Avery Anderson, 10, a RiverView Homelink student, trains at HS Taekwondo in Battle Ground under chief master Hosuk Oh. “As a young taekwondo athlete, I’m passionate about sharing my love for martial arts and encouraging others to stay active and never give up,” Avery told The Columbian. “Through this competition, I have the opportunity to showcase my skills, represent my community, and inspire others to believe in themselves.” Avery has already earned a black belt, but believes her martial arts journey is just beginning. “I love taekwondo because it makes me feel strong, focused, and fearless,” she said. “Earning my black belt took a lot of hard work, and now being on my dojang’s demo team lets me show cool tricks, powerful kicks, and perform for big crowds. I love how taekwondo teaches me respect, discipline, and to never give up. When I perform, I feel proud of how far I’ve come as a 10-year-old martial artist.” Avery is a quarterfinalist. Her voting profile is online at athleteoftheyear.org/2025/avery-3aad Michael Belden Michael Belden, 12, a seventh-grader at Frontier Middle School, plays baseball, football, and basketball. “I love playing sports because it keeps me active, gives me the opportunity to make new friends and be competitive,” he said in his Youth Athlete of the Year website profile. “I love winning games and bringing home championship rings, but I also know I learn a lot from my losses. I love when I train hard and make the perfect play in a game because I put the work in during practice. I like staying busy and being active. It keeps me in shape so I’m healthy and strong.” Michael hopes to win the Youth Athlete of the Year competition so he can use the opportunity to receive more training with local baseball clubs, according to his mother, Kat Belden. “My proudest moment was winning the state championship in baseball,” he said. “I had the opportunity to pitch in that tournament and I did really well. I turned the game around and we won. It felt great to make my team proud, and also to make myself proud. I had a crazy journey with that team and pitching in that season, so earning that win was a big deal. It really showed that I was capable of being a great pitcher. Sometimes being the underdog is nice because winning feels even better.” Michael placed third in his group. His online profile is at athleteoftheyear.org/2025/michael-50fb For more information about the competition, visit athleteoftheyear.org.

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