Ryan Dietzman and Trace Jacquot are destined for the Junior Olympic Men's National Gymnastics Championships May 7 to 11, in Long Beach, Calif. They say this journey would not be possible without coach Zdravko Stoianov and the Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy, in Camas. "My mindset is to do it for myself, my coach and for VEGA as a whole," said Dietzman, a Level 10 gymnast from Camas.
Washougal High School seniors Brian Connolly, Thomas Normandeau, Mackenzie Pfeifer and Adam Thomas delivered on the track and in the field at the Al McKee Invitational Saturday. Connolly cleared 6 feet on the high jump to finish in first place. He also clinched second place in the javelin with a throw of 122 feet, 2 inches.
Alissa Pudlitzke, Jordan Davis, Maddie Woodson and Alexa Efraimson made their presence felt on the track under the lights at Hayward Field Friday. The four Camas Papermakers combined their talents to clinch first place in the Oregon Relays distance medley race with a new Washington state record time of 11 minutes, 54.19 seconds. "This brought back the team aspect from cross country. Track is more of an individual sport, but I love the relays," Efraimson said. "This is my favorite relay because it encompasses all the challenges of racing, distance wise, into one event."
The Camas baseball team stood out on the field Monday in their new red, white and black digital camouflage jerseys. So did the Papermakers' hitting, pitching and defense. McKinley LeFore held defending state champion Skyview to two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Sam Jones threw a Skyview runner out at home plate. Blake Christopher leaped up and caught a line drive between first and second base. He also hit a run-scoring triple in the first inning. Jones snagged a sizzling grounder in the gap between second and third base, jumped back to his feet and threw the batter out at first.
Brian Connolly didn't let a flesh wound keep him from flying through the air. "My steps were a little off [in the long jump], so I tried to make up for it with my form," he said. "The moment I threw my feet forward, I knew I had cut my wrist."
Kannon Burchette, Cash Johnson, Chad Menor and Bryce Tabbut never leave home without their lacrosse sticks. "I just love this sport. Even if I was on vacation, I'd still have my stick with me," Johnson said. "Get a stick. Hit the wall. Try it out."
The Camas High School softball team continues to hit, pitch and play defense in hopes of gaining bigger rewards after spring break. The Papermakers rode a bus to Sandy, Ore., Saturday to face the defending 5A state champions. The Pioneers broke through with the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Camas rose up to the challenge and won the game in eight innings. "That's why I wanted to play Sandy," said head coach Ken Nidick. "Quality teams make you better in the long run."
Ninety minutes of soccer settled nothing between the Camas and Skyview high school boys soccer teams April 1, at Kiggins Bowl. "I love the competition and intensity," said Camas defender Lucas Ulmer. "It's a lot more fun when the game is played at the speed it's supposed to be played." The Papermakers and the Storm gasped in disbelief after their shots hit the post, sailed wide of the net or wound up in the hands of the opposing goalkeeper. Camas keeper Sharif Batroukh dove left and right to snare three saves. Evan Laws earned five saves for Skyview.
Rain delayed the showdown between Camas and state champion Skyview until after spring break. In the meantime, the Papermakers took what the rest of the 4A Greater St. Helens League could dish out in three days. Camas shut down Heritage 4-0 Wednesday. McKinley LeFore pitched six innings of 1-hit baseball and gained 10 strikeouts. Sam Jones and Dylan White delivered 2-run doubles.
Competitors couldn't leap higher than Caleigh Lofstead, hurdle quicker than Jordan Davis or run faster than Alexa Efraimson. Nobody in Camas High School track and field history has either. Years of performing gymnastics turned Lofstead into a natural pole vaulter. On March 25, she battled wind, rain, and thunder and lightning delays, but she still sailed over the bar placed 11 feet above to set a new school record.
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