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Sports

February 25, 2014
Camas freshman Emily Karkanen builds momentum on the bars before sticking her dismount during the 4A state gymnastics meet Friday, at the Tacoma Dome.

Fantastic Four aims for more

Ashley Carter, Emily Karkanen, Caleigh Lofstead and Shannon Ross are the Fantastic Four Camas gymnasts who reached the 4A state meet together Friday, at the Tacoma Dome. Ross finished in 13th place on the floor exercise, with a 9.3, and 18th place on the vault, with an 8.9. The sophomore just missed qualifying for Saturday's finals on the floor. "I hit that routine like I knew I could," Ross said. "I left everything on that floor, and I'm walking away happy."

February 25, 2014

Hajek grabs reins again

Six years after losing his grip on the head football coaching position at Washougal High School, Dave Hajek got it back Monday. "Hajek demonstrated throughout the interview process all of the qualities that we are looking for in a coach," Athletic Director Doug Cox wrote in a press release. "He has a tremendous amount of highly successful experience as a coach and as a player. He understands, and has demonstrated that he is committed to the goals and objectives of an education based athletic program. He is clearly passionate and enthusiastic about the sport, and the personal development of our athletes. He is organized, a good communicator, a capable fundraiser, and a solid role model for our athletes." A proud Panther since graduating from the high school in 1987, Hajek played football for Eastern Washington University while earning his teaching degree. He returned to his alma mater in 1993 to teach social studies and coach.

February 18, 2014
The Camas High School gymnasts celebrate with their coaches after being announced as the district champions Wednesday, at Northpointe in Vancouver. See the photo gallery at www.camaspostrecord.com.

Gymnasts rise together

Together, the Camas High School gymnasts made history before midnight. Shannon Ross, Ashley Carter, Caleigh Lofstead, Alexis Sabatini, Gabrielle Bird, Hannah Marquis, Riley Truitt, Emily Karkanen, Tamaki Murata and Hope Richter became the first Papermakers to clinch a district gymnastics championship trophy. Camas collected 166.65 points to win the six-team scramble at Northpointe, in Vancouver. Heritage followed in second place with 159.45.

February 18, 2014
CHS senior Xiaguang Yan helped the Papermakers win the district 200 freestyle relay Saturday, in Kelso. He also took third place in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke (above).

The biggest splash

The Papermakers rode the waves they created to win the district title by 100 points Saturday, at Kelso High School. "Once that buzzer goes off, you give it your all and come back the next day for finals and do it all over again," said junior Lucas Ulmer. "I'm glad we had so many kids push through and help us with the meet. Without them, we wouldn't have these relays and the meet records." Kasey Calwell, Tom Utas, Ulmer and John Utas kicked things off with a meet and school record time of 1 minute, 39.67 seconds in the 200-meter medley relay.

February 18, 2014
The Washougal High School girls wrestling team captured the regional championship Saturday, in Hoquiam. Seven Panthers are on their way to state this week.

Washougal girls wrestlers go after the biggest prize

The Panthers didn't want to put their regional trophy back in the case, but it's time for these girls to wrestle for an even bigger prize. Champion Erin Locke, second-place finishers Jessica Eakins, Haven Camden and Abby Lees, and fourth-place medalists Yaneli Martinez, Emily Alder-Storm and Katelyn Purkeypyle helped Washougal beat 14 other schools for the regional title Saturday, at Hoquiam High School. "Even though I won my championship match, bringing home the team trophy was even more exciting," Locke said. "It was the cherry on top of the sundae."

February 15, 2014
The Camas High School boys swimming team captured the 4A district championship trophy Saturday, in Kelso. The Papermakers won the meet by 100 points.

Camas makes biggest splash at districts

The Papermakers rode the waves they created to the district championship by 100 points. Camas won the five-team district meet with 414 points Saturday, at Kelso High School. Union was way back in second place with 314 points. Skyview took third with 156 points.

February 13, 2014
The Camas High School gymnasts and coaches are all smiles after becoming district champions Wednesday, at Northpointe in Vancouver.

Together, Camas gymnasts rise

Together, the Camas High School gymnasts made history before midnight. Shannon Ross, Ashley Carter, Caleigh Lofstead, Alexis Sabatini, Gabrielle Bird, Hannah Marquis, Riley Truitt, Emily Karkanen, Tamaki Murata and Hope Richter became the first Papermakers to clinch a district gymnastics championship trophy. Camas collected 166.65 points to win the six-team scramble at Northpointe, in Vancouver. Heritage followed in second place with 159.45. "We just made history in Camas. It's cool to be a part of that," Carter said.

February 11, 2014
Camas High School freshman Shelby Chartrand earned eighth place at the 4A state bowling tournament Friday, in Tacoma.

Papermaker crashes pins with the best

Shelby Chartrand crashed pins with the best bowlers in the state and walked away with an eighth-place medal Friday, at Tacoma Narrows Plaza Bowl. The 14-year-old Camas High School freshman rose above 61 other bowlers with a 1,120 series. She rolled games of 168, 170, 180, 187, 192 and 223. "Every single game, she improved up to that 223," said coach Doug Huegli. "As the day progressed, she just got stronger and bowled with confidence. It was fun to watch."

February 11, 2014
Dan Trujillo/Post-Record Ten Camas High School seniors participated in National College Signing Day. Pictured in the back row (left to right): Jason Vailea, Reilly Hennessey, Dylan White, Drew Clarkson, Blake Christopher, Teylen Sheesely and Harli Hubbard; front row (left to right): Jorden Payne, Zach Eagle and Lena Richards. See the photo gallery at www.camaspostrecord.com.

Papermakers with bright futures

Ten Papermakers put pen to paper toward their future destinations after gradutation on National College Signing Day Wednesday. "I'm excited to play football and not have my parents tell me to clean my room," said Drew Clarkson after signing with Oregon State University. It has been a crazy road up to this point in Clarkson's life. Eleven months ago, he found out that he had stage 2 testicular cancer. Though surgery, rest and recuperation, Clarkson never lost sight of his goal. He was going to play football during his senior year.

February 11, 2014
Ryan Stevens smashes a snowball with his hockey stick. The 14-year-old from Washougal plays for the Junior Winter Hawks. His family is one of 11 finalists hoping to become Toyota's Winter Hawks Family of the Year.

A snowball’s chance

Ron and Kelly Stevens have nurtured their children in the Winter Hawks' nest. Ryan Stevens attended his first hockey game when he was 10 days old. He grew up in Washougal playing East County Pop Warner and Clark County Youth Football. When the Stanley Cup came to the Mountain View Ice Arena in 2011, Ryan waited in line for hours just to see it up close. A picture of him kissing the silver tin was published on The Columbian's sports page.