Camas-Washougal Post-Record

August 6, 2013

Spartans climb up Horsepower Hill using only a rope, brute strength and teamwork Saturday, at Washougal Motocross Park. The sticky and slippery mud combined with the strings of barbed wire above their heads left little room for error.

No guts, no glory

Thousands of Spartans earned their medals after crossing the finish line Saturday and Sunday, at Washougal Motocross Park. Mud covered their bodies from head to toe, but you could still see the smiles on their faces. Waves of athletes entered the course every 15 minutes. No matter how many times Master of Ceremonies Anthony Carson repeated his opening monologue, the passion in his voice never skipped a beat. "A Spartan Sprint captures a lot of first timers. I love seeing the looks on their faces before they enter the battlefield," Carson said. "I want to let them know they are not in this alone. There's a Spartan on your left and a Spartan on your right. That should lessen the fear factor. There are strengths in numbers."

July 31, 2013

The district champion Camas Little League 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars reached the state tournament, in Oak Harbor. Players are Blake Bell, Jake Blair, Zachary Blair, Luke Jamison, Cameron Miller, Hayden Peterson, Braden Sanville, Zachariah Shaw, Kandi Shimada, Caleb Shira, Cameron Smith and Caden Werlich. Coaches are John Blair, Barry Smith and Brian Sanville.

Camas Little Leaguers go big

Three Camas Little League All-Star baseball teams captured district championship trophies and played at state tournaments in Gig Harbor, Oak Harbor and Vancouver during July. The Camas 10- and 11-year-old All-Stars finished in first place at the District 4 tournament July 13, at the Harmony Sports Complex. They also became the first team from the league to win four state tournament games. Camas, Kirkland, North Bothell and Pacific were the final four teams at state in Gig Harbor. Camas defeated Kirkland 6-3 July 20, lost to North Bothell 12-11 July 21, and knocked off defending state champion Federal Way 7-6 July 22. "I'm proud of the way our kids responded,. They could have just rolled over losing that first game, but they didn't," said manager Andrew Ott. "Beating the state champions very was exciting for our boys. We felt like we could beat any team at that point."

July 31, 2013

Humphreys tees off in Hawaii today

Brian Humphreys works hard at golf every day, and the game rewards him in more ways than he could imagine. "It's summer. I should be hanging out with friends or chilling out by the pool," he said. "This is what I love to do. Golf is my friend." Humphreys, a 15-year-old who lives in Washougal and attends Camas High School, captured the state championship trophy as a freshman May 22, at Camas Meadows. On June 9, Humphreys shot a personal best round of 65 strokes, at the Centennial Golf Club, in Medford, Ore. On July 9, Humphreys lowered his best score to 63 strokes, at the Albany Golf & Events Center, in Woodburn, Ore. "After that eagle, birdie, par, eagle, it went from just a good round to an 'oh my god' round," Humphreys said. "Everything just clicked. When you're playing that well, the fairways are huge and holes seem like buckets. "The funny thing is, I got second place in both of those tournaments," he added. "It's kind of ironic, but when you're playing that well and somebody beats you, there's nothing you can do about it."

July 31, 2013

Getting muddy and jumping over fire are just some of the crazy obstacles designed to push humans to the limit during the Washington State Spartan Sprints Saturday and Sunday, at Washougal Motocross Park.

Spartans sprint to Washougal

Sprint through mud, crawl under barbed wire, climb up ropes, jump over fire, and watch out for those gladiators. These are the trademark obstacles designed to push humans to the limit during the Washington State Spartan Sprints Saturday and Sunday, at the Washougal Motocross Park. "We want to provide a comprehensive, full-body experience," said Program Manager Carrie Adams. "We test your speed, agility, endurance, strength, balance and coordination. Pretty much everything an athlete needs to possess in order to be successful."

July 23, 2013

The Something Special softball team clinched the U-16 Washington State ASA championship, in Yakima. Pictured in the front row (left to right): Emma Jimenez, Lena Richards, Jordan Shaw, Jessica Alcomendas and Dalaney Tuholski; back row (left to right): head coach Scott Jimenez, coach Mike Tuholski, Maggie Clapp, Kennedy Suhr, Hayley Dolfay, Katie Powers, Katie Schroeder, Rio Smith, Koratney Speidel, Kari Butler, coach Brian Shaw and coach Jim Schroeder.

Something Special clinches state softball championship

Something Special sparkled on the softball diamond during the Washington State ASA state championship tournament July 12 to 14, in Yakima. Camas players Emma Jimenez, Lena Richards, Katie Schroeder and Rio Smith helped this U-16 team win six games on the final day of the tournament. Something Special defeated the Northwest Lady Sharks 8-7 at 8 a.m., the Vancouver Force 3-2 at 10 a.m., the Northwest Illusion 6-3 at noon, the Northwest Sidewinders 10-2 at 2 p.m. and Elite Fastpitch 8-7 at 4 p.m. "We had already lost a state championship this year. We were not about to lose another one. This was our time to do something," Richards said. "What made it a team effort is every single girl on the team did their part to help us win."

July 23, 2013

Ryan Villopoto pumps his fist in the air after winning the Washougal National for the first time Saturday. The 24-year-old from Poulsbo, Wash., leads the 450 class of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

VILLOPOTO SLAYS Washougal gorilla

More than 20,000 motocross fans watched Ryan Villopoto get the Washougal gorilla off his back Saturday. The 24-year-old from Poulsbo, Wash., had been trying to win a round on his home state course for as long as he can remember, but injuries, spin outs and flat out bad luck turned his previous homecomings into nightmares. Villopoto can rest easy for now, knowing he's the new king of the hill in Washougal. "Living just three and a half hours up the road from here, I've raced Washougal ever since I turned pro," Villopoto said. "It feels good to be able to check this off the list and get a win for the fans who have supported me all along."

July 23, 2013

Camas golfer Kevin Coombs shares an opportunity of a lifetime with his parents, Ben and Judy, while playing in the Senior U.S. Open, at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club.

Camas’ Kevin Coombs reflects on Senior U.S. Open

Kevin Coombs played his greatest round of golf on the biggest stage. The 50-year-old from Camas shot a one under par score of 69 strokes during the first round of the Senior U.S. Open July 11, at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club. "It was my best round of golf, given the circumstances. I've put up lower scores, but to put up a red number in a PGA tournament was an incredible experience," Coombs said. "It was great to have my parents there, my wife there and my son on the bag. Some of my best friends were also there watching me. It was special for me to be able to share that moment with all of them." Coombs started off with a bogey on the 10th hole, but he bounced back with birdies on holes 12 and 14. Coombs saved par on 16 after his tee shot landed in a sand trap. He also made birdie putts on two and four.

July 16, 2013

Camas runner Alexa Efraimson finished in third place at the World Championships, held July 10 to 14, in Ukraine.

Efraimson takes third at World Youth meet

It was less than three years ago that a Camas eighth-grader named Alexa Efraimson first began turning heads after she helped lead the Evergreen Storm Track Club to eighth place at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. That skinny girl with braces is now a world-class high school runner, having earned a bronze medal for Team U.S.A. at the World Youth Track and Field Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine. Competing in a field of 12 finalists, who are among the best youth athletes in the world, Efraimson finished the 1,500 meter final in 4:16:07. Ethiopians Tigist Gashaw (4:14.25) and Dawit Seyaum (4:15.51), took first and second place. Efraimson edged out Bobby Clay of Great Britain down the final stretch. Clay finished in 4:16:41.

July 16, 2013

Post-Record file photos
Pro National events get underway on Saturday at the Washougal Motocross Park.

Motocross park is ready to ‘Welcome the world to Washougal’

Thousands of racing fans will descend on the Washougal Motocross Park this week, for round eight of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series. The local venue is a longtime host of the national event that draws the world's fastest motorcycle racers. "We are ready to welcome the world to Washougal," said Motocross Park spokesman Brian Barnes. He said staff has been working feverishly to get the track ready for the high-profile, nationally televised event that typically attracts more than 20,000 people to the unique course that is known for its rolling hills and green forests. It is one of only three natural terrain raceways in America. "Everything we are doing right now is preparing for nationals," Barnes said. "Every year it gets better and better. This year we are adding more dirt to the track. The crew does an amazing job."

July 16, 2013

Mark Vasat has qualified to compete this week in the National Clay Court Championship, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He won all of his singles and doubles matches in his age 14 category at a Junior USTA tennis tournament in Yakima.

Camas teen qualifies for national tennis tournaments

A local student has a lot to look forward to, as he excels in tennis on a national level. Mark Vasat, 14, is competing this week in the National Clay Court Championship, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He qualified for it by winning all of his singles and doubles matches in his age category at a Junior USTA tennis tournament in Yakima. Vasat's top placement at the Pacific NW USTA event also qualified him for the Zonal Team Championship July 24 through July 28, in Colorado Springs. "I enjoy competing at a national level," he said Friday, from Florida. "I am physically and mentally challenged at each match, and I meet new friends from around the U.S."