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Sports

December 25, 2012
Michael McElory climbs the bean stalk and scores a basket for the Washougal boys basketball team.

Washougal Panther spirit shines bright

The Washougal High School girls and boys basketball teams came home for the holidays and defeated Tenino in a doubleheader Wednesday. Eleven ladies put the ball in the basket to help the Panthers beat the Beavers 60-27. Alyssa Blankenship racked up 11 points, seven steals and six rebounds in her first start of the season. Megan Sharp scored 14 points and Megan Townsend grabbed 12 rebounds. "It was a good showing of character by our girls to bounce back after losing two tough games on the road," said Washougal girls head coach Charlie Boyce. Washougal lost to Columbia River 50-45 the day before, and Mountain View 65-54 Dec. 15.

December 18, 2012
Washougal's Austin Tran rolls by Camas defenders Trent Johnson and Drew Clarkson on a pick set by Aaron Deister. The Panthers defeated the Papermakers 59-48 Friday, at Washougal High School.

Panthers pump up the volume on Camas

Those who were inside the Panther jungle gym Friday night will never forget the moment Washougal flipped the switch on Camas. Both boys basketball teams scored eight points in eerie silence. Once the Panthers got to 10, their fans let the Papermakers have it by screaming at the top of their lungs in unison. The sound waves rippled through both towns, and the noise stayed at an ear-piercing volume for hours. "I had never seen so many people in this gym in all the games I have played here," said Washougal senior guard Michael McElroy. "I don't think there ever was a question," added senior forward Aaron Deister. "The crowd brought the energy to us. The fans were quiet at the beginning. We were just waiting for them to erupt. I'll never forget the moment when they did." Washougal defeated Camas 59-48. Austin Tran led the balanced attck for the Panthers with 15 points.

December 18, 2012
Emily McDonald turns the bowling ball loose Wednesday at Big Al's, while Hunter Lytle, Rebekah Curtis, Katie Hull and Porsche Chartrand cheer her on. The Camas girls knocked down a school record 1,764 pins, but it wasn't enough to beat Kelso.

Papermaker bowlers keep crashing pins

Bowling pins were falling for the Camas Papermakers like rows of dominoes Wednesday. Porsche Chartrand, Rebekah Curtis, Emily McDonald, Katie Hull and Hunter Lytle earned several combinations of strikes, splits and spares. As the cheers grew louder with each roll, the Papermakers couldn't wait for their next throw. "I was happy about how the positive energy kept flowing through both games and the baker," Chartrand said. "Once you get that strike streak rolling, it's easy sailing from there."

December 18, 2012
Camas High School senior Jasmin Karlous soars into first place on the uneven bars Saturday, at the Naydenov Gymnastics Center in Vancouver. Karlous finished in second place all-around with 34.05 points. She earned a 9.25 on the floor, a 9.0 on the bars, an 8.6 on the vault and a 7.2 on the beam.

New leaders rise for Camas gymnastics

Aches and pains are the sacrifices for glory in gymnastics. Together, Camas High School seniors Katelynne Jones and Hali Ramirez are unbreakable. "It's kind of cool that we get to be captains. We've been best friends since birth," Jones said. "Although the program has gone through three different coaches in the last three years, the seniors have held on to each other." Jones, Ramirez, Emily Early and Kacee Webb rely on each other for strength. It is their turn to lead returning underclassmen Virginia Duley, Amanda Kitterman, Tamaki Murata and Rachel Rakoski, along with newcomers Jasmin Karlous and Caleigh Lofstead. "What I love about gymnastics is that there is always something you can improve on," Ramirez said. "You never stop working at it. You can always get better."

December 11, 2012
Lucas Ulmer leaves a trail of water droplets in his wake while swimming the 100-meter backstroke for Camas Thursday, at David Douglas High School in Portland, Ore. Ulmer earned second place in the backstroke and the butterfly events.

Swimmers head upstream in new surroundings

The Camas High School boys swimmers are not afraid of their new surroundings in the 4A Greater St. Helens League. All it takes is a backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly or freestyle to make ripples across the landscape. Seniors Jake Yraceburu, Nick Panebianco, Trent Harimoto, Seth Albert, Alec Geenty, Jeffery Lee and Ian Walker designed a swimming tradition in Camas. Although the Papermakers are in the largest classification in Washington, their goals continue to grow. They want to win the league and district titles, and become a top five team at the state championship meet. "I love racing at districts and state, and seeing all those hardworking mornings and afternoons paying off," Harimoto said. "Don't hold back in your races. That little extra effort of pain will be gone in a minute, but the results and the memories you get will last a lifetime."

December 11, 2012
Austin Miller hyperextends his opponent Friday, at La Center High School. Miller and the Camas Papermakers won both matches.

Camas wrestling gets cracking in new league

It's been two weeks since Vince Huber played football in the Tacoma Dome. Today, he is working for an opportunity to go back as a wrestler. :Every wrestler from this state dreams of making it to the dome," he said. "I definitely want to get back there. It's such an electric atmosphere. I'm reflecting on my last season of wrestling and channelling all my experiences from football on the mat." Football has always been first in Huber's life, but wrestling is becoming a close second. His sweat on the mat made him more balanced and conditioned on the field. The Camas High School senior also developed friendships with seniors Andrew Duffy, Anthony Grable, Austin Miller and Dakota Safford. Their goal is to contend with Battle Ground, Evergreen, Heritage and Union for the top spot in the 4A Greater St. Helens League.

December 11, 2012
Sophomore Tanner Baldwin (right) snagged two victories for the Washougal wrestling team Friday, at La Center High School.

WHS wrestlers challenge Longview schools for bragging rights in league

Stephen Camden and Wyatt Eakins are leading the young and courageous Washougal High School wrestlers into the next generation. "It's not just going to be about this year for this group, but also the years to come," Camden said. "We want to leave an impression on these wrestlers and build a platform for future generations to follow." Camden snagged a sixth-place medal at the state meet last season. Eakins said nothing is going to stand in the way of him wrestling at the Tacoma Dome in February. Both seniors have sophomore sisters who are making their mark on the program. "When people see a Washougal wrestler, they see somebody who is hard working, intelligent, intense, strong, loyal, respectful and kind," Eakins said. "Wrestling is not just a sport, it's a lifestyle. You never give up in wrestling, just like you never give up in life."

December 4, 2012
Lauren Neff soars over three Falcons and scores a basket for the Papermakers Friday, in Camas.

Six CHS seniors are ready to take the next step

A 24-point loss to defending 3A state champion Prairie Friday couldn't dampen the excitement of a new basketball season for Lauren Neff and her Camas teammates. "I thought we were more competitive than the score indicated," said head coach Chuck Knight. "It was only game one. Our goal is to be playing our best basketball game 15 and up." The Papermakers are in the 4A classification now. Sierra Brown, McKenna and Paige Jackson, Kathryn Johnson, Neff and Kyla Sumpter are ready to make some noise in this new league. "I've known these girls for such a long time, and we all get to play together in our final year here," Neff said. "That is what is pushing us so hard."

December 4, 2012
Megan Sharp cuts through two Trappers Thursday, at Fort Vancouver High School. The Washougal girls won 56-55.

Panthers hold on to defeat Trappers for their second straight win on the road

Alyssa Blankenship and Savanna McDowell hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panther girls basketball team over the top Thursday, at Fort Vancouver High School. Washougal held onto its one-point advantage during the final minute of regulation, then walked off the court celebrating a 56-55 victory. "I love to see the kids playing well under pressure," said head coach Charlie Boyce. "Down by three, you start to wonder if you can come back. These girls didn't. They just kept playing hard, hit two big threes and held on for that last minute. It was just a great team effort." Before she could blink, Blankenship let the ball spin off her fingertips and watched it sail through the hoop for a game-tying basket. "Should I shoot it?" She asked herself. "I didn't want to turn it over. It felt very good when it went in."

December 4, 2012
Tyler Hallead drives to the hoop for the Papermakers Friday, at Camas High School. The Falcons soared to a 62-56 overtime victory.

CHS boys basketball program grows after a year under new coach

What a difference a year makes for Skyler Gillispie and the Camas High School boys basketball players. "Last year at this time, I barely knew their first and last names," said the second-year head coach who took over the program just weeks before the season started. "The kids have played a lot of basketball together in the spring, summer and fall, and hopefully that reflects on the court. Our communication and camaraderie will be stronger this year." The shorthanded Papermakers made significant progress during the first week of the season, while Zach Eagle, Drew Clarkson and Michael Digenova fulfilled their required number of practices after football. On Nov. 26, Camas held Hudson's Bay to just 13 points in the second half of a 54-39 road victory. Trevor Jasinsky and Jordan Lenard each scored 15 points.