There is nothing like football in Camas, even when it is played 177 miles away. Qwest Field is supposed to be Seahawks' territory. On Saturday, it sounded a lot like Doc Harris Stadium. You could hear the Camas High School marching band playing "Papermakers go rolling along" after every touchdown, and you could join the cheerleaders in a rendition of the "Hand Jive" before the fourth quarter.
Logan Grindy knows what it feels like to slide into home plate at Safeco Field, and score the winning run. On Saturday, the Camas High School senior quarterback crosses the street for an opportunity to throw the football around inside Qwest Field. "To go to places like that by yourself is a lot of fun," Grindy said. "To be able to go and play with all your friends is pretty awesome."
With a new head coach preaching physicality and toughness, the Washougal High School football players take the first step to becoming a harder, better, faster and stronger team Friday. The Panthers pounce into the 2010 season against the Hudson's Bay Eagles. The game starts at 7 p.m., at Kiggin's Bowl in downtown Vancouver. New Washougal head coach Bob Jacobs grits his teeth with anticipation for the opening kick off. The first game at Fishback is Sept. 17, when Washougal takes on Fort Vancouver.
Stefani Sorensen is one of several Camas High School volleyball players ready to rise. "I'm very excited about this year," she said. "It's my senior year, and I want to make it the best it can be." On Saturday, the Papermakers venture to the University of Washington to play in the Emerald City Volleyball Invitational. Doors open at noon, and admission is free. Camas faces Union at 1 p.m.; Christian Faith at 2 p.m.; Mount Si at 3 p.m.; Life Christian at 3:30 p.m.; Eastlake at 4 p.m. and Bellevue at 5 p.m.
At first glace, Levi Kitchen seems like any other 9-year-old: Full of energy and a bit shy around adults. But give him a minute or two, and you'll soon see a different side. He's a bit of a motocross prodigy, having placed in the top percentage at several national races. He recently returned from a cross country trip with his family to compete at the Loretta Lynn National Motocross Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Levi won an area qualifier in Richland, Wash., followed by a regional championship in Milford, Calif., to earn the opportunity to race against some of the best competitors in the nation during the week of Aug.2-7.
Individuals who intend to participate in the "Roy Webster Columbia River Cross-Channel Swim" are reminded in the registration materials that the event is not a race. Instead, it's an opportunity to swim approximately 1.1 miles across the Columbia without any threat of an oncoming barge or other river traffic. The canal is temporarily closed on Labor Day for the early morning event. Swimmers are asked to arrive by 5:45 a.m., at the Hood River Visitor Center. The swimming begins after participants jump from a sternwheeler.
The Camas Heat won six games over two days to capture the sixth grade division of "Hoops on the River." It was the third year in a row for the local team to win its division. After defeating Scan Basketball, of Portland, 11 to 8 in the semifinals, the Heat beat West Basketball, of Vancouver 10 to 7. "I love representing Camas at these tournaments," Tanner Fogle said after the championship game. "We wear the Camas red with pride.
A celebration to mark the completion and opening of the Washougal River Greenway Trail will be held Thursday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. The event, open to the public, will include light refreshments under the natural canopies of the Oregon white oak trees that look out onto the Washougal River at Southeast Yale Street and Second Avenue in Camas. A variety of local, county and state officials and elected leaders have been invited to attend.
It has been a great summer for two local golfers - particularly with a recent trip to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Brian Humphreys, of Washougal, placed second out of 152 golfers in the boys age 12 division. "It was really great," he said. "It was the biggest tournament of the year. My goal was to finish in the top 10. This was way beyond my goal." Humphreys shot a 71, 69 and 68 at Pinehurst Resort. It was his fourth time participating in that tournament.
