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December 9, 2010
The first time you step into the jungle to wrestle with the Panthers, you are part of a family that strives for excellence. "We have a great tradition of quality wrestling in Washougal, and the coaches want that tradition to continue," said head coach John Carver. "We believe the development of work ethic, confidence, self-discipline and training are great motivators for life after high school. We want these kids to come back here as adults and say 'wrestling for Washougal got me where I am today.'"
After an unbelievable ride with his best friends on the Camas High School football team, the pads are off and Miguel Salamanca is ready to wrestle. "I think it's going to be an exciting season for wrestling, especially if we can build on the success of football," he said. "Everybody thinks we're just a young team, and we want to prove everybody wrong." As he makes up for lost time on the mat, Salamanca is anxious to be a part of Thursday's rivalry match at Washougal High School. Coming off a fourth place finish at state last season, the senior looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
After a banner season of league and district championships and state medals, more boys are jumping into the water to be a part of the Camas-North County high school swimming connection. In addition to the 42 Papermakers in the pool, head coach Mike Bemis is pleased to have three swimmers from Washougal, 15 for Hockinson, two from Battle Ground, one from Prairie, and the first Woodland High School swimmer to be a part of the program.
After seven years of building a gymnastics family in Camas, the four senior aces are looking forward to the next three months and dreading them at the same time. Amanda Bolton, Ashley Gjerswold, Alicia Hamlin and Amy Siebenthaler have been together with head coach Jennifer McDonnell since their days at Skyridge Middle School. They all share the same dream, to give every Camas girl an opportunity to compete at the state meet in the Tacoma Dome. It is a special honor awarded to only the top two teams at districts.
Get used to looking up at the Washougal High School boys basketball players. Kevin Monsrud and Isaac Bischoff both rise above the pack at 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder are Kyle Anderson and Joey Rubino at 6-5. Patrick McCarthy (6-4), Aaron Diester (6-3), Conor Mackenzie (6-2), Karsten Short (6-1) and Colton Pace (6-0) are only inches apart, and Mustapha Bah (5-11) and T.C. White (5-10) are just under 6 feet. These Panthers might be giants. Going up against some of these large tree trunks in practice, guards Erik Ackerman (5-6) and Michael McElroy (5-4) look pretty small.
Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, a date Camas High School girls basketball players are never going to forget. On that historical night, the Papermakers defeated the Prairie Falcons 59-46 for the district championship. Prairie had won 136 straight games against Greater St. Helens League schools, before Camas brought the decade long streak to an end. Sitting around the table in the CHS commons room, seniors Kaeliana "Kat" DeVera, Katelyn Henson, Kayla Roche and Melissa Williams reflected on the evening that changed everything. "This is the first time we feel we have a chance to be a really successful team," Henson said. "Beating Prairie put Camas girls basketball on the map, but our goal and our dream has always been to go to state."
The bitter taste in the mouths of the Camas High School boys basketball players has been sweetened by the beginning of a new season. After the Papermakers beat league rival Union last January, they plateaued and saw their season come to an abrupt end in the first round of the district playoffs on a circus 3-pointer off the backboard by Hudson's Bay. Those spoiling Eagles also nipped Union in the district finale, but the Titans rebounded at bi-districts and went on to win the state championship. Union is now out of the 3A Greater St. Helens League, and Kelso and Mountain View are in. Columbia River, Fort Vancouver and Prairie remain a thorn in Camas' side. And before league starts on Dec. 14, the Papermakers play Skyview, Evergreen, Union and Centennial.
After an amazing autumn on the soccer field, Darcy Akers and Maddie Down are ready to lead the Washougal girls on the basketball court. Overcoming incredible odds in the final few weeks of the 2009-10 season, the Panthers galloped into the district tournament for the first time in recent memory. The coronation came after Washougal defeated Hockinson 70-63 in overtime on "Senior Night." Five nights later, the Panthers beat Mark Morris on the road 61-60 to qualify for the district tournament. They lost to Centralia in the first round, but they will never forget the journey. "The team got so much closer and alive," Akers said. "Hopefully, we can build off that intensity and add it to our game."
A touchdown delivered through the air by Addison Owen appeared to put the Papermakers over the top, but the Lancers won Friday's state quarterfinal joust at Doc Harris Stadium in overtime. Owen's flight into the end zone gave Camas a 21-14 lead with five minutes to go in the third quarter. Any sort of celebration was subdued moments later when junior linebacker Javon Ingram suffered a stinger and left the game on a stretcher. The Lancers pierced through the shaken Papermakers and tied the game with less than two minutes to go in the third. After both teams missed field goals in the final three minutes of the game, fans were treated to extra football.
