The Camas girls basketball team has never won a state trophy, but this year’s team was one of the best in school history, playing three games at the Tacoma Dome and missing a trophy by just one win at the state tournament in Tacoma last week.
It’s been another spectacular year for girls basketball programs in Camas and Washougal. Both high school teams have earned their way to the state tournaments, and both have the big-time experience to know what to expect.
All season, Camas High School’s lone senior gymnast, Jacqueline Purwins, encouraged her talented younger teammates to never stop believing they would win the school’s first-ever state title in gymnastics.
It was a dramatic storybook finish for senior Tanner Lees of Washougal, who is now the Washington State 2A wrestling champion.
Senior student athletes at Camas and Washougal high schools committed to college teams last week and made their intentions known during signing ceremonies at both schools.
At the beginning of the season, Washougal sported a largely revamped roster, a new coach and a standout player — Beyonce Bea — to serve as the cast for its lofty goals of winning another league title, and clinching its third consecutive berth to state.
Jacqueline Purwins is just having fun this year, and thanks to the senior they know as “Jax”, so are her teammates on the Camas gymnastics team.
Samuel Malychewski rose to the occasion.
The Camas girls gathered in the locker room up 15 on Union, and the first thing they collectively said: not again.
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