Columbia River and Ridgefield: Two schools, two sports, and a shared dominance

The Rapids celebrate around Avah Eslinger after her second half goal that propelled Columbia River to a 1-0 win over Ridgefield Tuesday. Photo courtesy Chris Barker

Columbia River has had the recent edge in volleyball and in girls soccer, but both schools are state powers

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

There they are again, going to battle again.

An intense rivalry, these two schools are measuring sticks for one another.

There is a lot of respect between the schools, too. Each knows just how hard they work in order to be this good.

It’s Columbia River and Ridgefield, Ridgefield and Columbia River.

What sport?

Well, pick one.

On Tuesday, the girls soccer squads met up to renew this rivalry. Columbia River got the best of Ridgefield 1-0 to improve to 7-0 in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League. Ridgefield fell to 6-1.

Yep, no surprise they were undefeated in league play going into the match.

Last week, Columbia River got the best of Ridgefield in volleyball.

Same thing, too. Both teams were undefeated in league play going into that match. Just as everyone expected.

That’s just how it goes with Columbia River and Ridgefield. For team sports in the fall, there might not be better rivalry like among Class 2A high school girls competition in the state.

Ridgefield’s Victoria Lasch (15) controls the ball past Columbia River’s Naomi Axelrod (14) in the first half of the Spudders’ 1-0 loss. Photo courtesy Chris Barker

Here is a refresher on what’s happened in recent years.

In 2022, Columbia River won the girls soccer state championship. Ridgefield made it to the state quarterfinals.

In 2021, Columbia River defeated Ridgefield in the third-place match at state in girls soccer. (That was the year Hockinson reached the championship match, an incredible feat for the 2A GSHL.)

In 2019, it was another year with three teams from the 2A GSHL in the final four. Columbia River won the title, a victory over Hockinson, while Ridgefield won the third-place match.

And in 2018, it was Columbia River finishing third at state.

Then there is state volleyball. Or as the Rapids and Spudders might call it, the Southwest Washington Invitational.

Last year, Columbia River defended its state championship, beating Ridgefield in the finals.

The Rapids won the state title in 2021, too, by beating, yes, Ridgefield.

The Spudders, though, had won the previous two state championships. Ridgefield won it all in 2018, beating Columbia River in the semifinals that year en route to the title. And in 2019, it was Ridgefield with the repeat. Columbia River, that year, finished seventh at state.

That means Ridgefield has played in the past four state championship matches.

Columbia River Goalkeeper Bella Graves free kicks to start an offensive push during the Rapids’ 1-0 win over Ridgefield. Photo courtesy Chris Barker

In volleyball, Columbia River and Ridgefield will face off again on Oct. 10. Don’t be surprised if they see each other again in the district tournament, and maybe at state, too. They always seem to be on a collision course.

In soccer, Columbia River and Ridgefield will face each other again on Oct. 24. But just like in volleyball, it might not be the last time they see each other this season. There is a district tournament to be played and state, too.

Soon enough, we will be in November and into the postseason.

Around here, that’s Columbia River and Ridgefield season in Class 2A high school girls team sports.