Camas girls win tennis team title; Evergreen athlete sets state meet record in long jump

Stand up Camas and Seton Catholic fans, and give a salute to a couple of teams that came oh-so-close to winning state championships on Saturday.

The Camas boys soccer team had an incredible run to the finals, rallying from a goal down in the second half of the opening round of the state playoffs, then coming back from a two-goal deficit in the semifinals to make it to the Class 4A state championship match.

That momentum came to an end Saturday. Mount Si scored three first-half goals, including two in stoppage time, to beat the Papermakers 3-1. 

Meanwhile, Seton Catholic softball, a program that has been around for just two years, also made it to the championship game. Seeded sixth into the Class 1A bracket, the Cougars beat No.3 and No. 2 on their way to the finals. Royal was too strong in the championship game Saturday, taking a 16-4 victory.

Still, no one outside of Seton Catholic figured they would be witnessing the Cougars playing in a state championship game so soon.

Saturday marked not only the end of spring sports for Washington high schools, it is also the end of sports for the 2023-24 academic year.

The WIAA has been holding all of its spring state championships this week for years, with golf earlier in the week, then championships in baseball, softball, boys soccer, boys and girls track and field, and boys and girls tennis on this weekend.

Next year, the championships will be split up over two weeks.

This was the last hurrah for everybody at the same time. And Clark County had a lot of action.

As noted in a separate story, Columbia River won the Class 2A state baseball title, and also claimed the team titles in boys track and field and girls tennis.

This is a roundup of highlights from other schools in the region.

Camas boys soccer and Seton Catholic softball each earned second-place trophies. Skyview, stunned in the quarterfinals Friday, rallied to finish third in the Class 4A softball tournament.

In track and field, Evergreen’s Josiah Alanis set a new meet record Saturday to win the Class 3A boys long jump, measuring 24 feet, 1 inch.

Earlier in the week, Chase McGee of Camas won the 4A pole vault, clearing 16-6. Teammate Ethan Linerud won the 4A discus at 172-7.

Will Foster of Prairie won the 3A shot put at 59-7.75. That event was special for the 3A Greater St. Helens League. Mountain View’s Juan Pasillas-Stanton finished third and Prairie’s Wyatt Galipeau finished fourth.

Clark County had several athletes finish in the top five of events. For a full list of results, go to the WIAA’s track and field results pages at: https://pntfo.trackscoreboard.com/meets/523024/events and https://gc.trackscoreboard.com/meets/249/events

In tennis, the Camas girls won their third consecutive team title. 

Taryn Kerker and Fiona Zou made it to the finals in 4A doubles before finishing second. Hailey Kerker, looking for her third consecutive 4A singles state title, lost in the semifinals and finished third.

In 4A boys tennis, Aidan Brasier and Tommy James combined forces to win the state doubles championship. They led the Papermakers to a second-place team finish.

For tennis results, go to the WIAA’s tennis page at: https://www.wiaa.com/tournament-gtn/?sport_id=18