Rapids win their fourth consecutive state championship, plus highlights from a very busy weekend of high school sports

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

They are all special for Columbia River volleyball, every single state championship.

The 2021 title, the 2022 title, the 2023 title, and now, the 2024 title

Every single one is special. 

This latest one, though, was a different kind of special. 

This one, the Rapids found themselves trailing. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Rapids lost two sets — total — over 12 matches in three state tournaments.

On Saturday, not only did the Rapids lose two sets in the Class 2A championship match, they were facing match point in the fourth set, trailing 24-23 to top-seed Ellensburg. 

The three-time defending champions refused to lose, winning the next three points to force a deciding fifth set, then cruising to another title.

Four in a row.

“Watching this team fight with everything they had and come out on top was an unforgettable feeling,” Columbia River coach Breanne Smedley said Sunday night, 24 hours after claiming victory in Yakima. “This win will forever be one of the greatest in our program’s history.”

Clark County Today expects to have a “Chat with the Champions,”, discussing this victory, and the program’s legacy, with some of the team leaders. Look for that story later this week.

River’s victory was just one of many highlights in a very busy high school sports postseason schedule this weekend.

La Center volleyball finished third in the Class 1A state tournament.

Several Clark County soccer squads advanced to the final four in their state tournaments. 

Class 4A and 3A volleyball teams qualified, and then were seeded for their state tournaments. 

And local swimmers had strong finishes at state swimming.

Here is an update:

GIRLS SOCCER

Class 2A: The defending state champion Ridgefield Spudders are going back to the final four, and they have familiar company with them. Columbia River also advanced to the semifinals at state, or what Clark County Today likes to refer to as the “2A Greater St. Helens League Invitational.” Historically, the league is a juggernaut at state soccer.

Ridgefield, the No. 1 seed, beat No. 9 Fife 5-0 over the weekend. The Spudders will take on No. 4 Bellingham at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. 

Columbia River, the No. 3 seed, beat No. 11 Ellensburg 4-0 in the quarterfinals over the weekend. River will face No. 2 West Valley of Spokane at 4:45 p.m. Friday at Mount Tahoma High School. 

The winners of the semifinal matches will face each other in the championship match at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Class 1A: The Seton Catholic Cougars keep making school history, advancing to the final four of the Class 1A state tournament. Seton Catholic, the 2-seed, defeated No. 7 The Bush School 1-0. Seton will face Bellevue Christian at noon Friday in one semifinal at Mount Tahoma High School The winner will advance to Saturday’s championship match.

Class 4A: Skyview’s season came to an end this weekend in the state quarterfinals. Issaquah beat the Storm 3-0.

VOLLEYBALL

Class 2A: Columbia River still rules state volleyball, and oh yes, the 2A Greater St. Helens League still represents. As noted above, River just won its fourth consecutive state title. Well, the previous two state championships were won by Ridgefield.

The Spudders can still play, too. Ridgefield made it to the quarterfinals — losing to River — then won in the consolation round to advance to another trophy match. Ridgefield finished sixth in this year’s tournament.

Class 1A: La Center had another strong volleyball campaign, reaching the state semifinals for the second year in a row. The Wildcats ended up taking fourth place in the tournament this year.

Seton Catholic went 1-2 in the state tournament.

Class 4A and 3A: The 4A and 3A state tournaments will be in Yakima this weekend, Nov. 22-23.

Prairie received the No. 3 seed in the 3A tournament. Camas received the No. 5 seed in the 4A tournament.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Several athletes made it to the finals, placing at the state swimming championships in Federal Way. 

A couple of Ridgefield Spudders were the top finishers among Clark County swimmers.

Medea Rusu of Ridgefield was second in the Class 2A/1A 100-yard backstroke, and teammate Rebecca Yamada was second in the 100 breaststroke.  Rusu also placed fifth in the 200 freestyle.

Paige Dangleis of Hockinson finished third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 freestyle.

Lila McGeachy of Camas was third in the Class 4A 500 freestyle. McGeachy also placed seventh in the 200 freestyle. 

Also placing at state: Jordan Zaeman of Seton Catholic (fifth in 500 free; sixth in 200 free); Raegan Zaeman of Seton Catholic (fifth in 100 breaststroke); Karlen Stuart of Woodland (sixth in 50 free, seventh in 100 free); Georgina Romero of Hockinson (seventh in 50 freestyle); and Ingrid Morrison Garcia (eighth in 200 freestyle and eighth in 100 freestyle). 

The Seton Catholic relay teams finished fourth in the 400 free and sixth in the 200 free. Hockinson finished seventh in the 200 medley relay.