Clark County Championship week is the one Camas and Washougal wrestlers and coaches look forward to every year.
For one night only, classifications are thrown out the window and the best wrestler in the county for each weight class is determined. Several wrestlers from these 16 county schools are dreaming of obtaining district, regional and state medals next month. Winning a county championship medal is the first step toward making those dreams come true.
This year’s Clark County boys and girls tournaments return to Skyview High School, 1300 N.W. 139th St. in Vancouver. Matches begin Friday at 4 p.m., resume Saturday at 10 a.m. and conclude with the finals Saturday evening.
The Washougal girls are determined to defend their 2012 county team championship. Several Panthers and Camas Papermakers have their hearts set on wrestling in the finals, but it is never an easy road.
The Washougal girls grabbed fifth place out of 40 schools at the Kelso Invitational Saturday. Erin Locke captured the 130-pound championship with an 8-4 victory against her opponent from Othello in the finals. Locke also defeated Kelso’s Mariah Horton 4-2 in a semifinal match that went into overtime. Christina Murray took third place for the Panthers in the 130-pound “B” bracket. Yaneli Martinez, Emily Alder-Storm and Katelyn Purkeypyle finished in fifth place in their respective brackets. Sara Sanchez upset Kelso’s McKenna Emmert 4-1 in the first round.
The Washougal boys settled for a fourth-place tie with West Valley, Yakima, at the Grandview Invitational Saturday. Zach Oster, Wyatt Eakins and Josh Economides earned second place. Jesse Regan and Tanner Baldwin took third place, and Roger Polanco and Ruben Aguilar finished in fourth place.
The Camas wrestlers snagged sixth place at the Bearcat Invitational Saturday, in Chehalis. Brandon Lauer, Austin Miller and Vince Huber grabbed third place, and Noah Shannon and Dakota Safford finished in fifth place.
Washougal hosts defending 2A Greater St. Helens League champion Mark Morris tonight. Camas goes to Heritage Wednesday. Both varsity matches begin at 7 p.m.
