CAMAS — The battle for the Lacamas paddle has long been one of Southwest Washington wrestling’s hottest rivalries. The past three years, the 4A Greater St. Helens League dual between Union and Camas has taken on new meaning.
The Titans, who reside on the west end of Lacamas Lake, have won the Clark County Championships 11 consecutive years, including a victory earlier this month. The Papermakers, on the lake’s east side, have chosen to forego the county’s marquee grappling event each of the past three years. On Wednesday at the Warehouse, Union toppled Camas 54-19 to win its eighth 4A GSHL title in nine years.
“Clark County some may think it’s not the best tournament, but it’s more about the community than the wrestling,” Union junior Levi Harms said. “It’s people you grew up with, people you’ve wrestled since you were little kids. Picking up a win there is great and then proving it here is even better.”
Camas opts to participate in the more competitive Lake Stevens Invite to better prepare the Papermakers for postseason competition and to avoid seeing the same local wrestlers another time. Camas and Union compete in the Pacific Coast Championships, Gut Check Invite, sub-regionals and regionals together, along with a league dual. Still, Camas’ absence at Clark County adds an extra layer of intensity to the rivalry dual, which usually decides the league title.
“To us, it’s almost like they’re disrespecting us not coming to Clark County, almost like they’re better than us,” Union junior Calvin Bahl said. “Then we come here each and every year to show them.”
The Titans now hold a 2-1 advantage since Camas opted out of the Clark County Championships. The Papermakers won in 2018.
“Beating your rival team is almost your most important match of the season,” Harms said. “When you’re training, that’s the one you’re thinking about. For us, we’ve been in a death hold with Camas the past three years. Cementing that league title puts us back at the definitive top.”
The Titans earned pins from Dylyn Jimenez (126), Calvin Bahl (152), Kyle Brosius (170), Alex Bessanov (182), Averie Sikes (195), Levi Harms (285) and Ricky Pierce (106).
Camas’ Porter Craig (113) and Chris Foley scored early pins to give the Papermakers a 12-0 lead.
But Union, kicked off by Jimenez’s second-round pin, went on a five-match streak to take its first lead 24-12. Papermaker senior and reigning state champion Gideon Malychewski, who made the cut to 160 pounds several weeks ago, tried to salvage things with a 10-2 decision, but his usual 170-pound rival Kyle Brosius put Union back on track with a second-round pin. Two bouts later, freshman Averie Sikes sealed the league crown for Union with a first-round pin.
“It’s everything,” Union senior Dylyn Jimenez said. “I look more forward to this than I do the postseason.”
Both teams take a short hiatus to get ready for sub-regional wrestling on Feb. 8 at Hudson’s Bay High School.
