Wednesday, January 22 , 2025

Stories by Meg Wochnick

Columbian staff writer

Meg.Wochnick@columbian.com

Mountain View players celebrate after clinching a playoff berth during the 3A Greater St. Helens League tiebreaker at Doc Harris Stadium on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

Mountain View wins 3A GSHL tiebreaker, earns playoff berth

Mountain View players celebrate after clinching a playoff berth during the 3A Greater St. Helens League tiebreaker at Doc Harris Stadium on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

October 31, 2022, 9:10pm Football

Thunder outlast Evergreen, Prairie; face Rainier Beach on Saturday Read story

Kelso senior Zeke Smith, center, catches a pass Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, during a game between Kelso and Evergreen at McKenzie Stadium.

Kelso rallies by Evergreen to win 3A GSHL title outright

Kelso senior Zeke Smith, center, catches a pass Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, during a game between Kelso and Evergreen at McKenzie Stadium.

October 29, 2022, 12:19am Prep Sports

Steve Amrine has had memorable victories in his tenure as a high school football coach, but there’s a high probability he’s never been more excited and thrilled than what his Kelso Hilanders accomplished than Friday night at McKenzie Stadium. Read story

Washington School for the Deaf players practice Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, at the WSD football field in Vancouver. Some of the state's smaller 1B schools are transitioning to 6-man football, including Washington School for the Deaf.

Washington School for the Deaf among small schools embracing 6-player football

Washington School for the Deaf players practice Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, at the WSD football field in Vancouver. Some of the state's smaller 1B schools are transitioning to 6-man football, including Washington School for the Deaf.

October 7, 2022, 6:01am Football Subscriber Exclusive

At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, Evan Stromberg proudly lists his position as “everything” for the Washington School for the Deaf’s new 6-player football team. Read story

*LEADOPTION* Washougal junior Holden Bea, right, evades a desperate dive from Mark Morris junior Benjamin Whiteside to score a touchdown Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, during the Panthers??? 39-22 win against Mark Morris at Washougal High School.

Evers, Bea help lead Washougal past Mark Morris 39-22

*LEADOPTION* Washougal junior Holden Bea, right, evades a desperate dive from Mark Morris junior Benjamin Whiteside to score a touchdown Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, during the Panthers??? 39-22 win against Mark Morris at Washougal High School.

September 23, 2022, 11:47pm Football

Sam Evers had five catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Holden Bea had rushing touchdowns of 65 and 8 yards was the Washougal Panthers beat the Mark Morris Monarchs 39-22 on Friday at Fishback Stadium. Read story

Battle Ground football players practice Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Battle Ground High School. Ex-NFL player Michael Roos purchased custom-made Axiom helmets, shown at left, for a number of Tigers to wear. The helmets are designed for each player's specific head and include impact sensing and other technology for better safety.

Latest in football helmet technology comes to Battle Ground

Battle Ground football players practice Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Battle Ground High School. Ex-NFL player Michael Roos purchased custom-made Axiom helmets, shown at left, for a number of Tigers to wear. The helmets are designed for each player's specific head and include impact sensing and other technology for better safety.

September 23, 2022, 6:02am Football Subscriber Exclusive

Ten Battle Ground High School football players are wearing the latest in safety, science and technology when it comes to a football helmet. Read story

The Mark Morris Monarchs topped Columbia River, 33-31, in the teams' 2A Greater St. Helens League opener Friday night at John O'Rourke Field.

Monarchs edge River, 33-31, in 2A GSHL opener

The Mark Morris Monarchs topped Columbia River, 33-31, in the teams' 2A Greater St. Helens League opener Friday night at John O'Rourke Field.

September 17, 2022, 12:01am Football

What’s surprising about the Mark Morris High football team being 3-0 after three weeks of the 2022 season is that, well, it’s not so surprising to the Monarchs. “Three-and-0 after three weeks sounds like what we predicted,” running back Deacon Dietz said after the Monarchs’ 33-31… Read story

Mountain View junior Porter Drake, left, tries to find the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, during the Thunder’s 26-20 triple overtime win against Ridgefield at McKenzie Stadium.

Mountain View escapes in 3OTs against Ridgefield

Mountain View junior Porter Drake, left, tries to find the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, during the Thunder’s 26-20 triple overtime win against Ridgefield at McKenzie Stadium.

September 9, 2022, 10:01pm Prep Sports

Who says Week 2 non-league football games aren’t filled with action-packed, down-to-the-wire excitement? Read story

Fort Vancouver senior lineman Kenan Weinmaster stands for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Fort Vancouver High School. Weinmaster is wearing No. 71 -- the same jersey number ex-NFL lineman and Fort grad Travis Claridge wore during his tenure at Fort.

Legacy of No. 71 lives on at Fort Vancouver through Kenan Weinmaster

Fort Vancouver senior lineman Kenan Weinmaster stands for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Fort Vancouver High School. Weinmaster is wearing No. 71 -- the same jersey number ex-NFL lineman and Fort grad Travis Claridge wore during his tenure at Fort.

September 9, 2022, 6:01am Prep Sports

Never before has a jersey number meant so much to Kenan Weinmaster. He proudly wears No. 71 for Fort Vancouver High School’s football team. When he steps on the field, whether it’s practice or game day, he wants to make his family proud. Read story

Camas' Carson Osmus, center, participates in team drills at football practice Wednesday at Camas High School.

Southwest Washington high school football linemen say healthy weight gain is key to play

Camas' Carson Osmus, center, participates in team drills at football practice Wednesday at Camas High School.

September 7, 2022, 6:07am Clark County Health Subscriber Exclusive

Ask Carson Osmus about his 1,000-calorie homemade protein shake, and the Camas High School offensive lineman lists go-to ingredients for weight gain: protein powder, Greek yogurt, peanut butter and bananas. Read story

La Center's Jalen Ward tries to evade Hockinson defenders in the season opener at La Center High School, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

Hockinson wins ugly, 19-14, over La Center

La Center's Jalen Ward tries to evade Hockinson defenders in the season opener at La Center High School, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

September 2, 2022, 11:36pm Football

“That’s one of the uglier wins in a long time,” Hockinson coach Clint LeCount said after a 19-14 season-opening road win at La Center on Friday night. Read story