The Columbian

Sports Columnists

With Washington now fully free from COVID-19 restrictions, return to packed student sections at high school football stadiums can be expected this fall.

Martinez: An early look ahead to a ‘normal’ football season

July 6, 2021, 5:14pm Prep Sports

The start of the 2021 fall football schedule is less than two months away, and the start of the 2021-22 school year promises to bring something we’ve lacked for more than a year and half — normal times. Read story

Martinez: Perspective remains lost in some state gyms

June 1, 2021, 10:30pm Prep Sports

Mick Hoffman, executive director of the WIAA, said that it was his hope when sports returned, we would all remember what was lost then use that perspective to ease off the yelling at opposing players, coaches and particularly the officials. Read story

Union freshman Grayson Caldwell hustles his way down the back straight of the 400-meter race in a 4A/3A Greater St. Helens League dual on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Union High School. Caldwell finished second with a personal-best 52.82-second mark.

Martinez: Mad scramble to finish of wacky prep sports seasons

May 25, 2021, 7:00pm Prep Sports

Earlier this week, I was emailing local high school athletic directors about dates, times and sites of culminating events as the 2020-21 high school athletic calendar starts to draw to a close. Read story

Members of the Union basketball team thank Battle Ground for a good game following their win at Battle Ground High School on Tuesday night, May 11, 2021.

Martinez: Basketball coaches deal with pauses, scheduling best they can

May 18, 2021, 9:22pm Prep Sports

The message many high school basketball coaches are telling their players right now is “Don’t let up on the gas” when it comes to protections against the COVID-19 virus. Read story

Camas interim boys soccer co-coaches Josh Stoller, left, and Richard Gooch watch the Papermakers play against Mountain View on Monday, May 10, 2021.

Martinez: Camas boys soccer co-coaches make a good team

May 11, 2021, 7:20pm Newsletter

Richard Gooch and Josh Stoller are serving as interim co-coaches of the Camas boys team this spring. And the senior-heavy Papermakers haven’t missed a beat. Read story

Seton Catholic junior Elijah Volk, bottom, takes down Royal's Kaleb Hernandez in a Class 1A 145-pound quarterfinal on Friday at Mat Classic XXXII in the Tacoma Dome. Volk won by 8-4 decision.

Martinez: Wrestling trying to pin down when season can start

April 27, 2021, 7:05pm Prep Sports

Area high school administrators are grappling with a new state requirement that is delaying many athletes from beginning competition. Last week, the state announced that high school and middle school wrestlers must be tested twice a week before they can compete with wrestlers from other schools. Read story

Skyview'is Kyle Olson stands at the plate while Mountain View catcher Riley McCarthy awaits the pitching during Monday'is game at Union High School.

Martinez: Spring has sprung with many sports at once

April 20, 2021, 7:10pm Prep Sports

If there is one thing I’ve learned from the past year, it’s that COVID restrictions and precautions are like springtime weather in the Pacific Northwest — if you don’t like them, just wait; they’ll likely change. Read story