Varsity360: Recent Episodes
The Columbian Sports Department
The sports staff at The Columbian, Southwest Washington's largest news outlet, discuss the latest happenings in Clark County high school sports. New episodes released each Thursday.
Camas, Skyview and Union are set to take on opponents from Oregon's toughest Class 6A league thanks to a unique scheduling agreement that gives high school football fans a treat. Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick talk about how that deal came to be and what other outside-the-box scheduling strategies might help high school football in SW Washington.
Through two weeks, the high school football season in SW Washington has had several notable developments. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick analyze the importance of those happenings, starting with Skyview's dramatic win over Graham-Kapowsin.
The opening week of the 2024 high school football season provided plenty to talk about. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner give their top five overreactions that may or may not hold true throughout the season.
Could a freshman QB surprise? Will a new arrival dominate on defense? How about a state title winner from Clark County? Find out what bold predictions The Columbian's Meg Wochnick is making for the 2024 high school football season.
A new season of Varsity360 begins with Tim Martinez revealing The Columbian's picks to win each local football league and Micah Rice saying why those picks might be wrong.
From Columbia River baseball's thrilling state championship to runner-up finishes for Camas boys soccer and Seton Catholic softball, the final weekend of the spring high school sports season gave us plenty to remember. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez reflect on those events plus tennis, track and field and the upcoming All-Region Awards Ceremony.
The Columbian sports staff runs down every spring state championship event where local athletes are competing on the final weekend of the 2023-24 high school sports year.
The baseball and softball playoffs are in full swing. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez look at this weekend's matchups for local teams in the state baseball playoffs and the district softball playoffs.
Next fall's football postseason will look different with Week 10 games no longer bound by traditional district matchups. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez discuss the reasons for that change and how it will impact the state playoffs.
The 4A Greater St. Helens League saw high drama in the chase for baseball and boys soccer titles. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner look back at those title chases and look ahead to the postseason. (This episode is audio only).
After coaching Kalama to three state football titles and Woodland to a league title last year, Sean McDonald takes the reins at Mountain View. McDonald and Columbian sports editor Micah Rice talk about that move, what challenges he faces and his coaching philosophy that has produced winners at both of his previous stops.
Four-time Olympian Kara Winger will be the featured speaker at The Columbian's first All-Region Awards Ceremony on June 5 at the Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver. Micah Rice and Tim Martinez talk about the event, which will honor the All-Region athletes from the 2023-24 academic year.
Columbian sports editor Micah Rice chats with Gus Farah, general manager of the Ridgefield Raptors collegiate wood bat team. They discuss baseball at all levels in Southwest Washington, from high school to what changes are in store this summer at West Coast League games in Ridgefield.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez tackle 10 questions that will be answered during the 2024 spring high school sports season. Topics cover softball, baseball, boys soccer, tennis and track and field.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick talk about the addition of Shelton to the 3A GSHL, a deal to pit 4A teams against some of Oregon's best, Mike Peck's homecoming at Mark Morris and the unusual situation Mountain View finds itself in.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner unveil the All-Region boys and girls basketball teams and discuss what made each player special during the 2023-24 season.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez look at 10 moments from the high school winter postseason where Southwest Washington athletes came up big when the pressure was on. Big moments in basketball, wrestling, bowling, gymnastics and swimming are highlighted.
Camas girls basketball coach Scott Thompson joins the Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick to share memories and behind-the-scenes details of his team's march to the Class 4A state championship. He shares how humility and getting over the fear of losing were key to his team's success.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner look ahead to the final stage of the state basketball tournaments. That comes after a thrilling weekend of regional-round hoops that saw plenty of playoff drama.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez preview the matchups as Southwest Washington teams begin play in the state basketball tournament. It will be a action-packed weekend of hoops, including five local teams playing at Battle Ground High School.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick discuss offseason developments in Clark County high school football. That includes Union hiring five-time state champion coach Steve Pyne, Camas handing the reins to Adam Mathieson and Columbia River and Skyview taking their rivalry game off the schedule.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner take a closer look at which boys and girls basketball teams that surpassed preseason expectations and thus earn good grades on our report card.
High school basketball is coming down to the final few games of the regular season. From Class 4A to 1A girls and boys, The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner look at the games and players that will decide league titles and playoff seeds.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez break down the newly released reclassification numbers, which determine which class schools will play in through 2028. They also discuss why Fort Vancouver's move to play at Class 1A in all sports makes sense.
The 53rd annual Norm Friehauf Clark County Wrestling Championships are set for this weekend. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner look at the top storylines and wrestlers to watch at one of SW Washington's longest-running tournaments.
It's hard to pick boys basketball favorites in Southwest Washington as all four leagues should have tight races for league titles. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner dive into where teams stand and which players could make the difference as the league season hits full swing.
The Camas girls basketball team is a top contender for the Class 4A state title. To achieve that goal, the Papermakers have taken on a tough schedule, including a trip to Washington, D.C., where they faced three of the nation's top teams. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner take a closer look at Camas, its memorable trip and a budding rivalry with Union.
Evergreen High School wrestling coach Jake Wilcox has organized what will be the largest Pac Coast tournament in the event's history Dec. 21-22 at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Wilcox joins Columbian sports editor Micah Rice to talk about the tournament, how wrestling rebounded so well after COVID and what to watch for in the 2023-24 season.
The Columbian sports department unveils the 2023 All-Region football team, explains the process of selecting the team and highlights what made those players special.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez recap the most memorable goals, goal-line stands and triumphs that made the Fall 2023 Clark County high school sports season special.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick look at which SW Washington football teams are poised to take big leaps in 2024, including a surprising Seton Catholic team that has reached the Class 1A state semifinals. (First Pacific Financial is not affiliated with views expressed on this episode).
Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and reporter Will Denner talk about how 2A GSHL girls soccer still rules on a state level, what to look for at the 4A/3A state volleyball tournament. They also a offer recap of just how dominant Columbia River was in winning its third straight 2A state volleyball title.
Woodland's thrill of reaching the Class 2A state football playoffs was put in peril. Financial constraints related to a recent levy failure meant the school had no transportation funds for a 350-mile road trip to face Clarkston this Saturday. But the Woodland community stepped up and the Beavers are set to hit the road in style.
Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and reporter Will Denner analyze upcoming matchups for the first weekend of the 2023 high school football postseason in Southwest Washington. (First Pacific Financial is not affiliated with the views expressed on this show)
The final week of the high school football regular season could bring clarity or confusion. Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and high school sports coordinator Tim Martinez look at what's at stake for SW Washington football teams and potential tiebreaker scenarios. (First Pacific Financial is not affiliated with views expressed in this episode).
Last week's massive slate of games brought some clarity to the postseason picture in SW Washington high school football, but there's still plenty to sort out. The Columbian's Micah Rice and Will Denner highlight key developments with two weeks left in the regular season.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick look ahead to a huge Week 7 of high school football in SW Washington. Analysis and predictions of games that will go a long way to deciding league titles. (First Pacific Financial is not affiliated with views expressed on this podcast)
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick reveal which football teams earned A's for the first half of the prep football season. We also look at mid-point MVP candidates and coaches of the year, as well as which teams need a big second half to make the postseason.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick talk about how the 2A Greater St. Helens League has been the most unpredictable and fun football league in SW Washington this season. Plus two local female football coaches break ground.
Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and reporter Will Denner dive into the top storylines in girls soccer and volleyball for the 2023 season in Southwest Washington.
Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and reporter Meg Wochnick have seen enough. In the lopsided Skyview vs. Columbia River football rivalry, player safety and wellbeing should be put ahead of the financial windfall the game brings to Vancouver Public Schools.
The Columbian's Micah Rice and Tim Martinez analyze the first week of the 2023 high school football season in Southwest Washington. They also discuss the impact of moving state championship games to Husky Stadium.
The Columbian’s Meg Wochnick and Micah Rice look at the unique recruiting experiences of six college-bound players. They also profile three players who are banking on a big senior season to achieve their next-level dreams and look ahead to three enticing Week 1 matchups.
Will Washougal make a deep playoff run? How will Mountain View and Union adjust to new coaches? Is this the year Skyview and Evergreen snap long league-title droughts? Columbian sports editor Micah Rice and reporter Meg Wochnick tackle these questions and more.
Columbian Sports Editor Micah Rice and reporter Meg Wochnick examine the possible impact of Evergreen Public Schools cutting staff, including four high school athletic directors. They also discuss the prospect of Washougal High eliminating all sports and Woodland High cutting activities if their replacement levies fail.
Columbian sportswriters Meg Wochnick and Micah Rice look ahead to some possible twists and turns in the high school basketball postseason.
The Columbian sports staff also talks about Camas girls basketball's success and signing day for Clark County athletes.
The Columbian's Will Denner and Meg Wochnick highlight five main storyline to watch this basketball season in Southwest Washington.
The Columbian sports staff looks back at the state football playoffs and ahead to the 2A-4A state volleyball tournaments and the 2A girls soccer final four.
The Columbian sports department looks ahead to the state preliminary round and what challenges await teams from Clark County.
Micah Rice and Tim Martinez of The Columbian sports department look at the postseason scenarios for Southwest Washington prep football teams entering the final week of the regular season.
Columbian sports reporters Micah Rice, Meg Wochnick and Will Denner reviewing feedback from our episode on fan behavior toward officials and discuss the importance of local journalism.
Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick of the Columbian Sports Department talk about how fan behavior is driving away officials, we visit with Fort Vancouver after an emotional win and look at a big week in the 2A GSHL.
Columbian Sports Editor Micah Rice and reporter Meg Wochnick discuss the Rapids vs. Storm rivalry, we visit with the 2-0 Prairie Falcons and look ahead to the top games of Week 3 in Clark County.
The Columbian sports staff analyzes Week 1 of the high school football season, looks ahead to Week 2 and reporter Meg Wochnick gives insight into her stories on how linemen gain weight healthfully and how the family of Travis Claridge is helping maintain his legacy at Fort Vancouver.
The Columbian sports staff previews the high school football season in Southwest Washington, visits with three Mountain View senior captains and looks ahead to the best games of Week 1.