Top 15 sports moments of the school year in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Columbia counties
Every year brings new lifelong memories for athletes and fans. This one was no different. Here are the top 15 sports moments of the school year.
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1) Shyanne Sellers smashes a walk-off grand slam to win the state title for Mark Morris softball
Mark Morris softball: Shyanne Sellers
Mark Morris' Shyanne Sellers swings her bat during the 2A State Fastpitch Softball Tournament championship game against W.F. West on Saturday, May 23, at Carlon Park in Selah. Sellers hit a walk-off game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to help the Monarchs win 9-5 and claim the state title.
With the 2A state softball championship game between Mark Morris and W.F. West tied at 5-5 and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, rising senior Shyanne Sellers smashed a walk-off grand slam to win the state title for the Monarchs.
Mark Morris' Shyanne Sellers hits a walk-off game-winning grand slam in state title game
Mark Morris' Shyanne Sellers hits a walk-off game-winning grand slam during the 2A State Fastpitch Softball Tournament championship game against W.F. West on Saturday, May 23, at Carlon Park in Selah. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
It started as a miraculous comeback for Mark Morris, who were down 4-0 following three straight home runs in the top of the fourth. They fought back with three home runs from Mikaila Warfield, Taylor Lee, and Megan Fugleberg before Sellers' grand slam. Makenzie Henthorn struck out 10 batters and shutout the Bearcats for the final two innings.
The Monarchs finished the season with just one loss which came to Prairie during the first game of the season in a 4-3 decision. They also won the league and district titles.
Mark Morris softball: celebration
Mark Morris softball players and coaches celebrate after winning the 2A State Fastpitch Softball Tournament championship against W.F. West on Saturday, May 23, at Carlon Park in Selah.
2) Castle Rock's Cooper Williams wins third straight state title
Castle Rock boys wrestling: Cooper Williams
Castle Rock's Cooper Williams celebrates after winning his third-straight state wrestling title at the Mat Classic on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma. Williams said that his defeat in overtime during the finals of his freshman year catapulted him to winning the next three state championships.
It's not often that an athlete can win one state championship, let alone even two, but Castle Rock's Cooper Williams did the unthinkable and took home his third straight state wrestling title this school year.
He lost in the title match in overtime during his freshman season and used that defeat as motivation to win three consecutive championships. Williams also overcame an injury which caused him to miss a few weeks early in the season.
3) Kelso girls wrestling wins two state titles
Kelso girls wrestling: Johanna Gregg
Kelso's Johanna Gregg, top, wrestles during the Mat Classic 3A girls wrestling 105-pound finals on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma. Gregg pinned her opponent in the match to take home the individual state championship. She helped the Lassies win their second-straight team state title.
Kelso girls wrestling won not just one, but two state championships in 2026. The Lassies first took home the 3A dual meet state title and then took first place at the Mat Classic for the second straight year.
Kelso dominated during the dual meet, winning all three of its matches by a combined score of 180-61. At the Mat Classic, 10 Lassies placed, with Johanna Gregg finishing as a state champion and Kamiah Gaerlan, Olivia Engel, and Ava Risner taking second.
Kelso's Johanna Gregg celebrates after winning the state championship
Kelso's Johanna Gregg celebrates after winning the 3A girls wrestling 105-pound state championship during the Mat Classic on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
4) Mark Morris' Elsie Herold wins two state championships
Mark Morris track and field: Elsie Herold
Mark Morris' Elsie Herold, right, jumps over a hurdle during the finals of the 100-meter hurdles event at the 2A Track & Field State Championships on Friday, May 29, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. Herold took home the state championships in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles while also setting the 2A state meet record in the latter.
Mark Morris' Elsie Herold also got a taste of winning two state titles in the same season. The rising senior took first place in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles during the 2A state meet. She set a new state meet record for the classification in the 300m hurdles and made a big comeback during the 100m hurdles.
Mark Morris' Elsie Herold wins state title in 300-meter hurdles
Mark Morris' Elsie Herold wins the 2A state title in the 300-meter hurdles event during the 2A Track & Field State Championships on Saturday, May 30, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
Multiple other athletes won state championships in track and field including Kelso's Jordyn Robarge, R.A. Long's Josephine Sully, Woodland's Mason Thomas, Kalama's Kacey Curtis, Toutle Lake's Kyrstin Strozyk, and Clatskanie's Lacey Willis.
5) Rainier's Kiya Roe becomes first champion for Rainier in girls wrestling
Rainier girls wrestling: Kiya Roe
Rainier's Kiya Roe smiles as she shakes the referee's hand after winning the OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A 105-pound girls state wrestling championship on Friday at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Roe became the first girls state wrestling champion in program history.
Rainier's Kiya Roe placed second at state in girls wrestling during each of the previous three years. She had just one more chance to take first place, and she did just that, winning the OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A 105-pound girls wrestling state championship, coming out on top between the four classifications.
Roe became the first state champion for the Rainier girls wrestling program. At state, she pinned her first three opponents within the first minute of each match and then dominated in the finals.
6) R.A. Long boys basketball nearly wins state title
R.A. Long boys basketball reached its first state title game in program history this year. The No. 2 Jacks came into the contest undefeated, but they were going up against No. 1 Bremerton.
They held their ground as they led 43-38 with 3:17 left in the game, needing just a few stops to win the state title. However, they wouldn't come as the Knights scored the final 7 points of the game, handing R.A. Long a devastating 45-43 loss. Josh Crane had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but he had to take a long 3-pointer, and it was off the mark.
Still, the Jacks placed second at state, their highest finish in school history, while also winning the league and district championships.
7) Kelso's Kainoa Fili runs in for a game-winning touchdown at state
Kainoa Fili didn't see too much action at running back for the Hilanders this season, but when he did play, he always gave it his all. That was no more apparent than when he ran in for a game-winning touchdown in overtime against Federal Way in the opening round of the state tournament. The Scots advanced to the state round of 16 following the victory.
Kainoa Fili runs in for the game-winning touchdown
Kainoa Fili runs in for the game-winning touchdown for Kelso against Federal Way during the first round of the state football tournament on Friday, Nov. 7 at Kelso High School. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
8) R.A. Long's Jeff Rooklidge hits two game winning 3s against Columbia River
R.A. Long boys basketball: Jeff Rooklidge
R.A. Long's Jeff Rooklidge shoots a 3-pointer during the 2A Boys State Basketball Tournament championship game against Bremerton on Saturday, March 7, at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima. Rooklidge hit two game-winning triples this season, with both coming against Columbia River.
We are not done talking about the Jacks just yet. R.A. Long's Jeff Rooklidge hit two separate game winners for the boys basketball team, with both coming against Columbia River.
First, he hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in a 48-45 win over the Rapids on Jan. 5, and then hit another with 41.3 seconds left on Jan. 22 to put the Jacks on top for good in a 55-54 victory. Those were two big wins as the Rapids finished in a tie for second place in the league.
R.A. Long's Jeff Rooklidge hits a game-winning 3-pointer against Columbia River
R.A. Long's Jeff Rooklidge hits a game-winning 3-pointer during a boys basketball game against Columbia River on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at The Lumberdome. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
9) Kelso's Macy Swanson breaks the school record in the pole vault
Kelso track and field: Macy Swanson
Kelso's Macy Swanson performs a pole vault during the 3A Girls Track & Field State Championships on Friday, May 29, at Mount Tahoma High School. Swanson placed second in the 3A pole vault event. Earlier in the season, Swanson broke the school record in the pole vault.
Kelso's Macy Swanson broke the school record in the pole vault, reaching 12 feet, 7 inches during the final meet of the regular season at home. Those in the stands watched and applauded as she completed the vault. Swanson later placed second at state.
Kelso's Macy Swanson breaks the school record in the pole vault
Kelso's Macy Swanson breaks the school record in the pole vault during a meet against Evergreen on Thursday, May 7, at Kelso High School. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
10) Joey Sizemore's walk-off single helps Clatskanie softball break through to the state semifinals
Clatskanie softball: Joey Sizemore
Clatskanie's Joey Sizemore throws a pitch during the second round of the OSAA 2A/1A Softball State Championship tournament against Monroe/Alsea on Wednesday, May 27, at Clatskanie High School. Sizemore hit a walk-off single in the state quarterfinals against Country Christian/North Clackamas Christian.
It was a long time coming for the Tigers. During each of the past three seasons, they lost in the state quarterfinals. However, they finally made it through to the semifinals following their 5-4 victory over Country Christian/North Clackamas Christian.
Clatskanie took multiple leads throughout the game, but the Cougars tied the contest every time it looked like the Tigers would pull away. However, with the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Joey Sizemore hit a walk-off single to give Clatskanie the victory.
11) Castle Rock boys wrestling wins 26th straight district championship
The Castle Rock boys wrestling team accomplished an incredible feat. The Rockets won their 26th straight district title this season. They scored 349 points, 81 more than La Center in second place. The Castle Rock underclassmen performed well, with 10 advancing to the Mat Classic.
12) Wahkiakum football advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2004
The Wahkiakum football team found itself tied with Pomeroy after the first quarter in the state quarterfinals. The Mules then scored 26 straight points to take over the game and claim a 66-34 victory as they advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2004.
Quarterback Jayden Stoddard had a monster offensive game, finishing with 315 yards passing and 236 yards rushing with seven total touchdowns (five passing, two rushing).
13) Lower Columbia baseball wins the NWAC championship
Lower Columbia baseball lost its first game in the NWAC tournament. The Red Devils then won their next five games to come out of the consolation bracket and win the NWAC title. It was the 16th championship in program history and LCC's first since 2023.
LCC baseball players celebrate after winning the NWAC championship
LCC baseball players celebrate after winning the NWAC championship on Monday, May 25, at David Story Field in Longview. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
14) R.A. Long volleyball earns a state bid for the first time since 2009
R.A. Long volleyball trailed Woodland 10-5 in the fifth set during the district consolation semifinals. The Jills then rallied to defeat the Beavers 18-16 in the final set and keep their season alive.
They then swept Ridgefield 3-0 in the consolation finals to earn a bid to state for the first time since 2009. R.A. Long previously lost to the Spudders twice in the regular season.
RA Long volleyball players celebrate reaching the state tournament
RA Long volleyball players celebrate reaching the state tournament following their 3-0 sweep of Ridgefield in the District IV 2A volleyball tournament consolation finals on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Tumwater High School. (Dan Rosenfield, The Daily News)
15) Clatskanie volleyball places second at state
Clatskanie volleyball had a lot of hype coming into the season, and they delivered. The Tigers won the league and district titles and advanced to the state championship game. There, they fought hard, but fell to Crosshill Christian 3-0 and finished in second place.
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