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Say Hello to the Class of 2023!

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Columbia River had three teams win state championships this school year, including a perfect season from the boys soccer team this spring
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
Cole Benner and Hunter Cunningham showed up on campus Wednesday morning, wearing Columbia River soccer gear, still in the glow of a championship.

It turned out, that was their first day of school since the Rapids won the Class 2A state boys soccer title on Saturday. With the holiday on Monday, and the unofficial, (but kind-of-official) senior skip day on Tuesday, they had some extra time on their hands to process what they and their teammates accomplished.

Columbia River boys soccer is on top of the Class 2A world.

Championships are contagious at Columbia River, too. This high school was the place to be in order to celebrate sports for the 2022-23 academic year.

Perhaps the Columbia River Rapids should change their name again, this time to Columbia River Champions.

There are nine "traditional team sports" that are sanctioned by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Those are sports that do not have any individual medals. Of the eight, Columbia River won three state championships.

The Columbia River boys soccer team joined the Columbia River girls soccer team as state champions. The girls won it all in the fall. And the Columbia River volleyball team also won a state title in the fall.

The Rapids weren't done.

Lauren and Sydney Dreves won the Class 2A girls doubles championship in tennis on Saturday, leading the team to a second-place finish. The Dreves sisters are also on the volleyball team, so they, personally, experienced state championships in the fall and spring.

Champions are everywhere at Columbia River.

"It's insane," Benner said

Cunningham was particularly impressed with the two soccer titles.

"Soccer is River's sport," Cunningham said. "Doesn't matter if it's the guys or the girls. I think that's really cool."

But again, it is not just soccer.

"It's super exciting to represent River," Lauren Dreves said. "We have a really good support system at this school, with the teachers, the administration, and the students are always happy and excited for us. It's just fun having good sports. All the teams here are close and are really supportive of each other."

The latest team title for the Rapids was perfect. As in a perfect season.

The Columbia River boys soccer team went 24-0, outsourcing its opponents 114-9.

But there was some drama. North Kitsap took a 2-1 lead early in the second half on Saturday.

"I never really lost much hope," Benner said. "They went up 2-1, but I had a lot of confidence in us to be able to fight back in that game. The hope never died. Our team played with so much heart. North Kitsap was really hurting at the end of the game. Our team was still going at them. Everybody on our team had a huge amount of endurance and adrenaline."

Columbia River had trailed 1-0 in two previous matches this season.

"We've been able to crawl back before," Cunningham said. "We wanted it so bad. We just kept fighting and kept fighting until we got those goals."

Up 4-2, the Rapids were feeling it, and waiting for the final whistle blows.

Then it was over.

State champions.

"It's a huge stress reliever when that final whistle blows," Benner said. "Immediately, we all just jumped on each other and started screaming.

"There is no feeling like it. All the effort we put into the system, gaining that trust in each other, it paid off," Cunningham said. "Getting in the dogpile ... there's no feeling like it."

The Rapids were on an adrenaline rush for another hour or so on the ride home. They played Queen's "We Are The Champions" and sang along. The 2018 state champions from Rive did the same thing, so the Rapids hope this becomes a tradition. The seniors passed their cleats around, and everyone on the team signed the cleats.

After a break for a meal, everything got quiet for the rest of the way home from Renton.

"Everyone just passed out on the bus," Benner said. "We were so exhausted."

"It was super silent that last hour," Cunningham added.

Days later, the captains of the team say that will love the memories they made this season.

"This is my family here," Benner said. "To be able to end my soccer career with this team, it's something super special."

"Every year, we focus on being a family," Cunningham added. "Throughout the year, we stick to the family aspect. It will be a team I'll never forget."

It is not just a family "feel" for the Dreves sisters, who enjoyed their first tennis title together. Interestingly, it was not the first tennis title in the family, though.

Lauren Dreves won the doubles title last year with then-senior Grace Rudi. That means Lauren now has four state titles - two with the volleyball team and two with tennis.

Lauren appreciates that she and her sister are so competitive. They make a perfect team. The Dreves did not lose a set this season, winning in the state championship match 6-0, 6-3.

"We get into each other's grills a lot when it gets tight. I know I can push her harder, and I know she won't break," Lauren said of Sydney. "I know her limits."

Lauren is a junior and Sydney is a sophomore, so it's very possible they will push each other even harder next year.

That's what they do.

That's what Columbia River athletes do at the school of champions.

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High School sports: Columbia River celebrates a year of excellence

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Paul Valencia ClarkCountyToday.com Cole Benner and Hunter Cunningham showed up on campus Wednesday morning, wearing Columbia River soccer gear, still in the glow of a championship. It turned out, that was their first day of school since the Rapids won the Class 2A state boys soccer title on Saturday.

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Ezra Bailey  - Distinguished Graduate Fire Science

Isabella Orozco - 2023 GAC Scholarship Award - Culinary

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FFA State Convention 2023 - Agricultural Sales

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FFA State Convention 2023 - Agricultural Sales

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Seniors' comments about their teachers - May, 2023

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Hot Seat - Teacher Appreciation Week 2023 (1).pdf

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Amazing Musicians under the Direction of DKC

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Amazing Musicians under the Direction of DKC

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Girls are Twilight Champions and Boys got 2nd!

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Girls are Twilight Champions and Boys got 2nd!

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Students raised more than $42K for Friends of the Children. Amazing tradition of excellence to behold when our students demonstrate compassion and care for their greater community!

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Escape room w/ social studies students

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State champs from soccer, volleyball also playing basketball

Published: February 10, 2023, 6:03am

As part of celebrating its first league title in 17 seasons last week, Columbia River High girls basketball players and coaches did what teams traditionally do in these settings: cut down their individual piece of the net.

Junior Emma Iniguez has hers, but also kept the remainder of the net.

"I need to display it somewhere," the junior forward said.

What the net symbolizes is not only a successful season in girls basketball - winning 15 games and capturing its first league title since 2005-06 - but also represents the continuing trend of big seasons by the school's female sports programs.

No Clark County school can match what River has accomplished so far in 2022-23: Class 2A state titles in volleyball and girls soccer in the fall, and a runner-up state finish by its girls bowling team last weekend.

Now, girls basketball looks to be the next in line as it gears up for the postseason. River (15-4 overall) hosts league-rival Washougal (11-11) at 6 p.m. Friday to open the 2A District IV tournament. The Rapids are two wins away from reaching the regional round of state.

In addition to playing basketball, Iniguez is a golfer at River. She said the impact of the bowling, soccer and volleyball programs' accomplishments are felt everywhere.

"It's inspiring. I'm not kidding," said Iniguez, River's leading scorer averaging a double-double of 12 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Six varsity volleyball and soccer athletes - Kinzi Drake, Logann Dukes, Peyton Dukes and Paige Johnson (soccer) and Taegen Benke and Logan DeJong (volleyball) - are on the Rapids' basketball roster.

"Their work ethic is amazing, and they bring it to the (basketball) court. It's awesome," Iniguez said.

The championship mentality from other sports easily translates onto the hardwood, said Drake, a senior guard.

"Having enough people that went through that in the fall, then having energy to continue working is really pushing us," she said. "(Other basketball teammates) saw how hard you have to work for that, so it just made all of us understand what we have to do to get to where we want to be."

In fact, Benke, a senior forward, pointed to River's Jan. 31 game against Hudson's Bay for why championship experience matters in high-pressure situations. River trailed for much of that game before turning it on late for a 50-36 victory to clinch the league title.

"We just changed entirely how we were playing," Benke said. "Just knowing after that, we can pull together and push through those tough times. I think it really brought us closer as a team."

Defense is River's identity. In 16 league games, it held opponents to an average of 30.8 points per game.

Third-year head coach Jesse Norris called the team's defensive instincts "off the charts" which has led to a perfect buildup for a big turnaround season. The Rapids went 5-15 in 2021-22, a 10-win improvement.

From title-winning familiarity to defensive instincts, Norris believes more celebrations could be in the team's future.

"We're hoping to get some other nets this year," the coach said. "I really think it's possible."

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Rapid Success: Columbia River girls basketball continues trend of school's big year for girls sports

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Published: February 10, 2023, 6:03am As part of celebrating its first league title in 17 seasons last week, Columbia River High girls basketball players and coaches did what teams traditionally do in these settings: cut down their individual piece of the net. Junior Emma Iniguez has hers, but also kept the remainder of the net.

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Visiting the community and practicing taking public transportation 

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Visiting the community and practicing taking public transportation 

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Enjoying the sun with my little (maybe) future rapid ☀️ 

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Enjoying the sun with my little (maybe) future rapid ☀️ 

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After a thorough looking through the recorded state records in all classifications, the next best score was a 245.

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Congrats to our Scholar Athletes #NextLevel

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Let's go Bowlers!!!

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Tim Martinez: Columbia River bowlers strike up a special bond

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Following a match last Friday against Fort Vancouver at Hazel Dell Lanes, Columbia River girls bowling coach Logan Burnett honored his seniors, and he had a lot of seniors.

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Amazing DEC Assembly today - celebrating and affirming the message of inclusion and belonging

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Amazing DEC Assembly today - celebrating and affirming the message of inclusion and belonging

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Ultimate Cup Cake Run - 1300 treats for this amazing community!

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Ultimate Cup Cake Run - 1300 treats for this amazing community!

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Thanks to our donor RoyalT/ HerffJones!

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Only about 2 hours old here

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Her future school

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Aria Burton :)

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CR Sports Crewed the State Football Championships in Tacoma 12/3: Ethan R., Director, Ethan W., Sideline Reporter, Michael R., Camera Op, Derrick R., Camera Op. Marcus V., Score Graphics.

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing https://t.co/WHii3NEssv

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing pic.twitter.com/WHii3NEssv
— Rose Nelson (@RoseNel20) November 29, 2022

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing https://t.co/WHii3NEssv

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing https://t.co/WHii3NEssv

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Had a fantastic start to my day with a gallery walk at Columbia River HS. The teachers and students did an amazing job putting this together! @CRHeadofSchool #VPSamazing

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Shout out to:
Caitlynn
Greta
Jacky
Nate
Kallen
Lucas
Ryan
Marley
You guys are rockin it in the Student Store. Keep up the awesome job!

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Special thanks to our VPS Bus Drivers!!!

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Special thanks to our VPS Bus Drivers!!!

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Off to the races #XC #WIAA https://t.co/32SByezl64

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Off to the races #XC #WIAA pic.twitter.com/32SByezl64
— Alex (@CRHeadofSchool) November 5, 2022

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Off to the races #XC #WIAA https://t.co/32SByezl64

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Off to the races #XC #WIAA https://t.co/32SByezl64

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Abby's English classes created a really amazing collaborative piece of art as part of their most recent book study. Each class period added a layer to the portrait, and the final product was beautiful!

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Shoutout to our amazing subs.

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Anna got all her students to the library and back on public transit today, woot!

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Anna got all her students to the library and back on public transit today, woot!

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Everett Erickson makes his debut - Happy Halloween!

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Everett Erickson makes his debut - Happy Halloween!

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Our Tennis Boys Clinched the District IV Title today.  Pictures to follow!  WAYTOGOTEAM

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Our Tennis Boys Clinched the District IV Title today.  Pictures to follow!  WAYTOGOTEAM

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I was very impressed with my students reactions and conversations to the Underdog Mentality video that we watched this morning. I went away from the script of picking an object since we were in the weight room. Instead I asked them to talk about what quality they feel like they bring to a room to make it a better place for themselves and others. The things that were said were inspiring and helped to continue to create an inclusive culture in my 2nd period class. 

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I was very impressed with my students reactions and conversations to the Underdog Mentality video that we watched this morning. I went away from the script of picking an object since we were in the weight room. Instead I asked them to talk about what quality they feel like they bring to a room to make it a better place for themselves and others. The things that were said were inspiring and helped to continue to create an inclusive culture in my 2nd period class. 

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Katie Clark is a rockstar! I'm very impressed with her demeanor and character

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Moving critical thinking and democracy forward.  This event demonstrates the power of our public schools.  Thank you to the amazing teachers behind this effort - led by David Douglas and supported by Shana Ferguson, Dr. Quaid, Jackie George and Jacob Burton - Tim Smith, Kassondra Young and Natasha Flak are also to be credited

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Moving critical thinking and democracy forward.  This event demonstrates the power of our public schools.  Thank you to the amazing teachers behind this effort - led by David Douglas and supported by Shana Ferguson, Dr. Quaid, Jackie George and Jacob Burton - Tim Smith, Kassondra Young and Natasha Flak are also to be credited

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When we say "Tradition of Excellence" This is what we mean. It is great to be at Columbia River High School

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Candidate forum gives Vancouver students a look at local elections

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Less than two weeks before the November general election, candidates took time to go back to school.

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This team covered the Candidates Forum, then Volleyball, then Day 2 of the Candidates Forum. That was about 20 hours of work in a 48 hour period!

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Both XC Teams won 2nd at Dist IV:  On to STATE!

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Both XC Teams won 2nd at Dist IV:  On to STATE!

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Students did a fashion project to share with a fictional German pen pal what they wear on a typical day in the PNW!

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IB history seniors are studying the Cold War and just finished presenting on the Space Race.
Here are a few presentations:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CUkSon07-T8fX4NszZCbLl7aggZt22cccl6DpNnozqE/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qAR9Ukt-Mb3Ym4y79Vm_sF6NkdnogaupODiLtJiuGtE/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12QjMhiC_WG316xQ6UkP9BQZU1AQAascux8wN-jY5JBM/edit#slide=id.p

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VdOR2TYsAA-z7LI9-dAeoHcdeVl6n3skMBazLeNDgCA/edit#slide=id.g1630f5bfdec_10_160

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Just wanted to give HUGE PROPS to Dave, Tavia, Jackie, Janine & co., and EVERYONE who put on the Candidate Forum.  The students seemed to be very respectful and asked great questions, and it was super cool to see Democracy in action.

Can't say enough about how great that all was!

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Morgan Sherve's AVID 9 Class is working away.  #GuideOnTheSide
Photo Credit:  Your Resident AVID Enthusiast

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We did a lesson on "belonging" and then they made these. We will find a place for them in the Horticulture area. They are quite proud of their work!

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IB Biology Juniors came in character today for a meeting of the minds to discuss the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research! They had so many strong arguments on both sides of the issue, but they had so much fun debating! Darn that bell - they could have continued on the conversation for quite some time :-)

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English 9 kids created some great poems - two of these kids did not express a great interest in writing but excelled at this activity - if you have Omeka J or Alexis H in your classes be sure to congratulate them on their excellent job communicating their life experiences.

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Visual Poem Final - Alexis Leon Hernandez

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I know this is supposed to be about student work but.....

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I know this is supposed to be about student work but.....

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Mr. Armerding is doing a "Mental Health Wednesday" with his classes. They go outside, he checks in with them to see how they are doing and they are able to get some exercise and much needed sunshine. Which as we all know are two things we could all use more of!

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Members of the 2022 XC Team introduce themselves (TckTck video is in the works)

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Members of the 2022 XC Team introduce themselves (TckTck video is in the works)

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Moments before and moments just after completing the Nike Hole in the Wall on October 8, 2022 at Lakewood High School

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La Plaza Hispanic Heritage Club and Spanish classes will see a presentation of the baile folklórico from Fort Vancouver tomorrow during sixth period.

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My sophomore students created political cartoons about issues they want to see addressed at CRHS. I was impressed not only by their artistry, but also how connected they are to what they want to see on campus. Enjoy!
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dI7-mZH6vDokSlDKzdhPeluqIBdceRQGBxH6-hHx0uE/edit?usp=sharing