Fall sports at Camas High School (CHS) are underway with teams like girls soccer, football, and volleyball starting their preseasons. 

The start of the season is the time when athletes set goals for the season — both for themselves and their team — and start planning how to make the most of their time on and off the field or court.

“I am looking forward to playing football, but also having fun with the senior class since it is our last year playing football [for CHS] and having fun with my other teammates as well,” CHS senior and football captain Matthew Kirchoff said. 

Kirchoff is not alone in his sentiment of wanting to cherish his senior year since it is their last year in high school sports. 

“This season, I know all the other seniors and I are just giving it our all. Knowing that this season is wrapping up our high school volleyball career really has us motivated,” CHS senior Shaylee Stephen said. “I want to give my team everything I have got to get us where we want to go.”

Beyond personal goals, each player has high hopes and expectations for what their teams can achieve. 

“Our goal is to get to the final four so that we can spend the night in a hotel and [hopefully] jump in the pool,” CHS senior and girls soccer captain Sidney Mazemke said. 

“The team has big goals for this season,” Stephen said. “Obviously, we want to place higher at state. Breaking the school record and placing above fifth is our goal for the end of the season.”

The teams know that it is going to take hard work and dedication to achieve their goals, so they are set on making sure their teammates stay focused and driven. 

“Coming together and practicing well will be important because we have a lot of new transfers this year, so a lot of guys who do not know the system very well and who are trying to get used to the school,” Kirchoff said. 

“We need to take it one game at a time, and we are going to make sure when it is game time [that we are] focused and locked-in for each game and not be cocky and remain humble so that we can have fun with it,” Mazemke said. 

The coaches are also pushing for the athletes to put out their best effort and show that they are willing to improve for their teammates. 

“[I am going to make sure] they keep working on what they need to work on, so whatever they show in each match that needs improvement, or we need to make those finite adjustments to get better,” Liberty Middle School (LMS) teacher and CHS girls soccer head coach Keri Tomasetti said.