The transition to high school is a substantial change for many students. Playing sports at the high school level brings new challenges, but being part of a team that represents Camas High School (CHS) fosters a strong sense of school spirit.

CHS is already at the end of its first grading period, and they have had quite an eventful sports season. The CHS football, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and swim teams have already participated in many games, giving these new CHS athletes time to adjust.

CHS freshman athletes across the sports claim they feel proud to be playing sports at a high school level — especially a high school as athletically-inclined as CHS. 

“It’s pretty cool but it’s also kind of nerve-racking, because all the teams know that we are the toughest team, and that it’s going to be a challenge,” CHS freshman football player Aaron Jensen said.

“It is a really big deal and it is like a big honor for me [to play for CHS],” CHS freshman volleyball player Emma Walters said.

Football has historically been one of the most popular sports amongst CHS students and athletes alike. This popularity can, in part, be attributed to the team bonding activities that aim to bring players together. 

“Just practice in general is a lot of fun, very different compared to Liberty Middle School (LMS),” Jensen said. “It is the team within the team that you have with your groups.”

The football team is not the only team with bonding traditions—the volleyball team trains to operate as more than just a team.

“Everybody is together and that is what our coach preaches the most. She trains us to work as a family—instead of just teammates,” Walters said. 

Tennis brings a different perspective to the playing field. They have smaller matches, but the intensity and school spirit remain just as strong. 

“It is awesome to show the younger generations what sports [they] can play—like tennis, and introduce it to them,” CHS freshman tennis player Finn Skolnick said. 

“[Playing tennis at CHS makes me feel] prideful because I like supporting my community and making an impact,” CHS freshman tennis player Nathan Byun said.

CHS athletes serve as role models for their community. Through their athletic performance, they support their team, their school, and their town. CHS’s incoming athletes are predominantly grateful for the opportunity they have been given to represent Camas.