On Feb. 21, four Camas wrestlers—Alec Fraser, Kannon Freschette, Sophia Robarge, and Avery Vega‑Padilla—delivered one of the most successful tournaments in Camas High School’s (CHS) wrestling history. Each wrestler arrived at the mat through different experiences and challenges, carrying their own story into the state tournament.

The boys state champion, senior Fraser, capped off his season with a performance that reflected the work he put in all year. For him, the biggest gains came from the sheer amount of time he spent on the mat. 

“Practicing all throughout the summer and finding the best people to practice with was very important for my development,” Fraser said.

The pressure of the state stage can be overwhelming for many athletes, and Fraser had to find a way to stay centered as the championship approached.

“I had to change my mindset coming into the state tournament to ease the pressure. […] I tried not to think about the outcome, but just the quality of my wrestling,” Fraser said.

This mindset shift carried him into the final moments of the championship match, where instinct and muscle memory took over. 

“In the final seconds of my match I wasn’t really thinking at all. Wrestling is all muscle memory and I have been in that exact spot many times before. I just wrestle[d] through every position and I ended up on top,” Fraser said.

Those final moments are really what mattered, and Fraser is proud to have won. 

“Personally this title represents all of the hard work and sacrifices I have made for this sport,” Fraser said.

The second boys champion, junior Freschette, earned his title through a season defined by intensity and mental toughness. The intense training gave Freschette the necessary strength to make it to state. 

“Ramping up the difficulty before state and pushing my body to its limit really helped me not only physically but mentally as well,” Freschette said. “The things we did in practice weren’t just to get in better shape, our coaches tried to break us mentally at practice so we could come back stronger.”Winning third in state was a big milestone for Freschette that he has been working at for years. 

“Finally getting [third in state]makes all those early mornings and late nights worth it. And, Camas hasn’t had a state champion since 2019, so the fact that me and my teammate could get one and [in] the same year was really cool to me,” Freschette said.

Girls wrestling performed just as well this season, led by senior Vega‑Padilla, who earned a third‑place medal at state. Vega‑Padilla said that her teammates’ spirit and the pressure her coaches put on her allowed her to grow as both a wrestler and a leader. 

“My coaches never let me settle for “good enough,” and my teammates were there to grind with me every single day,” Vega-Padilla said.“We leaned on each other through the toughest parts of the season, which made the wins even sweeter.” Earning that medal meant more than just recognition from Camas; it meant a great deal to Vega‑Padilla because it brought more recognition to the girls wrestling program. 

“Placing is about more than the medal, it’s about the journey of being a captain, wrestler, and helping build this program. It’s a testament to the hours of work that people don’t see and the pride I have in representing my school,” Vega‑Padilla said.

Junior Robarge emerged as one of the key contributors to the girls’ lineup this season, finishing with a standout performance at the state tournament. Robarge’s personal growth throughout the season motivated her through every tournament and competition. 

“More than anything, it was about trusting my ability and really understanding the moves I was using and why I was using them. Going back to the basics and taking shots right off the whistle also helped me a lot,” Robarge said. “Going into the postseason, my mindset changed because I knew the season was wrapping up and that this was the moment where all my hard work would show.” 

For Robarge, this title shows a lot about who she has become as an athlete, especially since she could not make state last year. 

“This title means a lot to me personally because it represents how far I’ve come compared to last year, when I didn’t place at state, as a testament to the work I’ve put in,” Robarge said.