Reporter Paul Valencia and school administrators Cale Piland and Tony Liberatore discuss high school football, NIL, recruiting, Mariners, pro football, and more
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
In this episode of the Clark County today sports podcast, we discuss great moments in rivalry games with the former coaches after I watched a great rivalry game last week between Prairie and Battle Ground.
And there are plenty of ranking systems out there, and three weeks into the high school football season, we’ve got a bunch of teams from Southwest Washington that the computers “believe” have a chance to do something special this season.
Big news in college football this week does affect Clark County athletes. It’s NIL-related, promises kept, or promises never delivered, and the ever-changing landscape of college recruiting. All athletes in Clark County who will be playing in college have more options and obstacles than ever before in the recruiting process.
And, of course, we talk about our fandom. The Mariners are on playoff life support but still have a chance, as of this recording. The Raiders looked awful. We bond over our heartbreaks, knowing some day it will all be worth it.
Our podcast is simple. It’s me, reporter Paul Valencia, with Cale Piland, the athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools, and Tony Liberatore, an associate principal at Fort Vancouver High School who used to be in athletics. Both of them were also in the coaching ranks during their careers. We talk about local sports first, then go into professional sports, with a side trip to fantasy sports or non-sports from time to time.
We’re always interested in subject ideas for a future podcast. Email us a subject idea.
Send us your thoughts at: paul.v@clarkcountytoday.com.
Also read:
- Clark County Baseball presents Baseballism Kickoff this week with action all over the region
Thirty-six teams from across the Northwest, including two state champs, are competing in free high school baseball tournaments at local turf fields in Vancouver, Camas, and Ridgefield. - The Study of Sports Podcast March 13, 2026: We discuss the state basketball tournaments, the incredible run from Columbia River boys, the state placing for Evergreen girls, and more
Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss a series of subjects around the WIAA’s state basketball tournaments, plus we get into some Mariners baseball talk and NFL free agency/trade cancellations - Falcon Baseball Academy to host inaugural Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market at Prairie High School
Prairie High School’s Falcon Baseball Academy will host its first Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market on May 2, inviting local vendors and community members to support the school’s baseball program and student activities. - Trophy games: Columbia River boys finish fifth, Evergreen girls take sixth at state tournaments
Columbia River’s boys and Evergreen’s girls both reached the final day of their state basketball tournaments, returning to Vancouver with fifth- and sixth-place trophies. - High school state basketball: Columbia River suffers heartache in overtime loss in semifinals
Columbia River’s run to the Class 2A semifinals ended on a buzzer-beater in overtime, while Evergreen advanced to a trophy game and several other Clark County teams wrapped up their state tournament seasons.
