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:
- Camas High School to host four state playoff basketball games this weekCamas High School will host four WIAA State Opening Round basketball games as multiple Clark County teams continue their state tournament runs.
- Mat Classic: Clark County celebrates nine state champion wrestlersClark County wrestlers captured nine state titles and 14 finals appearances at Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome.
- 2026 Columbia River spring Chinook seasons announcedWashington and Oregon fishery managers approved 2026 Columbia River spring Chinook seasons, with a forecast of 147,300 upriver fish and specific fishing windows from March through early May.
- A late starter in her sports, Clark College athlete is excelling in basketball and track and fieldClark College’s Emily Peabody, a late starter in basketball and track, now leads the NWAC in scoring and is a conference champion sprinter.
- The Study of Sports Podcast Feb. 20, 2026: We discuss Mat Classic and the hundreds of wrestlers from Clark County, postseason basketball formats, and a look back at the Super BowlPaul Valencia, Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss Mat Classic, basketball postseason formats and the Super Bowl in the latest Study of Sports Podcast.





