Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland talk about a new name for the podcast, as well as changes to Mat Classic, and the excitement surrounding playoff basketball
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
We’ve never loved our name for the podcast. We were trying to come up with something when we launched this labor of love, never found anything, and just went generic.
Well, how’s this?
The Study of Sports.
This is, after all, a talk about local high school sports, with administrators representing the two largest school districts in the region. We don’t just talk about the highlights of sports, but we take you behind the scenes of making the sports happen, from the perspective of administrators.
So we’re trying this out for now, but we are open to suggestions. The Study of Sports? The Study of Sports with Paul and the Admins? Or something else? Got an idea? Email me at paul.v@clarkcountytoday.com.
This week, we talk about the changes to Mat Classic, and the thrill of playoff basketball. We talk about a great rivalry in girls basketball. We salute Fort Vancouver boys basketball for making it to state, but the reporter also has some questions regarding the way Fort was reclassified this school year.
Oh, and we thank the Eagles for making the world a better place for not having to live with a Chiefs three-peat.
Our podcast format is simple: A longtime sports reporter (Paul Valencia) discusses high school sports, and more, with longtime sports administrators and former coaches. Cale Piland is the former head football coach at Evergreen and Union and is now the athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools. Tony Liberatore is a former assistant coach and athletic director at Columbia River and is now an associate principal at Fort Vancouver.
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:
- The Study of Sports Podcast Dec. 30, 2025: A look ahead to 2026 with WIAA amendments, a year in review in high school sports, plus remembering the Mariners’ magical run
The latest Study of Sports Podcast looks ahead to proposed WIAA amendments, reviews high school sports in 2025, and reflects on the Seattle Mariners’ memorable run. - Virginia Rodeman defies limits and wins No-Gi World Championship in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Battle Ground athlete Virginia Rodeman won two divisions at the No-Gi World Championship in Las Vegas, continuing an eight-year rise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. - High school sports: Pac Coast Wrestling to showcase some of the best in the Northwest and beyond
Clark County will host major high school sports events next week, highlighted by the Pac Coast Wrestling Championships in Ridgefield and holiday basketball tournaments featuring local teams. - Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement goes into effect Jan. 1
Beginning Jan. 1, anglers 15 and older must purchase a Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement to fish for those species in the Columbia River and many Washington tributaries. - High school girls basketball: Union Titans give Brooklynn Haywood a homecoming in Alaska
Union traveled to Anchorage for two games that allowed Brooklynn Haywood to play in front of her hometown crowd while the Titans bonded through travel, cold weather, and on-court adversity.
