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
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
A “Perfect Paul” outcome for the state basketball tournaments?
That is how Tony Liberatore described it after the WIAA tournaments crowned winners without any losers.
That might sound confusing. But so, too, is the WIAA state basketball playoff format.
And Paul Valencia is always whining about that format. This year, at least nobody won the state title after losing in the state tournament.
Plus, we salute Columbia River boys and Evergreen girls for their incredible state tournaments.
This latest episode of the Study of Sports was recorded on Thursday, March 12.
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:
- Columbia River to open for additional spring Chinook retention days
WDFW extended spring Chinook retention days after catch estimates showed room within the recreational harvest allocation. - The Study of Sports Podcast May 13, 2026: The playoffs have started for Washington high school sports, plus how the three of us have adapted to new roles in our careers
Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore reunite to cover spring playoffs and Vancouver’s newest burger joint. - Vancouver bowlers make their marks at HBCU Alabama A&M
Fort Vancouver and Hudson’s Bay grads helped Alabama A&M win its first conference bowling title in 12 years. - County seeks new management agreement to operate Tri-Mountain Golf Course beyond 2026
Clark County Council opts for long-term management agreement instead of selling Ridgefield golf course after failed ilani deal. - 2026 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery begins May 1
Cash rewards start at $6 per fish, with top angler earning over $159,000 in 2025 catching 15,715 northern pikeminnow.
