Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss high school sports first, and we also talk pro sports — Mariners fans are stressed
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
A little bit of this and a little bit of that on this recording of The Study of Sports.
This latest episode was recorded on Thursday, Oct, 9, and the weather forecast for Oct. 10 was rain throughout the day. That would make for a couple of fun football games because there are still two football fields with natural grass in the 2A GSHL and Trico League.
So we ask our sports administrators what they love about natural grass in sports, but also give us some insight on why most schools around here will never go back to natural grass.
We also talk about the costs of attending high school sports and this trend to no longer accept cash at high school sporting events. Why? Well, the administrators have some good reasons.
Plus we talk about our favorite coaching when we were young.
And we gauge the stress level of our Mariner fans.
It’s the Study of Sports, with your hosts Paul Valencia, a reporter for Clark County Today, and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland.
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 Jan. 31, 2026: We discuss how the 2A GSHL football is about to change in a major way, plus some Seahawks talk, too
The Jan. 31 episode of the Study of Sports Podcast covers major upcoming changes to 2A GSHL football, local high school sports updates, and discussion of the Seattle Seahawks. - Fort Vancouver athletics improving under partnership with Trico League
Fort Vancouver High School athletics are showing measurable gains in competition and participation during the second year of a partnership competing in the Class 1A Trico League. - The Study of Sports Podcast Jan. 15, 2026: We discuss some hot topics in high school sports across the state, plus we talk college and pro football
Reporter Paul Valencia is joined by Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland to discuss current issues in high school sports, along with college and professional football topics. - Opinion: Kindness is always welcome, even in places where one does not always find it
Paul Valencia reflects on how a brief moment of kindness between a journalist and a football coach underscores the importance of respect in journalism and public life. - 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.
