
Elizabeth Uelmen-Johnston, a former Clark County athlete, is the new leader for the Washougal girls basketball program
A former Clark County athlete is returning to coach athletes in Clark County.
Washougal High School announced Thursday that it has hired Elizabeth Uelmen-Johnston as its new head coach for the school’s girls basketball program.
Uelmen-Johnston was the JV coach and assistant varsity coach at Burlington-Edison, helping that program to four state playoff appearances. She also has worked as a basketball official.
“Throughout our interview process — and since — excitement, energy, and confidence has exuded from her,” said Brian Wilde, Washougal’s athletic director, in a press release. “I think our student-athletes are going to quickly feed off of that excitement.”
“I have been involved in basketball most of my life, either playing, officiating, or coaching,” said Uelmen-Johnston, who played for Camas in the 2000s. “I look forward to sharing my passion for this sport and building on the strong basketball community in my new hometown of Washougal.”
Uelmen-Johnston is a science teacher in the Ridgefield School District.
Wilde said Uelmen-Johnston uses basketball to teach life lessons.
“She is excited to bring her experience, love of the game, and desire to create great team experiences to our Panthers,” Wilde said.
Also read:
- Clark County Baseball presents Baseballism Kickoff this week with action all over the regionThirty-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 moreReporter 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 SchoolPrairie 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 tournamentsColumbia 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 semifinalsColumbia 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.






