Clark County Today Sports Podcast

R.A. Long has already pulled out of its varsity schedule, a Class 4A program in the Clark County area can't field varsity, JV, and freshmen teams, and a Puget Sound squad is ending its season early. Paul Valencia, Tony Liberatore, and Cale Piland examine the numbers behind high school football's participation decline, plus scheduling quirks in the 2A Greater St. Helens League and the scarcity of Oregon-Washington cross-border matchups. https://clarkcountytoday.com/story/study-sports-podcast-oct-2-2026-sports-enthusiasts-about #StudyOfSports #HighSchoolFootball #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #PacificNorthwest #Podcast #Sports #Youth #RALong #GreaterStHelensLeague

Paul Valencia, Tony Liberatore, and Cale Piland break down the new 4A GSHL football schedule that has Skyview hosting Camas in the first of two matchups between the teams this season. They also highlight Camas and Ridgefield volleyball's special match, and more.

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/the-study-of-sports-podcast-sept-17-2026-the-sports-enthusiasts-talk-about-the-new-football-schedule-in-the-4a-gshl-some-outdoor-volleyball-and-more-in-this-episode/

#StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #4AGSHL #ClarkCountySports #Football #Volleyball #Podcast #WashingtonState #Camas #Skyview

Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore return from a summer break to open the 2026-27 high school sports season. The crew covers early practice changes, the difference between WIAA transfers and school moves, and athletes moving to new schools. #StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #WIAA #ClarkCounty #Washington #Podcast #Sports #NFL #Mariners #YouthSports

Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss high school sports, including some controversies outside of Clark County, then we get to college and pro sports as well in this episode

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The Study of Sports team got together for a few more laughs, as well as some heartfelt discussions on a couple of controversies in high school sports beyond Clark County.
But first, we discuss the conclusion of spring sports, as well as the end of the academic year for high school sports.

It was probably just an anomaly, but for the first time in our memories, Clark County did not have a state champion in a traditional team sport in the 2025-26 school year. Had a lot of teams get close, but no team brought home the big trophy.

Do we blame the athletic directors? Just kidding Cale!

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: [email protected].

#StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #ClarkCounty #WashingtonState #SpringSports #Podcast

Paul Valencia, Cale Piland, and Tony Liberatore reflect on how shifting roles — from athletic director to associate principal, from sports reporter to newsroom generalist — haven't dimmed their love for the game. Spring playoffs are underway, and Vancouver's In-N-Out Burger makes a surprise cameo. #StudyOfSports #HighSchoolSports #WashingtonSports #ClarkCounty #SpringPlayoffs #PaulValencia #Podcast #SportsAdmin #Evergreen #FortVancouver

Paul Valencia teams up with athletic directors Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland to break down a WIAA amendment that could reshape Fort Vancouver's classification status. The trio also examines the unusual 2A GSHL football schedule, discusses NFL draft implications, and celebrates the Mariners' season start. Plus, a surprise tribute to Prince caps off this return episode of The Study of Sports. #WIAASports #HighSchoolSports #2AGSHL #FortVancouver #EvergreenSchools #SportsAdministration #ClarkCountySports #StudyOfSports #PodcastReturn #LocalAthletics

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: [email protected].

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/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-more/

#TheStudyOfSportsPodcast #basketball #VancouverWA #WIAA #Mariners #highschoolsports #ColumbiaRiver #Evergreen #NFL

The Study of Sports Podcast features Paul Valencia with Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discussing Mat Classic and the hundreds of Clark County wrestlers, postseason basketball formats, and a look back at the Super Bowl, recorded Feb. 18.

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/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-bowl/

#StudyOfSportsPodcast #ClarkCountySports #MatClassic #HighSchoolWrestling #PostseasonBasketball #SuperBowl #VancouverWA

The Jan. 31, 2026 episode of the Study of Sports Podcast features Paul Valencia joined by longtime sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland to discuss looming changes to 2A GSHL football, reactions from league schools, updates on high school basketball and Fort Vancouver athletics in the Trico League, and conversation about the NFL and the Seattle Seahawks. #StudyOfSportsPodcast #HighSchoolSports #2AGSHL #ClarkCountySports #Seahawks #WashingtonSports

In this Jan. 15, 2026 episode of The Study of Sports Podcast, Paul Valencia is joined by sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland for a wide-ranging discussion on high school sports topics across Washington, including sportsmanship and a recent football controversy, along with conversation on college and professional football. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/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/ #StudyOfSportsPodcast #HighSchoolSports #CollegeFootball #ProFootball #WashingtonSports #Sportsmanship