Great work, Nick Poplin (Third in State at 285 pounds) and Will Hara (Second at 135 pounds).

His nemesis Dalton Collins took care of business, pinning Will Hara at 1:38. Still, a terrific season for the North Beach High senior, closing out his career with a second place finish in the State.

click here for KBCsports.com live coverage of the wrestling finals, starting at 5 p.m.

Big Nick Poplin just scored a pin, and wrestles Gabe Lucero at 4 p.m. for third place in the 285-pound class.

Jennifer Law, Anthony Tignino and Andy Smith lost their consolation bracket matches, and are out of the competition. Congrats to all three, who had great runs in the State tournament.

Will Hara has lost six straight times to Dalton Collins. He takes on the Raymond wrestler a sixth time, at 6:55 tonight, for the State championship.

This is the guy who missed all last season, after a back injury ended his promising football career.

This is the guy who almost gave up wrestling in December, after the weather wiped out multiple matches (his mother, a former athlete, told him he wasn’t allowed to quit).

This is the guy who ignores the pain, and pushes ahead.

Prediction: 6-5, final score.

Jennifer Law lost her shot her match this morning, and a shot at the State title. She can still finish third at 152 pounds, and has a match at 12:28 p.m.

North Beach High wrestlers charged ahead with a fantastic day of wrestling at the State tournament at the Tacoma Dome. All five who qualified are still alive, and two continue title hopes.

Will Hara had a big, 9-1 win to land in the finals. He faces his long-time nemesis, Dalton Collins, tomorrow night at 6:55.

Jennifer Law had a second round pin. The sophomore continues her quest for the State title at 11:10 a.m. tomorrow. If she wins, she is in the 7:35 p.m. finals.

Heavyweight Nick Poplin was pinned by the destructive force known as Kyle Strode; Poplin battles for third place, with a match tomorrow at 1:14 p.m.

Anthony Tignino won a consolation match with a pin this afternoon, and is still in the running for third place at 112 pounds. He has a match tomorrow at 11:38 a.m.

Andy Smith also scored a consolation pin to stay alive. His next match is tomorrow at 12:02 p.m.

schedules and results

Elizabeth Thatcher led the way, with 23 points and 21 rebounds, as North Beach powered past Mossyrock 52-47 last night. The Hyaks play Toutle Rock on Wednesday at Chehalis; if they win, they are on to the State tournament.

Jennifer Law (who won 10-7 in her first round) next wrestles today at 5:52 p.m., Will Hara (a 2-1 winner at 135 pounds in round one) at 5:40 p.m., and Nick Poplin (9-4 winner in his heavyweight first round) at 8:20 p.m. Poplin faces his long-time nemesis, the dreaded Kyle Strode, two-time State champ from Ocosta.

Anthony Tignino (112 pounds) and Andy Smith (130 pounds), after losses in the first round, go at 4:30 and 5:30 today.

As all days are not like this:

By Richard Cherry

Photographers living in the Northwest have one common problem: Rain. Last year I was conducting a photography workshop. Naturally, that day it was raining.

It was wet and cold as I headed out to the meeting area,  I assumed no one would show up. But when I got there I found out that northwest photographers are tough. Just about everybody was there waiting for me. 

For photography equipment rain can be more than just an inconvenience. Today, most cameras are electronic and more vulnerable than ever to the environment. But there are things a person can do to help prevent rainal abuse.