The Tahoma girls cross country team couldn’t hold off a surging Camas from taking the state title.

After winning last year’s championship, the Bears girls lost to the Papermakers 50-100 at the WIAA 4A State Championship Nov. 3 in Pasco.

For the Bears boys it was déjà vu all over again as they took eighth place at 187 points, the same rank as they did at last year’s state meet. Kentwood boys team, meanwhile, took 16th place with 394. Central Valley High boys team took first with 89.

It may appear to be a step back for the Bears girls, who last managed to win state last year against rival Ballarmine Prep. At the same time, four out of the seven runners on the girls varsity team are underclassmen, which leaves plenty of room for growth and development in the next two years.

Additionally, the Papermakers benefited greatly from sophomore Alexa Efraimson, who ran an incredible 17 minutes 34 seconds.

Leading the Bears girls was senior Elizabeth Osoterhout, who finished her last race at ninth place, compared to 16th last year, and a time of 18:35, a new personal record. She placed the highest of all Tahoma and Kent school district boys and girls runners.

Sophomore Delaney Tiernan took 13th with a time of 18:43, a 20 second improvement over her 19:02 time at last year’s state meet, where she placed 21st. Sophomore Amanda Kiefer took 31st with a time of 19:13, a new personal record for her first time going to state.

Sophomore Abby Atchison placed 36th with a time of 19:15. Junior Cheyenne Greenside placed 61st, finishing at 19:41. Freshman Abby Oosterhout concluded her first season at 76th place with a time of 19:55. Junior Maddy Dennis placed 106th with a time of 20:32.

Junior Riley Campbell led the Bears boys with 17th place and a time of 15:49, a new personal record. Last year he placed 31st with a time of 16:10.

Senior Jacob Larsen took 63rd with a time of 16:27. Senior Merritt Kropelnicki placed 71st, crossing the finish line at 16:32, a season personal record. Senior Brendan Newell finished his first year at state at 77th place and with a time of 16:37.

Senior James Dagley placed 78th with a time of 16:37. Freshman Tristan Houser finished his first season at 83rd with a time of 16:46, a personal record. Senior Travis Scacco took 146th with a time of 18:09.

Other individual standouts included Kentlake senior Alexander Martinez, who placed 14th with a time of 15:47. Martinez placed the highest of boy runner from the Kent or Tahoma school districts.