Author Sr. Krista von Borstel

Laser Tag is a huge hit at Camp Howard

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Laser Tag went into a reconstruction phase this past year with the addition of some new boundaries, forts and panels to hide behind. The camp staff worked diligently throughout the winter to prep the wood and build the structures, then dig holes for poles to attach them to. It made for a very fun and attractive laser tag arena for the kids.

This week, the Camp Howard summer program campers have had the opportunity to try it out and they think it is a very positive change.

Home base for the “Cougars” made from wood from Camp Howard, milled on the woodmill.

Camp Howard campers find delight in moving from tactical shield to other obstacles to keep from being “tagged”

Below: Meanwhile the goats go about their business, helping keep fire danger down at the camp!

Hey…Please “Like” and subscribe to my BLOG – thank you! Sister Krista

Camp Howard Begins 73rd Camping Season

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It is never dull to watch the kids load the bus at the CYO/Camp Howard Portland office to begin their trip to Camp Howard on a Sunday afternoon. Even when everything goes smoothly, you can expect to see the normal experiences of a few campers crying as they leave their parents, a parent maybe wiping away a tear (not sure if it is sadness or the prospect of a free week). Half the campers are returning to camp and half might be new. A lot of feelings and emotions are played out at the bus stop and it is never monotonous for me to watch. I know that soon after arriving at camp, the nervous campers are going to be organized into cabin groups and immediately begin the process of making new friends.

Luggage Bus and luggage prepped and loaded for camp

Flag, Mail and Awards (FMA) happens after dinner each evening.

Sunday night campfire at Camp Howard

2026 CYO 7th Grade Boys Basketball Championship Crosses State Lines

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2026 CYO 7th Grade Boys City Championship at Valley Catholic School

Sister Krista’s Blog Video Link to Game video: https://youtu.be/3tH_kA6Xa_g

Home Team: St. Joseph (Vancouver)

Coaches: Tyrone Miller, Elizabeth Kuzma, David Kuzma

Players: Christian, Logan, Grant, Reid, Bennett, Tyvin, Jack, Taft

Mascot: Cardinals

Visiting Team: St. Anthony (Tigard)

Coaches: Josh Paloma, Kevin Sailor, Sophia Sailor, David Schoppe

Players: Porter, Henry, Andrew, Nick, Vinny, Andrew, Harrison, Gavin, Rowe, Evan, Kason, Brolin, Colin, Jackson

Mascot: Hawks

Game Highlights:

Quarter 1: 12 – 15 St. Anthony

Quarter 2: 18 – 22 St. Anthony

Quarter 3:  34 – 30 St. Joseph (Vancouver)

Quarter 4:  38 – 51 – St. Anthony FINAL

St. Anthony came out to an early lead and lead by 10 at various points of the first and second half.  St. Joseph began to make a comeback in the second half and lead several times.  The score was tied toward the end of the game when St. Anthony put on the steam and finished the game 51 – 38. A great game to watch and enjoy – two great programs.

All Saints Triumph in 2026 CYO 7 Girls Finals

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2026 CYO 6th Grade Girls City Championship at Valley Catholic School

SR. KRISTA’S BLOG VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/OOQ8osApH7U

Home Team: All Saints

Coaches: Ronston Rios, Lo Eltagonde

Mascot: Ramblers

Players: Angela, Leanna, Lily, Rose, Evelyn, Brynn, Rogue, Abigail

Visiting Team: St. John Fisher / St. Cecilia

Coaches: Matthew Schmidt, Jessica Ebersole, Ashley Cadonau

Players: Hailey, Elsa, Eva, Emily, Maya, Georgia, Madelyn, Julia, Clara, Landry

Mascot:

Game Highlights:

Quarter 1:  4 – 3 All Saints

Quarter 2: 16 – 9 All Saints

Quarter 3: 30 – 16 All Saints

Quarter 4: 37 – 26 All Saints

St. John Fisher had a hard time scoring against All Saints who scored 12 to SJF 6 in the second quarter.

All Saints pulled ahead in the second half though SJF never gave up and outscored All Saints in the fourth quarter but not enough for the win today.

2026 CYO 8th Grade Boys Championship Highlights

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2026 CYO 8th Grade BOYS City Championship at Valley Catholic School

LINK to VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/-XCbFTiaLVE

Home Team: St. Pius X

A group of young basketball players wearing green and white uniforms, standing together in a gymnasium with a victory plaque and a sign that says 'WE LOVE CYO'. Coaches and a female team member are also present in the photo.

Coaches Min Lee, Chris McCollister

Players: Griffin, Emmett, Max, Micah, Nico, Alexander, Berkeley, Jameson

Mascot: Panthers

Visiting Team: Holy Family

A youth basketball team in red uniforms poses for a group photo in a gymnasium, holding a trophy. They are standing on a wooden floor with sports banners in the background.

Coaches: Chris Wojnar, Andrew Over, Marcus Penhale

Players: Jack, Tomas, Atticus, Dylan, Rory, Anthony, Kobe, Jackson, Jacob

Mascot: Cardinals

Game Highlights:

Quarter 1: St. Pius X 19 – Holy Family 9

Quarter 2:St. Pius X 30 – Holy Family 24

Quarter 3:St. Pius X 48 – Holy Family 42

Quarter 4:St. Pius X 58 – Holy Family 51

2026 CYO City Basketball 8 Girls Championship

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Congratulations to all of the CYO Basketball Teams who participated at all levels of the tournament, City, Stars, Champs, and Gold brackets. it was a fun three week event that took place all over the city with City Championship games and some Stars Championships held at Valley Catholic. Special thank you to all of the Athletic Directors and their administrative helpers at each site for their wonderful work and contribution to the successful tournament games.

All of the CITY Championship games were filmed and will be made available on this BLOG site in the coming days.

Today we will begin with the 8th Grade Girls Championship game between St. Andrew Nativity (Portland) and St. Pius X (Cedar Mill) LINK: https://youtu.be/CqOos751q9I

It was a great game from beginning to end. Though St. Andrew lead most of the game, St. Pius X made a run in the fourth quarter but could not overpower the Nativity’s height or strength.

Home Team: St. Andrew Nativity (Portland)

Coaches: Maryam Lowe, Keymora Goldsby, De’corey Cooper

Players: Kiheko, Gloria, Shiyah, Nevaeh, Raevyn, Brooklyn, Teryn

Mascot: North Star

Visiting Team: St. Pius X

Coaches: Chris Philippi, Philipp Kupfer

Players: Vera, Emma, Sophia, Rose, Emma, Vivienne, Avery, Tatum, Hana

Mascot: Panthers

Game Highlights:

Quarter 1:  St. Andrew Nativity 12 – St. Pius X 9

Quarter 2:  SAN 18 Piux 15

Quarter 3:  SAN 33 Piux 19

Quarter 4:  SAN 44 Pius 34

2025 CYO 8th Grade Girls Volleyball…And the Winner is…

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8th Grade Girls Volleyball

Home Team: St. Pius X

Coaches: Brian Johnson

Players: Chloe Chau, Dylon Daley, Sarah Johnson, Emma Kupfer, Sophia Lontai, Cate McCullagh, Emma Philippi, Vivienne Schaaf, Jordan Van Allen, Hana Vitrano, Mackenzie Zabzek

Mascot: Panthers

Visiting Team: Cathedral

Coaches:  Kiki Hanover, Stacey Freeman

Players: Sadie Carnahan, Ellie Freeman, Charlotte Goodman, Gianna Hanover, Molly Madding, Parker Mahew, Milania Odenthal

Mascot: Cougars

Set One

            St. Pius X 25 – Cathedral 12

            St. Pius X 25 – Cathedral 13

2025 CYO 7th Grade Girls Volleyball a Barnburner

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7th Grade Girls Volleyball

Home Team: St. Ignatius

Coaches: Owen Evenhus, Nancy Evenhus

Players: Suydney Anderson, Nora Blomberg, Sarah Downing, Piper Evenhus, Hannah Ford, Maddie Hurd, Aubrey Mullady, Raizel Philben, Naomi Sager, Pearl Sandvig

Mascot: Gators

Visiting Team: St. Anthony

Coaches: Geoff Kane, Erin Kane

Players: Lea Abrahamian, Kendall Davidson, Riley Davidson, Mae Hartinger, Kira Jeffcott, Scarlett Nicholson, Sierra Noack, Resa Ransdell, Emerson Umbdenstock

Mascot: Hawks

Set One:

            St. Anthony 25 – St. Ignatius 20

            St. Anthony 25 – St. Ignatius 23

Highlights:

Set one: St. Anthony came ready to play and led 8-3 with good serves and rally’s.  The Gators were slower to get started. The Gators did get a spark in set one and got within striking range 13 – 18 before St. Anthony put it away 25 – 20.

Set two: St. Ignatius was on fire leading the Hawks 10 – 3 at the start of the second set. The two teams engaged in some wonderful rallys all the while the Gators continued to trudge ahead.  Resa Ransdell stepped up to serve and began to bring the Hawks back, closing the gap as the Hawks came within two, 15 – 13.  The Hawks tied the game 15 – 15 as the crowd went wild.

            As the set edged toward a conclusion, the girls tied it 21 – 21 as the Hawks once again took control at 22 – 21.  The Gators, not willing to give it up easy, battled back for a 23 – 23 tie. A serving error gave the Hawks the opportunity to win the game which they did 25 – 23.

            It was a wonderful game giving the crowd some excellent volleyball action and something for both teams to be proud of.

2025 CYO Volleyball Valley Catholic vs the Fighting Dutch of St. Francis (Roy)

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6th Grade Girls Volleyball

Home Team: Valley Catholic (Beaverton)

Coaches: Emily Breuer, Lauren Garrett

Players: Sage Breuer, Mira Dechativong, Grace Garrett, Allison Knight, Karen Knight, Irene Ma, Ashley Natsch, Aarna Pratap, Makena Rudishauser, Josie Spelman, Madeline Warvel, Alexis Webber

Mascot: Valiants

Visiting Team: St. Francis (Roy)

Coaches: Sharon Bird, Tara Giannetti

Players: Ema Andrews, Brooklyn Duyck, Emery Duyck, Lily Fogarty, Charlotte Giannetti, Lucy Giannetti, Rose Hertel, Lyla Jacobs, Macey Kuiper, Lydia Ragan

Mascot: Fighting Dutch

Set 1 Valley Catholic 25 – Fighting Dutch 16

Set 2 Valley Catholic 25 – Fighting Dutch 21

Highlights: Set 2, Fighting Dutch battled their way back from a deficit and tied the score at 13 – 13. The game remained close until Valley Catholic #9 Allison Knight served three in a row to get the Valiants within 2 of a winning score. Valley Catholic closed it out in two sets. Great game, two great teams.

2025 CYO Volleyball Championship 5th Grade Girls is it St. Pius X or St. Therese?

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Home Team: St. Therese (Gresham)

Coaches: Maritza Roca, Gracie Roca, Addisen Lee

Players: Isabeicing Kham, Arianna Lopez, Arya Lopez, Salma Lopez, Aria Maxie, Penny Nguyen, Emily Roca, Alissa Tabayoyon, Isabella Tomlinson, Hasset Wondwesen, Iris Zinghang

Mascot: Eagles

5th Grade Girls Volleyball

Visiting Team: St. Pius X (Portland)

Coaches: Lindsey Hern, Deb Babkes, Susanne Raleigh

Players: Elizabeth Babkes, Ava Barclay, Cassiopeia Dicosmo, Ellingson Sutton, Catherine Gassert, Sophia Goettler, Ellisyn Hern, Brooky Kistler, Claire McCollister, Lena Roberti, Nora Semke

Mascot: Panthers

Set 1: St. Therese 25 – St. Pius X 19

Set 2: St. Pius X 25 – St. Therese 13

Set 3: St. Pius X 15 – St. Therese 5

Highlights:

Set 2, St. Pius X # 36, Sophia, brought St. Pius X back into the game serving 5 straight to go ahead 9-15.  From that point, St. Pius X gained momentum and score winning the set 25 – 13

Set 3, St. Pius X had a series of precision serves resulting in several aces.  Excellent rally skills on both teams today.

A terrific game between two very skilled teams. We look forward to watching then continue to develop skills and ability!