PENINSULA – Both Ilwaco and Naselle High Schools had record numbers of athletes participating throughout the year and success was more often than not measured in improvements made by individuals and teams, although the Pacific County kids also demonstrated they could compete with anyone at the state level.

Bobby Crislip placed fifth at Mat Classic XVII for retiring Ilwaco coach Tom Hornbuckle in early March. Crislip had a 25-7 record. Geoff Hylton was an alternate at state and Matt Tarabochia and Enrique Killinger posted winning seasons for the Fishermen.

The Lady Fishermen qualified for the state basketball tourney for first year Coach Ned Bittner by edging Toledo at District. They defeated Life Christian in Yakima, but lost to Bellevue Christian and White Swan to end the season at 12-13. Ashley Kitzman, Ariel Barker, Robyn Unruh, and Holly Hocking were among the seniors leading the squad and Anna Kitzman and Lanie Kary contributed to the team’s success.

Naselle girl hoopsters finished with an 8-15 record, including a win over Mary M. Knight at District for Coach Bobby Torppa. Sylvia and Annie Herrold, Kelli Revis, and Erin Saari were all given honorable mention by the league after they paced the Comets to sixth place in the Pacific B.

The Comets boys finished in a three-way tie for sixth in the Pacific League and were 7-16 after defeating Vancouver Christian in District play before being eliminated. First-year Coach Brian Macy’s squad was led by Kyle Burkhalter, Evan Hendrickson, Aoy Marion, Ricky Johnson, and Eli Williams.

The Fishermen basketball team finished 8-15 despite a dozen games decided by five points or less for Matt Blair and won one game at District before being eliminated by Winlock. Ilwaco was led by juniors Jordan Williams, Dylan Wirkkala, Jarod Schaak, Joe Goelz, Mooch Smith, and senior Peter Gaynor.

Naselle softball completed a 7-8 season with one win and two losses at district for coach Chris Clark. Brittanie Vaughn was named to the all-Pacific B squad and Toni Abbott, Chelsea Johnson, Miranda Agee, and Brandy Keightley were honorable mention picks.

The Comets baseball team dropped a pair of one-run decisions to finish a game away from District for coach Pete Donlon. The 4-11 squad was anchored by Richard Smith, Aoy Marion, Doug Wise, Matt Blain, and Jason Gradt.

Coach Debbie Denny’s Naselle track team was led by Erin Saari’s sixth-place finish in the pole vault at state. Sylvia Herrold and Kelsey Fletcher participated in running events and the trio and Sandra Rodriguez also were 12th in the 4×400 relay at Cheney.

Ilwaco softball had their best season ever finishing with a 7-13 mark for coach Rick Bishop and garnered a trip to the district tourney where they dropped both contests. Pitchers Ashley Garrett and Courtney Gilgore, catcher Tara Hankins and infielders Lanie Kary, Heather Bartlett, Anna Kitzman, and Carly Taylor were among the leading hitters for the Lady Fishermen.

The Fishermen diamond men won more games than any baseball team in school history, but coach Kevin Heimbigner’s charges dropped two contests at District to finish 13-9. The Fishermen were led by underclassmen Mooch Smith, Nick Leonard, Travis Ostgaard, Paul Blaylock, Alex Martin, Anthony Wirkkala, Bobby Crislip, and senior Quinn Padgett.

Ilwaco’s Jordan Williams and Dylan Wirkkala placed three-four in the 800 meter race at the 1A state track meet and Jillian Guelfi claimed seventh in the pole vault in Cheney. Both the girls and boys 4×400 meter relay squads placed, with the girls coming in fourth (Tatiana Bullock, Bonnie Perez, Katie Freese, and Erin Knick) and the boys finishing eighth (Matt Kaino, David Casper, Williams, and Wirkkala) for Coach Joe Williams. John Hayes, Keith Knutzen, and Meredith Jensen also competed at state.

Naselle’s football team under the direction of Robin Andrea continued to make improvement, finishing with a 2-8 record. Running backs Aoy Marion and Randy Johnson, quarterbacks Kyle Burkhalter and Doug Wise, and linemen Colby Engelson, Brad Erickson, and Jason Gradt led the Comets.

Ilwaco’s grid iron season began with six straight wins, but was followed by five consecutive losses, including a playoff game defeat at the hands of Friday Harbor for coach Ned Bittner. Eddie Knick raced for 1,371 yards rushing and Alex Martin chipped in 832 while converted quarterback Mooch Smith passed and ran for another 1,204. Jarod Schaak topped Ilwaco with 31 receptions, eight fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. Joe Goelz and Bobby Crislip led the team in tackles and Anthony Wirkkala, R.J. Jamison and Geoff Hylton took honors for sacks.

In coach Grant Chinn’s swan song at the helm the Lady Fishermen his team made their first trip to district in his four season stint, compiling a 3-14 record. Ilwaco was led by the play of Katie Hazen, Erin McDonnell, Carly Taylor, Tara Hankins, and Bethany Heimbigner.

Naselle Comets volleyball team shone bright at district with a second place trophy, but dropped two nip-and-tuck tussles at state to end the season 14-6 after again tying for the Pacific B League title with a 9-1 mark. Coach Debbie Denny’s Comets were led by the inside play of Cheryl Steppe, Sylvia and Katherine Herrold, Brittanie Vaughn and Jenny Klinger’s hitting on the outside, and the setting of Jamie Bighill.

Ilwaco basketball teams hosted a tourney and Naselle visited Astoria’s Christmas Tournament while the Fishermen wrestlers took a mid-winter break. All five teams are off to competitive starts and have visions of post-season competition and Mat Classics dancing in their heads as the calendar turns to 2006.