Jacob Mathison, an Ilwaco junior, is pictured with his coach, Sarah Taylor. He was the lone qualifier from his school at the WIAA state cross country championships at Pasco Saturday. He placed 101st in a large field with a time of 19:51.20. The 2B champion, Ciaran St. Hillaire from Tri-Cities Prep, won in 16:27.40.

PASCO — Jacob Mathison was the lone runner to qualify from Ilwaco to participate in the WIAA 1B/2B State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. On Saturday he placed 101st in a large field with a time of 19:51.2. The individual champion, Ciaran St. Hillaire from Tri-Cities Prep, won in 16:27.4.

“It was not the best experience,” Mathison said, describing a crowded start with 159 boys. “I was boxed in and couldn’t get out because there were so many runners with spikes.” Strong winds blowing across the undulating golf course provided a challenge. “I almost got blown off my feet!”

His coach, Sarah Taylor, has observed the junior steadily improved as the season progressed. He was one of seven Ilwaco runners earning the League trophy. “Jacob ran well. It was a good experience,” Taylor said Saturday. “It was very windy and it is a difficult course.”

For the record, Chewelah earned the 2022 team championship, thanks to runners placing sixth, eighth, 12th, 16th and 64th. Asher Ingram, a senior from Northwest Christian in Lacey, who finished second, was the only west-side school representative in the top 10 finishers.

Big win for NHS

Naselle’s football team is advancing in the 1B state playoffs. The Comets defeated Tulalip Heritage 68-0 at home Saturday, having scored 54 points in the first half. They were powered, in part, by multiple scores by sophomore Jack Strange. There was warm applause for three seniors, Elmer Toftemark, Kolten Lindstrom and Luke Johnson, playing their final game at Reuben Penttila Field.

WIAA seeded the Comets eighth for the state tournament bracket. Next is a game at the South Bend Field against Almira-Coulee-Hartline 2 p.m. Saturday. The Comets have faced their opponents in three recent semifinals, winning once. The Warriors have a 7-3 record and beat Wilbur-Creston-Keller 38-34 Friday.

The winner travels to play the No. 1 seed Odessa (9-0), which is seeking to repeat as champions. The Tigers beat Naselle in the 2019 final. Last weekend, they defeated Mary Walker School of Springdale, north of Spokane, 62-28.

Kudos to soccer seniors

Hanging up his cleats until spring, Ilwaco High School soccer coach Andrew Goodwin reflected on the success of the fall season.

“Both our returning players and our new players worked incredibly hard this year,” he said. “We saw great improvements from last year, and I thought the girls had an especially great showing during the second half of our season.”

Selecting individuals to honor was tough, the coach said. He chose three seniors.

“So many of the girls had positive contributions to the team, but I’d like to give kudos to our captains Ione Sheldon and Sarah Frank for being great leaders and role models for the rest of the team, and for our goalkeeper Zoey Zuern for how much she worked and improved in her role this year. I’m looking forward to seeing the team continue to build and improve in the future.”

Three sets

Ilwaco volleyball’s season ended in the Ocosta High School gym Wednesday. The Fishermen lost to Forks in three sets. The Spartans then played Wahkiakum and again won in three to end the Mules’ season.

The WIAA state tournament in Yakima Nov. 10-11 will not have any 2B schools representing Pacific County. In District 4 play Saturday, Forks advanced to state, ending Raymond’s season, also in three sets. Adna, Toutle Lake, Napavine and No. 1 seed Kalama also advanced.

The WIAA 1B state volleyball tournament takes place in the Yakima Sun Dome Thursday and Friday. Look for coverage in next week’s Chinook Observer and updates online at www.chinookobserver.com and the Observer’s Facebook page.