Ilwaco assistant wrestling coach Alex Bell, right, demonstrates a move with freshman Logan Sansaver during a recent practice. Bell’s stellar Fishermen wrestling career culminated in placing third, second and then first at the WIAA state championships in his senior year.

Larry Kemmer is happy as the wrestling season begins.

Ilwaco’s head coach is welcoming his largest turnout of student-athletes.

Ilwaco Boys Wrestling

Ilwaco Boys Wrestling

Dec. 2 Rainier

Dec. 9 Warrenton

Dec. 13 Astoria

Dec. 16 Nestucca

Dec. 20 Home meet 4 p.m.

Dec. 28 Clatskanie

2024

Jan. 6 Castle Rock

Jan. 10 Home meet 4 p.m.

Jan. 13 Black Hills

Jan. 17 North Beach

Jan. 20 Raymond

Jan. 24 Winlock

Jan. 27 Home meet 8 a.m.

Feb 3 TBA

“With our numbers more than doubling this year, I’m excited to get things going,” he said. “The more kids you have, the bigger the impact you can make.”

Kemmer and assistant coach Frank Womack were at the WIAA 2B state championships in Tacoma in February, guiding junior Xavier Smith to a fourth-place medal at 113 pounds and seeing two others, Wade Smith and Jace Linthakhan, gain state experience despite both losing their two bouts.

Wade Smith, now a junior, and Linthakhan, a sophomore, will also return, along with Luis Mendez, who went to the Tacoma Dome as an alternate, though he did not wrestle. (The Smiths are not related.)

Kemmer said the four are key returners to this winter’s squad. Others in the mix are Cody Miller, Marcus Lynch, Christian Olivo, Ezekiel Sanchez and Claudio Mendez.

Assisting Kemmer is 2017 Ilwaco graduate Alec Bell, who placed twice at state and then won the 2B championship title at 220 pounds in his senior year.

Last season, Xavier Smith won two state contests, but lost his third after officials ruled he illegally slammed his opponent to the mat, causing a lengthy injury time-out. He returned to the mat with a win before losing to a Forks rival who placed third.

Kemmer predicts the Forks Spartans will again be the powerhouse to watch in Ilwaco’s league. The season begins Dec. 2 at Rainier before a couple of trips across the river, Dec. 9 to Warrenton and Dec. 13 to Astoria. Ilwaco has scheduled home meets Dec. 20, Jan. 10 and Jan. 27.

Kemmer is focused on this season, but delighted to observe the promise signaled by significant interest in the younger grades.

“After seven years of being head coach, this is the best turnout thus far,” he enthused. “Our junior high team has 30 kids — and five are female.”