The determination is evident on the face of Ilwaco senior Luis Mendez as he draws on every last vestige of strength in his last bout in a Fisherman wrestling uniform. He wrestled for two years — and qualified for state both years.

TACOMA — As he stood on the WIAA 2B state championship podium to receive his sixth-place medal, swollen wounds above and below Xavier Smith’s right eye told a story.

The Ilwaco senior concluded his high school wrestling career two positions down from his 113-pound fourth-place success last year. His reaction was inevitable.

“I feel like I could have done better. It was not as good as last year,” he said. “But it was more fun than last year. We had a lot more people, and we had a girls team too, so that was good.”

Smith had pinned Lind-Ritzville senior Octavio Parades Martinez and Cle Elum sophomore Landon Batton on the first day before coming up against Creed Wright, a freshman from Darrington, on the second day. Wright, who had pinned Smith’s teammate Jace Linthakhan at the lower weight at the championships last year, beat Smith with an 8-2 points decision and went on to place second. Smith bounced back with a pin over Forks junior Abraham Montealegre to advance to the medal round.

Ilwaco head coach Larry Kemmer consoled him with a hug after his last loss to Jesus Garcia-Dominguez of Forks, who defeated Smith for third place last year.

“He was top six. He had a great season and was a great team leader,” said Kemmer. “You can’t ask for anything more than what he gives. He gives everything he’s got, all the time.”

Ilwaco brought a half-dozen boys to the Tacoma Dome. Junior Wade Smith had one win and two losses, while senior Luis Mendez and freshman Zech Taylor both were eliminated after two losses.

Wade Smith wrestled at 150 pounds. He had qualified for state at 138 last year, but lost both of his matches on points decisions. He began the first day pinning Rainier junior Connor Power in the second period, then had two losses on points decisions, 16-7 to Lake Roosevelt senior Francis Louie and a 4-2 loss to Kittitas sophomore Ronan Stewart. In his last match, Smith made a splendid effort to avoid being pinned in the second period, narrowing the points score with a reversal as time ebbed away. Louie placed fourth and Stewart fifth.

Smith said he enjoyed being on the squad. “I met most of my goals for this season, then was disappointed,” he said. This summer, he hopes to attend an intensive camp at Oregon State University to enhance his skills. He said he will miss this year’s seniors next year, but expects to step up into a leadership role for his final year at IHS.

Kemmer commended his contribution. “He is a hard-working kid. We hoped for more obviously, but you never know who you are going to draw.” Smith’s zeal to improve impresses his coach. “He wants to go to camp. It will make him better,” Kemmer said. “I am hoping we can get him on to the podium next year.”

Taylor and Marcus Lynch, a junior who wrestles at 215, both traveled as alternates after placing sixth, below the automatic qualification cut at regionals. Taylor squeezed in to the 144-pound division, but lost by pins to Ocosta senior Andrew Martin, who placed fifth, and eighth-grader Hudson Somes of Northwest Christian.

Kemmer commended Taylor’s effort. “It was good to have him and he was excited to be in,” he said. “As a freshman he didn’t get a lot of wins, but he got them when it mattered.”

As well as Xavier Smith, Mendez concluded his high school career at the Dome.

Mendez had qualified as an alternate to state last year — in his first year as a wrestler. Kemmer commended his approach. “He is a state-talented kid, one of the top 12 in the state,” the coach said. “He is a hard worker. Practice is awesome with him, because no matter who it is he is going to wrestle him hard.”

Mendez, wrestling at 132, brought another quality to the competitive mat that Kemmer much admires — he didn’t second-guess his opponents. “He never worries who he is wrestling or where they come from,” the coach said. “There is a guy standing there in front of him and he’s going to wrestle him. … I wish they all did that!”

Kemmer, concluding his seventh year as IHS head coach, is enthused about the Fishermen’s prospects.

“We have a good group of kids. We have another good group coming up into high school from the junior high,” he said, “and we just keep moving every year, so hopefully every year we get more on the podium and more kids here.”

Team scores: Tonasket won the 2B team trophy, earning 85 more points than second-place Forks. Goldendale was third; Ilwaco placed 20th among 38 schools earning points.