Frank Womack and Serena Kuhn are back coaching Ilwaco girls wrestling. Womack, who just retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, is the founder head coach for the girls program. Kuhn is a 2020 Ilwaco High School graduate who had an outstanding senior wrestling season.

The Fishermen girls created history last season by having enough wrestlers turn out to create a team. Ilwaco girls have previously only wrestled as individuals.

If You Go

If You Go

Ilwaco Girls Wrestling

Dec. 13 Warrenton

Dec. 18 Astoria

Dec. 21 Grays Harbor

Dec. 28 Hoquiam

2025

Jan. 4 Black Hills, Tumwater

Jan. 7 Ocosta

Jan. 10-11 Kelso

Jan. 17 Raymond

Jan. 18 River Ridge, Lacey

Jan. 23 Rainier, Wash.

Jan. 25 Kalama

Feb. 1 Home meet

Post season TBA

Start times vary

First-year head coach Frank Womack welcomed a core of freshmen last season and a couple of girls in higher grades; six had never wrestled before.

Their season ended at regionals, one step from state. Competing there were two of the freshmen, Angel Salas (235) and Bailey Womack (120), who each earned one win.

The good news for Coach Womack is that both are returning, alongside enthusiastic classmates Abigail Doan and Ophelia Wise, and a senior, Keowah Iyall. There was the prospect of others joining the squad as practices began.

“I fully expect all five of these original girls to take charge in practice and show the new girls the ropes,” their coach said. “These girls all meshed together nicely last year and pushed each other, while also cheering each other on during competition.”

Although they did not qualify for the WIAA state championships in February, several demonstrated their interest by wrestling in the Tacoma Dome on the Sunday afterwards during the State USA tournament.

“Looking back at our goals from the beginning of the season, the majority of us wanted to learn the sport and have fun along the way,” Womack said. “Now that the girls have all experienced a full season, and had the opportunity to see the Mat Classic Tournament at the Tacoma Dome, I would assume that some of the returning girls will be hungry to make it there this year and will push themselves for the opportunity.”

Pull Quote

‘I fully expect all five of these original girls to take charge in practice and show the new girls

the ropes.’

Coach Frank Womack

Womack, a retired U.S. Coast Guard member, was an assistant coach for Ilwaco High School boys for five years before the girls’ squad was formed. He will be assisted again by Serena Kuhn who had a stellar 2020 senior season at IHS, and was undefeated as regional champion, before finishing with a 1-2 record at state.

Coaches around Washington are adopting a wait-and-see approach as WIAA executives rearrange post-season schedules, removing the regional tournament.

However that shakes down, Womack anticipates vigorous competition to advance to wrestle at Tacoma in February. “The girls have a tough league being the small-school girls with 2A, 1A, and [2B and 1B] schools all combined,” Womack said. “There is no doubt that we are going to have some struggles as we push our girls to succeed and hopefully make it to the Mat Classic Tournament.”

Although no eighth-graders moved up, Womack is watching talent emerge in the middle-school grades. “They have five girls on the team that hopefully develop a passion for the sport and come up to my high school roster over the next few years,” he said.

Action was starting across the river in Rainier before another Oregon trip to Warrenton Dec. 13.