Blake Bell continues to shine at Ilwaco High School.

Having watched older family members excel in sports and other disciplines, he finds himself in the spotlight in his senior year.

At his school’s inelegantly named Beach Brawl on Saturday, he was the highest-placing wrestler in a Fisherman uniform, grinning as IHS graduate Olivia McKinstry presented him with his third-place medal and he stepped up onto the podium for snapshots.

The 106-pound weight division bracket showed he concluded the day with a 5-1 record, losing only to one of the dynastic Sturgell family from Warrenton (Rayce, a freshman, who placed second). In the consolation final, Bell was patient in defeating Castle Rock sophomore Colston Pavey, who had also lost to Sturgell.

Bell’s win was his third consecutive pin of the day.

An army of volunteers hosts the Beach Brawl, Ilwaco’s lone home wrestling meet this season. The event is coordinated by head coach Larry Kemmer and Michelle Kemmer, but many families including the Bells, Womacks, Salases, Swoggers and Tafts are among those who contribute. Long Beach Peninsula businesses sponsor the dozen weight classes to raise funds for the event, ensuring hospitality rooms for coaches and officials are richly stocked with calories.

“This is a production that not only includes wrestling but a community that comes together. Our parents play a big part in making this happen,” said Larry Kemmer. “Without all that help, this would never be a success.”

One such was Angella McCully, proud mom of IHS team captain Wade Smith. McCully, a doctor of nursing practice (DNP), was watching the action when called to the mat to assess a leg injury to a visiting wrestler who was unable to continue.

Her son, Wade, is a a two-time state qualifier. He wrestles in the 150-pound division, where he ended the day with a 3-2 record. He began by pinning Ocosta’s William Burns, had a loss and then later pinned Woodland senior Lincoln Ponder to advance to the consolation final to decide third and fourth place.

Coaches Kemmer and another Bell (Alec, 2017 state champion at 220 pounds), yelled themselves hoarse offering tips as the clock ticked off the seconds in the third two-minute period. Despite clawing back points in the mostly even match against Neah-Kah-Nie junior Alex Lessor, Smith lost the decision 8-5.

Bell and Smith were among six IHS seniors honored with a tub of goodies from their wrestling family before the action began. Others were Claudio Mendez, Marcus Lynch and Alex Valencia, plus Keowah Iyall, the lone senior on the young Fishermen girls’ squad.

The experience of helping younger wrestlers has been joyful to Smith, also a stalwart in track. “I like to think I am helping out,” he said, describing his experience helping more junior grapplers. “You do as much as you can, give them tips to try this or that.”

Lynch, who wrestles at 215 pounds, has been successful in a football uniform, too. “I am having fun with it,“ he said, setting his sights on trying to advance to the WIAA 2B state championships in Tacoma later this month. “I like it because we had a small team last year. It’s better to see us with a bigger team and more people representing us and the freshmen coming in.”

Mendez wrestled at 138 pounds and went 2-2, with both his wins coming from pins. Ezekiel Sanchez went 2-2 at 132.

At 126, Sam Eakin won his first with a pin. Also competing were Colten Vandermeulen (106), Lupe Torres (120), Blake Eisbrenner (132), Chris Arnett (157), Zecharia Taylor and Valencia (165).

“All in all, the tournament was a huge success,” said Kemmer.

For the record, Warrenton won the boys’ trophy with three Sturgells placing first or second in their weight classes. Fifteen teams from 1B to 2A took part. Team placings were: 2. Castle Rock; 3. Kelso; 4. Woodland; 5. Astoria; 6. Life Christian; 7. Kalama; 8. Neah-Kah-Nie; 9. Pe Ell; 10. Onalaska; 11. Ocosta; 12. Ilwaco; 13. Adna; 14. Raymond-South Bend; 15. Naselle.

• More photos online at www.chinookobserver.com