Jack Osadchey, known as “Jack-O,” has become a key part of the Naselle track team’s success the past two years. Head coach Scott Smith gives him huge credit for his influence. “He really likes all the kids, sees potential in all of them and works with all of them,” Smith said.

NASELLE — At the Ilwaco track meet, Brayden Colombo was gearing up to throw. With some guidance from coach “Jack-O,” the Naselle senior won the javelin, finished seventh in discus and 10th in shot put. His javelin win was ahead of 48 throwers.

Jack Osadchey joined the Comet spring coaching staff last year and worked with head coach Scott Smith to inspire the students to performances that earned their school the second-place team trophy at the 1B state meet.

Naselle track and field

April schedule

April 6 at Raymond

April 13 at South Bend

April 18 at Ocosta

April 21 at Kalama

April 27 home meet

Naselle’s throwing coach is a big hit with the team for one simple reason: As well as “talking the talk,” he “walks the walk.”

Colombo is eager to pass on credit to Osadchey, who excelled at sports at Steilacoom High School near Tacoma, graduating in 2015.

“He was a good thrower in high school,” Colombo said. “He knows his stuff and is able to show us how to do it properly. I am still learning it, but it is all good stuff that we can put to use.”

Moments earlier, Osadchey had been pulled away by Colombo from the discus nets and asked to reinforce positioning for the moment of release. The burly 26-year-old didn’t hesitate to demonstrate a pirouette that combined balance with strength, even while wearing heavy boots and a backpack.

“The footwork is arguably more important than what your arms are doing,” explained Colombo, a comment that echoed Osadchey at the WIAA state meet last spring where significant points from Comet throwers helped earn NHS boys a spot on the podium.

It is his fourth year coaching. He helped at his alma mater for a year and was an assistant at Wahkiakum before joining Naselle.

Osadchey’s journey saw adversity; he said his throwing skills are largely self taught. At Steilacoom, a 2A school, he was a burly presence on the football field, he wrestled and enjoyed baseball. But a head injury meant he could not continue contact sports.

Pull Quote

‘He knows his stuff and is able to show us how to do it properly. I am still learning it, but it is all good stuff that we can put to use.’

Brayden Colombo, NHS senior

He switched to track and field, where he excelled in shot put, setting a school record of 53-3 while demonstrating skill in discus and javelin. Track prowess runs in the family: older sister Miranda broke the Western Washington University high jump record.

Osadchey, 26, had some college options in Colorado, but life changes redirected him to a career in fishery science. He works at the Naselle Hatchery.

Smith, the head coach, called him “hard working, caring and confident.” He noted that Osadchey sees the potential in every student-athlete.

“Jack is well-respected and liked by all the kids,” Smith said. “He pushes them to improve every meet. We share many of the same values: hard work, respecting process, patience, being kind to others and kind to yourself. He has been totally supportive of my system of ‘training the whole team for quickness.’”

Osadchey said he enjoys helping. “For me, it is allowing the athletes to develop,” he said. “I miss the competitive aspect of sports. The reward is being able to teach something and instill that passion, and if they are good enough maybe get a scholarship or do coaching.”

This year’s Naselle boys’ throwing contingent includes state medalists Colombo, talented classmate Tyler Kirkman and junior Jacob Pakenen, as well as keen freshmen like Jaden Baldino, whose strength was evident during football season.

NHS girl throwers include multi-sport senior standout Bella Colombo, who won the javelin at Ilwaco March 30 with 100-1, besting 29 others. Freshman Paige Haataja is showing promise in throwing, too, and sophomore Jessica Underhill is an enthusiastic competitor.

Underhill has been in track for three years; she credits Osadchey with improving her technique. “He told me what I did right and what I needed to fix,” she said. “With discus, he has really helped a lot.”

Brayden Colombo also credited Osadchey with boosting team unity. “He is a really good coach,” the senior said. “He is good at bringing the throwers together as a group.”