Knights strategize, Mead prevails
East Valley attempted to get the most out of its Greater Spokane League wrestling match against Mead by juggling its lineup around. But the move didn't work when Jake Trotter pinned Dakota Lawson in a match of the league's best 215 and 189 pound wrestlers. Mead (6-1 in league) defeated the Knights (6-2) 42-29 and is still in the running for a league title.
The dual season wraps up next week. Mead finishes against Rogers, Mt. Spokane and Lewis and Clark. Unbeaten University (8-0) meanwhile still must face rival Central Valley (8-1) in the Battle of the Bone on Wednesday and finishes the next night against EV.
EV chose to bump five wrestlers up in weight, but based on matchups, by my reckoning, things may have worked out just fine had everyone stayed put. Three of them won, two lost and EV lost twice in weights they would have filled. Most of the moves produced a wash, but the loss at 189 could have been a nine-point swing which would have made it a one-point match going into the final contest. That one, between Dustin Guzman and Gabe Rodriguez went to overtime. That's how close the match truly was, despite the score, and how close the league's top four teams have been this year. Mead has beaten EV and CV, U-Hi beat Mead with the two biggies remaining.