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Mike Vlahovich

Mike Vlahovich is a sports writer for The Spokesman-Review in the Sports department. He covers high school sports, manages the weekly Prep Page and writes a column. Also writes the Washington Preps blog.

How to contact Mike

Email: mikev@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-927-2180
Fax: 509-927-2175

Recent stories by Mike

Bullpups stop Shadle

January 31, 2010 in Sports on Page C9 Greater Spokane League boys basketball heavyweights Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park squared off in a game of thrust and parry Saturday afternoon. For every Highlanders lunge, however, the host Bullpups …
Bookend basketball

January 30, 2010 in Sports on Page C5 A quick start and pivotal 3-minute stretch in the fourth quarter were the defining moments in a Greater Spokane League boys basketball game Friday between teams vying for fourth place. …
NC falls in 3A final

January 24, 2010 in Sports on Page C11 North Central landed squarely in the middle of a Hornets nest Saturday during the Washington Dream Duals at East Valley. The Indians, wrestling Enumclaw for the 3A championship, were stung …
Panthers rally to win

January 23, 2010 in Sports on Page C5 When a basketball team finds itself trailing by 17 points midway through the second quarter, particularly to a foe it lost to a couple of weeks earlier, a natural inclination …
North Central ties CV for 2nd

January 22, 2010 in Sports on Page B6 A strategic decision paid dividends late in the Greater Spokane League wrestling showdown when once-beaten North Central traveled to unbeaten Central Valley Thursday night. But one early win in particular …
LC recovers, beats Prep

January 9, 2010 in Sports on Page C5 If you don’t turn the basketball over, Lewis and Clark coach Jim Redmon sagely observed, you win games. Not that his Tigers took the advice to heart during one of …
Indians respond to Leifer’s urging

December 22, 2009 in Sports on Page B3 Luke Leifer was competing for Randy Cloke at North Central nearly two decades ago when the Indians tied Mead in Greater Spokane League wrestling. “My junior year, in 1991 we …
Tri-State wrestling finals hint of things to come

December 20, 2009 in Sports on Page C1 Saturday night’s Tri-State finals were a portent of things to come this wrestling season, not only from the team outcome – a 1-2-3 finish by three Washington 4A powers – …
GSL to have six 4A, four 3A

December 19, 2009 in Sports on Page C5 The lines of demarcation have been formed, the classifications determined by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 sports season, and Rogers just missed a cut. Rogers’ …
As usual, Tri-State tourney loaded

December 17, 2009 in Sports on Page B3 When returning state champions and finalists can be seeded no higher than fifth in their weight classes at an invitational wrestling tournament, you know which tournament it is. The 38th … 2
I’ve had as much fun as athletes

December 17, 2009 in Sports on Page B5 Recently discharged from the Army following a tour in Vietnam and just back from a trip with my brother to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, I typed my first … 6
Central Valley rallies to victory

December 16, 2009 in Sports on Page B1 There was a definite group dynamic by youthful Central Valley in its Greater Spokane League girls basketball opener Tuesday night.
Washington preps: Floch memory lives on

December 15, 2009 in Sports on Page B3 Odessa High and Big Bend Community College joined forces last weekend for the eighth annual Ryan Floch Memorial basketball games in memory of the late former Tigers and Vikings star. …
Enjoying two-part harmony

December 10, 2009 in Sports on Page B1 Mead’s Jake Trotter is something of an enigma, juxtaposing the physical side of athletics with the creativity of a musician. Trotter is the defending State 4A 215-pound wrestling champion and …
Tournament stimulates wrestling

December 10, 2009 in Sports on Page B5 There are no greater advocates for their sport than wrestling coaches and fans. East Valley’s Craig Hanson saw such kindled passion on display when he put on a college invitational …
Second OK, too

December 8, 2009 in Sports on Page B3 The Spokane area’s three state football finalists had to take solace drinking in the Tacoma Dome experience. Ferris in Class 4A, West Valley in 2A and Colfax in 2B were …
Lynden outlasts WV

December 6, 2009 in Sports on Page C4 TACOMA – West Valley’s defense performed admirably while bidding to bring the school its second state football title. But, ultimately, Lynden’s sizable line imposed its will enough in the second …
Turnovers hurt Colfax

December 6, 2009 in Sports on Page C4 TACOMA – Colfax did everything it needed to win a State 2B football championship – except take care of the football. Four turnovers, coupled with one big offensive play, ultimately …
Area teams go for state titles

December 5, 2009 in Sports on Page C1 TACOMA – When Spokane-area football teams take center stage during the Gridiron Classic today at the Tacoma Dome they’ll be facing teams that mirror themselves. Ferris completes the four-game day …
Shadle’s Hester steps down

December 4, 2009 in Sports on Page B7 Mark Hester has resigned after 15 years as football coach at Shadle Park. He was third-longest tenured coach this year in the Greater Spokane League. Hester said in a prepared … 1