Gsl 108-Pound Wrestlers Have ‘Em In A State

The Greater Spokane League hurriedly threw together a rather exclusive party for today’s semifinals at Mat Classic VII.

GSL 108-pounders gobbled up three of four semifinal positions after Friday’s opening matches at the State AAA Wrestling Championships.

Region IV-AAA champion Cory Brannon, a Gonzaga Prep sophomore, will open semis at 11:10 a.m. today against freshman Shane Cunanan of Central Valley, the fourth seed from region. In their only meeting this year, Cunanan came out on top.

In the other 108-pound semi, Mead sophomore Jon Rugan tries for a spot in tonight’s final against senior Abe Lepak of Battle Ground.

“Coming in as a sophomore at Mead, you don’t know where you’re going to be or how things work,” Rugan (22-7 overall) said. “But as soon as I came to cope with it, I’ve done well.”

Brannon (28-5) said GSL 108-pounders have been a special group all year, capable of knocking each other around.

Speaking of knocking around, 12-time state champion Moses Lake and South Kitsap took a good-sized lead on the field in the team race. Moses Lake, last year’s runner-up, has 58 points.

South Kitsap, which brought a tournament-high 12 wrestlers to the event, has 51.

Mead, the champion two years ago, is in fifth place with 30 points. GSL champ University is ninth with 25.5, while Rogers stands tied for 11th with 20.

Seven other GSL wrestlers advanced to the semifinals. Included are unbeaten Troy Hughes (178) and Justin O’Connor (190) of Mead, who are both 29-0, and former state champion Dusty Roberts (30-0) of U-Hi, who cruised at 148.

Joining Roberts in the semis is teammate Josh Knowles (26-9) at 115. Knowles defeated Clover Park’s Mike Ortiz 6-4 in the quarterfinals, with a takedown 25 seconds into overtime.

Brannon’s teammate, Steve Steigleder (29-4 at 129), escaped with a 7-6 quarterfinal win against Ryan Gillespie of Columbia River.

Rogers, U-Hi and Mead each have three wrestlers going for top-six placings. Rogers pushed heavyweight Matt Miethe into the semis.

Miethe trailed Jason Marshall of Snohomish 3-1 in the third round of his second match, but picked up a late takedown and another two points on an illegal throw. Miethe, however, complained of a sore back after the quarterfinal, courtesy of Marshall’s cheap throw.

Fletcher Barkdull, 25-9 at 122, rolled into the semis. Barkdull is the lone State participant from Ferris.

“I’m not surprised by what I’ve done,” said Barkdull, the fourth seed from region. “I’m just happy. I used to wrestle in Idaho, and this is tougher.”

U-Hi 141-pounder Scott Garcia, a state runner-up two years ago as a sophomore, lost his opener and valiantly fought back with two wins. Garcia has been sick for more than a week, without knowing until recently that he needed an antibiotic.

Garcia was on Knowles’ mind.

“It’s tough, what has happened to us this year,” Knowles said of the snake-bitten Titans, who once had hopes for the state title. “I just had to say to myself that I didn’t want to be like that (injured or sick).”

Hughes and O’Connor have put the hurt on people all season, matching wins while wrestling back-toback.

Hughes, a two-time state runnerup, toyed with two opponents, both of whom looked as if they were intimidated.

“Any opponent is fine,” Hughes said. “I’m on a mission.”

O’Connor remained the state’s best secret, a basically unknown undefeated wrestler.

“It’s kind of nice not having anyone know about me,” said O’Connor, who expects to meet Darren Marzof of Snohomish if he reaches the final.