Stars Rest, But Titans Don’t

Prep wrestling

Some of the most familiar faces for fourth-ranked University High School didn’t wrestle on Thursday, but their teammates made certain the Titans achieved an unprecedented goal.

With its 41-21 win over host North Central, U-Hi (7-0) clinched at least a tie for its first Greater Spokane League wrestling title.

U-Hi, which competed without state veterans Dusty Roberts, Andy Roberts and Scott Garcia, completes its GSL season at Central Valley (4-2) next Thursday. Ninth-ranked Rogers (6-1), the one team that can catch U-Hi, closes against third-place Mead (5-1-1) on Thursday, and already has lost to U-Hi.

Joel Tucker (148 pounds), Kit Moffitt (178) and Craig Bishop (101) had U-Hi’s pins, while freshman teammate Paul Purcell (141) earned a 17-5 major decision.

U-Hi heavyweight Don Wigger won by disqualification when Brian Burrows didn’t stop pushing the Titan in the face.

NC’s Eddie Jones, typically at 122, remained undefeated in league with a pin at 129. The Indians’ Jeremy Kish (135) defeated Ben Patterson 7-6 on a takedown with 3 seconds left.

At Gonzaga Prep, second-place Rogers lost its first three matches, but won eight of the final 10 in a 38-16 win over the host Bullpups (4-3).

At 148, the Pirates’ Mark Rinde clung to a 9-8 lead over Ryan Malone before unleashing a five-point sequence in the final 20 seconds of a 15-8 win. Kevin LaForest (190), Matt Miethe (275) and Terry Swan (122) had pins for Rogers, which dominated the lower weights. Prep’s Steve Steigleder (129) trailed James Dawe 6-5 heading into the third round, but won 11-8 with a reversal and near fall.

At Ferris, CV won 10 consecutive matches - five by pins - in its 50-9 win over the host Saxons (1-6).

CV’s Rick Giampietri (158) held off Cameron Copher 8-5 in one of the better matches. Dean Jolley (141), Justin Linerud (190), Bob Perkes (275), Shane Cunanan (108) and Reggie Oakes (122) had the Bears’ pins. For Ferris, Israel Eaton (115) had a pin and Fletcher Barkdull (129) started the night with a win.

At Lewis and Clark, Corey Laughary’s 13-5 major decision over Jamie Firor at 148 sparked Shadle Park (2-4-1) to a 35-16 win over the Tigers (0-7).

Shane Gruenig (141), Joe Clavel (275) and Shawn Howard (122) had Shadle’s pins. Brian Lehrman (101) of LC had a pin, and teammate Zack Ripley (168) scored on four takedowns in a 13-4 major decision over Sabino Hernandez.

Frontier League: State veteran Aaron Lehinger (115) came back for a 15-10 win over Jeremiah Divis to highlight West Valley’s 30-22 win over visiting Colville (2-2), which lifted the Eagles (2-1) into second place behind idle East Valley (4-0).

Lehinger, trailing 8-6 after two periods, scored a reversal, threepoint near fall and two-point near fall. WV’s Brandon Frisch (108), in his third varsity match, won 4-0. WV heavyweight Josh Castor, whose loss on a pin cliched EV’s win over the Eagles, pinned Dave Naff to protect a slim team lead.

Brandon LaLonde (158) had Colville’s lone pin.

At Cheney, Josh Gilbert (148) scored a major decision and Aaron Abbott (141), in his first varsity match, recorded a pin as the host Blackhawks (1-2) defeated Clarkston 35-26.

Cheney heavyweight Tom Jud closed the meet with a pin to protect the Blackhawks’ 29-26 lead. Corey Thivierge (168) and Eric Hollenbeck (190) had pins for the Bantams (1-3).

Northeast A: Missing injured state veterans Ben and Bart Orth, host and defending league champion Lakeside (5-1) rolled to a 39-22 win over second-ranked Deer Park (5-1) at Nine Mile.

The eighth-ranked Eagles threw open the league race. Deer Park ends its season Monday at first-place Riverside (5-0-1), while Lakeside completes league action action the team that tied Riverside, Medical Lake (3-2-1).

Lakeside won the first six matches, including Nate Bohl’s upset pin at 135 over Clint Umbach - a state runnerup last year.