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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dream Duals Develop Into Reality At Auburn

Chris Derrick Staff Writer

Scott Bliss figures the Washington Dream Duals can tolerate every Fife that falls through the cracks.

“I said, ‘We’re going to do this,”’ said Bliss, coach of defending State AAA champion Auburn, about the inaugural state dual championship. “If we pick the worst eight teams, we’ll take a risk.”

So when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association gave its go-ahead for the non-sanctioned tournament - WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese providing the name Dream Duals - invitations were readied.

Bliss and Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes listed what they figured as the top two Class AA and AAA teams from each of four regions. (A cancellation opened the door for ‘93 state champ Mead.)

White River and Tahoma - both solid teams - were the Class AA Region III teams invited. Both are ranked in the Washington coaches poll this year, but Fife, also from that region, is No. 1.

“Still, I believe our seedings are closer (to the truth) than the rankings,” Bliss said.

Bliss expects duals between University and Snohomish and Mead and Cascade (Everett) to highlight the Class AAA opening round.

“It will be great to be part of a brand-new tradition,” said Mead coach Cash Stone. “We feel like an improved team since the beginning of the year. This will be another step to see how much we’ve improved.”

U-Hi is concerned about Snohomish’s Tri-State champion, Seth Peterson (125), and the Titans’ shortage at heavyweight since Jeff Schmedding took a sucker punch at an area restaurant that broke his jaw.

“But we have good individuals that anybody’s going to have trouble beating,” said U-Hi coach Don Owen.

Class AA teams aren’t seeded yet because of incomplete rankings by the competing coaches. Bliss figures Bellingham as the favorite and East Valley as a top-four finisher.

“You have all those schools over there (Western Washington) that everybody knows,” said EV coach Marc Perry, formerly at Snohomish. “We’re so isolated that we might not get the proper (seeding) votes needed.”

The Knights won the Frontier League despite competing with six or seven freshmen. Perry said his team is at a disadvantage because EV junior varsity wrestlers have a qualifying tournament this weekend.

Competing teams sacrificed to attend. The WIAA didn’t sanction the Dream Duals, meaning the event counts toward each wrestler’s 20-match, regular-season limit.

xxxx Dream Duals at a glance Facts on the Washington Dream Duals, Saturday at Auburn High: Class AA opening meets (8 a.m.): To be determined Friday. Competing schools are second-ranked Bellingham, third-ranked Othello, fourth-ranked Lake Stevens, fifth-ranked White River, sixth-ranked Tahoma, seventh-ranked Sedro-Woolley, 10th-ranked East Valley (Spokane) and Arlington. Class AAA opening meets (9:45 a.m.): Top-ranked Moses Lake vs. Inglemoor; second-ranked Auburn vs. sixth-ranked Olympic; fifth-ranked University vs. Snohomish; seventh-ranked Cascade vs. ninth-ranked Mead. Other times: Class AA - semifinals, 11:30 a.m.; 3-8 placing, 3 p.m.; championship 7:30 p.m. Class AAA semifinals, 1:15 p.m.; 3-8 placing, 4:45 p.m.; championship, 7:30 p.m. Biggest omissions: Class AAA third-ranked South Kitsap and fourth-ranked Davis of Yakima. Class AA - top-ranked Fife. Perfect records at stake: Mead’s Troy Hughes (178 pounds) and Justin O’Connor (190) are 20-0. U-Hi’s Dusty Roberts (148) is 19-0.