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

Viks Take Timberwolves To The Mat

Rita Balock Correspondent

The five pins in Wednesday night’s crosstown high school dual wrestling meet didn’t surprise Lake City coach Pat Whitcomb.

But Coeur d’Alene coach Craig Hanson pointed to sophomore Shiloh Curran’s pin at 152 pounds as pivotal.

Hanson fully expected a fall from sophomore Dusty Gatten at 160, and Gatten did not disappoint, providing the cushion the Vikings needed for a 40-25 victory. Lake City forfeited two of the last three matches.

“There’s a lot of inexperienced kids that are going to make more than one mistake and get put on his back,” Whitcomb said. “If you put yourself on your back a number of times, there is going to be pins.”

Of the 10 matches wrestled, the Vikings won six.

Lake City brothers Sean and Steve Haler recorded the Timberwolves’ two pins.

Sean Haler, a freshman at 103, opened a 7-2 lead on Rob Shannon before pinning in 1:54.

The Timberwolves led 10-3 following junior Mike Mallrie’s 14-3 major decision over Sid Van Diver at 119.

And the Vikings’ Al Ramirez was the early aggressor in the first minute against junior Steve Haler at 125. But Haler owned the last minute of the opening round, escaping at 1:02, then scoring a takedown and three near-fall points before pinning in 1:46.

Coeur d’Alene countered with back-toback wins from junior Paul Weseman (130) and senior Adam Jensen (135).

Weseman pinned Josh Sementi in 3:23, and Jensen took a 13-3 major decision over Lon Scully, which pulled the Vikings within 16-13.

But following a Coeur d’Alene forfeit at 140, Lake City senior Shawn Gust rallied behind a takedown in the last 31 seconds for a 6-4 decision over Tevis Hughes at 145. It was Gust’s ninth straight win, and stretched the Timberwolves’ advantage to 25-13.

CdA’s Curran, who recently became academically eligible, made up those forfeit points with his fall over Jon Paragamian in 1:08.

And Gatten pulled Coeur d’Alene even at 25, stopping Jason Tomme in 1:14.

“Shiloh did an awesome job,” Jensen said. “He really hit it nice in the beginning and fought tough.

“That boosts the team pride so much. It really stops the other team from scoring. It was pretty close there.”

“Shiloh’s been doing a super job,” Hanson added. “He worked and worked in classes and it really paid off for him. That was a swing match.”

Coeur d’Alene got its go-ahead points via forfeit at 171.

The win gives the Vikings (2-6 overall) a sweep over Lake City (0-9).

“Both teams are so brand new now,” Jensen said. “It’s different because you’re friends, but when you get out on the mat, it’s you and him. It’s tough. We’re also setting a standard for the teams in future years.”

“The goal for both Coeur d’Alene schools is when we have the same dual to have full lineups, and we’re going back and forth,” Whitcomb said. “With the forfeits, it’s tough for spectators, it’s tough for the team.”

The Vikings and Timberwolves travel to Missoula for duals with Missoula Sentinel and Polson on Friday.

Coeur d’Alene 40, Lake City 25 103 pounds - Sean Haler (LC) pinned Shannon 1:54. 112 - Hughes (LC) dec. Landers 10-4. 119 - Mallrie (LC) d. Van Diver 14-3. 125 - Steve Haler (LC) p. Ramirez 1:46. 130 - Weseman (CdA) p. Sementi 3:23. 135 - Jensen (CdA) d. Scully 13-3. 140 - Jost (LC) won by forfeit. 145 - Gust (LC) d. Hughes 6-4. 152 - S. Curran (CdA) p. Paragamian 1:08. 160 - Gatten (CdA) p. Tomme 1:14. 171 - Zielinski (CdA) won by forfeit. 189 - Kirking (CdA) d. Conner 9-6. Heavyweight - J. Curran (CdA) won by forfeit.