Gsl Wrestling Teams Have A Familiar Look CV Takes On The Favorite’s Role, But Lineup Of Challengers Long

When Greater Spokane League wrestling teams meet to start the season tonight, there will be few strangers.

More than half of last year’s district contestants are back, which is why four of the schools were ranked among the state’s top 10 in preseason polls.

Central Valley, second in the State AAA tournament last year, was rated No. 1. University was sixth, Mead ninth and Gonzaga Prep 10th.

And the Bears finished tied for third in league with Mead, behind co-champions University and G-Prep.

The league and region, said Mead coach Cash Stone, “is far and away the toughest in state. It’s no accident why West Coast schools come here to compete.”

Central Valley’s fast finish, a regional championship and state runnerup effort leaves the Bears favored in the GSL this year, although the Bullpups and Titans looked good at the Deer Park Invitational.

The Bears return five state participants, four of whom placed.

“We earned our ranking with our finish last year,” said CV coach Dale Ethridge. “We have a lot more depth than we’ve had.”

But he said the high rankings, including second nationally in one scholastic magazine’s ratings, hurt in one way.

“We’re down 12 kids,” he said. “I think it was a situation where they said, ‘why turn out?”’

All told, a dozen state competitors are back, including two-time champion Andy Roberts of U-Hi and two-time runner-up Jon Rugan of Mead.

Of the more than 100 district veterans competing for nine teams, 27 have regional experience.

Small wonder Gonzaga Prep coach Phil McLean, coming off the school’s first title, expresses trepidation about tonight’s opener against Ferris, last year’s sixth-place finisher.

“It’s a tough one head-up,” he said. “Where they’re tough, we’re not. I see it about seven matches apiece and there are some tossups in there. You never know.”

Whatever the outcome in the league, one thing is sure. The lower weights are stacked with veteran athletes and the league is stronger.

“Region IV will beat the holy living snot out of each other again,” said North Central coach Randy Cloke. “There are going to be some great dog fights (in the GSL). No one will come to one of the matches and be disappointed.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL WRESTLING Projected finish: Central Valley, Gonzaga Prep, University, Mead, North Central, Ferris, Rogers, Lewis and Clark, Shadle Park. League openers: University at Rogers, Shadle Park at Mead, North Central at Lewis and Clark, Gonzaga Prep at Ferris, all 7:30 p.m. Defending league champion: Tie between University and Gonzaga Prep. It was the Bullpups’ first title. Returning district champions: Brian Lehrman, sr., LC; John Reese, jr., CV; Jon Rugan, sr., Mead; Andy Roberts, sr., U-Hi; Nick Bliss, jr., G-Prep; Joe Thiefault, sr., CV; David Sandberg, jr., NC. In all, 12 finalists and 27 regional competitors return. Returning Region IV champions: Lehrman and Roberts. Returning State AAA placers: Roberts, 1st, 129; Rugan, 2nd, 115; Reese, 3rd, 108; Cory Brannon, sr., GP, 4th, 122; Chris Montgomery, jr., GP, 5th, 108; Shane Cunanan, jr., CV, 5th, 115; Lehrman, 6th, 101; Lyle Beerbohm, sr., Mead, 6th, 141; Bliss, 7th, 141; Thiefault, 7th, 178; Sandberg, 7th, 190; Tyree Clowe, so., CV, 8th, 190. Notable: University’s Roberts can win a third state title, unprecedented in the GSL… . Central Valley, second in state last year, returns four state placers… . The Bears are ranked No. 1 in the state and were selected No. 2 in the nation by a scholastic wrestling magazine… . Identical triplets, regional qualifier Jack, Joe and Don Claros, wrestle at 101 and 108 pounds for Ferris.