Central Valley, Sandpoint Set Early Pace As Tri-State Tournament Enters Its Final Day

Central Valley and Sandpoint raced in front after two rounds Friday in the 25th edition of the Tri-State high school wrestling tournament.

But then the two early favorites fell back to the field after evening quarterfinals in wall-to-wall action at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gym.

Central Valley, ranked No. 1 in Class AAA in the Washington coaches poll, pushed just one of nine wrestlers into today’s semifinals while Sandpoint advanced three of six.

Team scores through the quarterfinals and a few late consolation results had CV ahead with 70.5 points. Sandpoint followed at 68. Still in the chase are Meridian (Idaho) with 64.5 and La Grande (Ore.) at 63.5. Polson (Mont.) and Lake Stevens (Wash.) were tied at 61.

The semifinals begin today at 12:15 p.m. Consolation action resumes at 8:20 a.m. The championship finals will be held at 6 p.m.

Shane Cunanan of CV easily handled Casey Hunt of Pendelton, Ore., 9-2 to carry the Bears’ banner into the semifinals at 125 pounds.

“We only lost one wrestler, everyone else is still alive (11 of 12),” CV coach Dale Ethridge said. “Of the nine quarterfinal matches, four could have gone either way. We just have to carve our way back to keep pace.”

Sandpoint’s Jared Lawrence (119), Zack Vaughan (125) and Pat Larson (152) give the Bulldogs hope of their first Tri-State championship.

“We’ll keep grinding away, we’re getting a lot of great experience,” Sandpoint coach Dan Taylor said.

But the team title could very well be won in today’s multiple consolation rounds.

Defending champion La Grande and runner-up Polson each pushed four into the semifinals. Big Sky of Missoula, Lake Stevens and Central Kitsap all advanced three into the winner’s bracket.

North Idaho teams Lakeland and Priest River put two each into the semis, as did Gonzaga Prep and Meridian.

Lakeland’s Pascoe brothers, Nathan (171) and Travis (145), both had superb days as they stayed alive for individual titles.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed in the Spokane edition