U-Hi Wrestlers Attacking Season With New Vigor

Thursday night’s University High School wrestling team was different from the one that lost at Mead in December.

These Titans are Greater Spokane League co-champions after dealing Gonzaga Prep its only defeat.

“We felt after Mead we were kind of a long shot,” said Titan coach Don Owen. “I sat the guys down and said if they came in with any more than a smile on their face we wouldn’t have a prayer.”

In truth, University and Gonzaga had the most returning talent and best depth in league, but U-Hi stumbled, losing its second match.

Beginning Jan. 3, U-Hi won six matches in succession, none more dramatic than those against Central Valley, which shared third place with Mead, and Gonzaga.

In both, the outcome wasn’t decided until different Titan wrestlers won the night’s final matches.

The victory over Gonzaga, settled when Jeff Schmedding won in overtime over Ciaran Essex, was a combination of the grit of U-Hi’s wrestlers and ability of Owen to put the right wrestler on the mat in the right weight class.

“Everything went our way from the coin flip to who (Gonzaga) put out (first) on the mat,” said Titan assistant Dudley Mizoguchi. “Donnie couldn’t have orchestrated it better.”

Even when U-Hi’s Ben Peterson tipped Owen’s hand early about who would wrestle at 135 pounds, the U-Hi junior came within an eyelash of upsetting his foe, Tyler Kuhn.

In the first five weights it was U-Hi’s best against Gonzaga’s best and the Titans won four of them. Included were a pin by Gordon Bash at 101 pounds, technical fall by Jared Osborn at 115 and pin by Andy Roberts that followed Josh Knowles upset victory at 122.

Then the jockeying began with coaches from both teams countering the other as they switched wrestlers around at 148 and 158 pounds, 190, 215 and 275.

U-Hi won three times to protect its early lead. Ed Stretch who was bumped up a couple weights, had a pivotal win at 148.

“Everytime out (since the Mead loss) we had to be on a mission,” said Owen, “and we were.”

Knights share Frontier title

East Valley didn’t get the performances it needed against Colville during Tuesday’s 33-28 loss.

On Thursday the Knights did. They also got a 46-22 win over West Valley, leaving them tied with the Indians for the Frontier league championship.

The Knights, under three different coaches, have won or shared six of the last seven titles.

They won six straight matches against WV between 129 and 168 pounds to build a 34-14 lead.

Pins at 141 and 148 and a trio of three-point losses between 158 and 178 had cost the team against Colville.

“To me those were the ones that came back to haunt us,” said first-year coach Craig Hanson. “We’ve got to win those things.”

Four of the five wrestlers, freshman 141 pounder Rob Buller, sophomores Rusty Ruchert and Mike Manuel at 148 and 158, and junior Ben Fansler at 168 were victorious over the Eagles two days later. EV, with nine sophomores and freshmen in the lineup, had its title share.

“To be honest we’re wrestling over our heads at times,” said Hanson. “We’re young and have a number of first year kids in the lineup.”

In the night’s feature, state placer Quinn Sharpe of West Valley won 8-5 over Justin Walker in a match between 115-pound unbeatens.

As expected, U-Hi gymnasts perfect

University High’s gymnasts went 21-0 as expected, their fourth straight Greater Spokane League title and second straight perfect year.

Central Valley beat Mead and finished third.

SEG gymnasts third in Nevada

Spokane Elite Gymnastics Levels 6 and 9 teams each placed third at the Flips USA Invitational Meet in Reno, Nev.

The athletes were among 685 girls who participated in the event.

Level 9 competitor Lindsay Brandle finished 5th all around, placing third on bars and fifth on balance beam. Brooke Bishop was second on balance beam at 9.0 and Gail Larsen took third during floor exercise.

Level 6 athlete Kati Dinsmore was fourth all-around at 35.15, including second on vault and fourth in floor exercise. Corinna Lewis was fourth on vault.

Northwest Gymnastics boys place

Northwest Gymnastic Academy’s Brian Veltegui captured first place in the Bitterroot Gymnastics All Star Invitational in Missoula.

He was fourth or higher in six events, winning parallel bars, taking second on high bar and pommel horse for a 35.7 Class IV score.

Teammate Tyson Byers was second and Nick Antich fourth. Byers won vault, Antich won floor exercise and pommel horse.

In Class V, Stewart Renz won parallel bars and all around. In Class VI, Lane Morgan won parallel bars and was second overall, Josh Dill finished fourth.

Optimists host Tri-Star hoops

Shooting, passing and dribbling will be tested during the Tri-Star Basketball Contest on Wednesday at Centennial Middle School.

Optimist Club of the Spokane Valley sponsors the competition for youngsters ages 8-13. Registration is at 5:45 p.m. with the action to follow.

Recreation volleyball registration

Registration for Spokane County Parks and Recreation adult coed spring volleyball is Feb. 1-9. For information on the six-week season call 456-4730.

, DataTimes