Bears, Titans Face Gsl Favorites On Gridiron
While football teams from East Valley and West Valley continue preparation for the upcoming Frontier League season, things really get serious this week for the Valley’s Greater Spokane League teams.
Central Valley plays Gonzaga Prep Friday in the 8:30 p.m. feature game at Albi Stadium. An hour earlier at home University hopes to get its offense untracked in the Titans’ GSL debut, against Ferris.
The local teams had mixed results last week.
East Valley found ample backfield replacements during a 41-19 win over Coeur d’Alene.
The Knights led 28-0 and had outgained the host Vikings 226 yards to 27 at the half. Trevor Eastman caught three touchdown passes from Brian Lamarche and Chuck VanNote ran for two others.
West Valley ran up nearly 400 yards of total offense, half of it by sophomore rusher Chris Hilsabeck in a 49-21 road loss to the pass-happy Lewiston Bengals. In his debut, Hilsabeck scored on runs of 88 and 34 yards.
University lost 35-0 to Eisenhower in Yakima. It was nearly the identical score by which the Titans lost to the Cadets last year.
Both the 1-0 Bears and 0-1 Titans are facing preseason GSL favorites who each lost their first league game.
EV plays Lake City of Coeur d’Alene at CV and WV goes against a ground-oriented team at Post Falls.
Titans impress at All Valley
The University Titans, led by record-setting James Berry, turned in an impressive effort at the 18th All Valley Cross Country meet.
Berry obliterated the 11-year-old course record, running 15:47 to break by nine seconds the 1985 mark of WV graduate Mark Esvelt.
Thirteen Titan runners were under 18 minutes on the difficult three-mile course.
Seth Mott led three other teammates to the finish of the junior race in 16:22.
Sophomores Mike Barbero and Mark Davis and juniors Pat McGuire and Dan Chavez ran between 17:05 and 17:15 to finish second and third in their respective races.
University’s tightly bunched girls had 11 runners finish between 21:21 and 21:59 in their races.
Gonzaga harriers set sights high
After finishing third last year in Greater Spokane League boys cross country with a 6-2 record and showing their heels to the field in Edmonds, the veteran Bullpups are flying high.
“I like to think we’ll be in the hunt,” said coach Tony Maucione. “Edmonds was at least a good start, a very impressive start.”
Every Bullpup but one is back, including Valley runners, senior co-captain Kirk Larson and junior Jim Falkner, who was injured last year. Juniors Jim Rucker, who finished 26th in state last year, Rick White, Tim Ulmen, seniors Kevin Carlin and Donald Weiber are also experienced.
Newcomerjunior Phil Long won his flight at Edmonds in his first race ever. Brett Hergert contends.
The girls team is a combination of returnees and newcomers. They could help Gonzaga Prep move up a notch or two in the GSL standings after an 0-8 season.
“I hope we’re improved,” said coach Terry Kelly. “We had a rough year last year.”
Sophomore Jill Larson, Kirk’s sister, is the team’s number one runner.
“She’s really made a step forward and is a legitimate contender for one of 15 (state) spots,” said Kelly.
Other Valley runners are varsity returnee Katie Mayer and newcomer Jamie Frank. Frank ran track but not cross country last year.
Varsity returnees are seniors Ann Leonetti and Jamie Varela.
Junior newcomers are Erin Johnston, Kim McDonald, who won the all-city freshman race two years ago and Breanne Evans.
A couple freshmen, Beth Leonetti and Carly Barnes or junior Amanda Spethman could challenge.
Sig Hansen subject of book
Sig Hansen, the Central Valley High School teacher from 1933-54 who died earlier this year, is subject of book about his life and family.
The book, “Indelible Gifts: the Story of a Twentieth Century American Family” is available through distributor Pacific Pipeline in Kent, Wash. and retails for $14.95.
Writer Rob Woutat tells the story of the popular educator and coach, the fourth child of Danish immigrants who settled in Wilbur, Wash.
Hansen was a dairy farmer who began coaching in Wilbur before moving to CV and later to Columbia Basin College.
His travels, community activism and his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease while one of his children was dying of AIDS are chronicled in the book.
, DataTimes