Ferris Hopes To Muscle In On Gsl Wrestling Race
Greater Spokane League schools are annually touted to be among the best wrestling teams in the state.
In recent years, four schools - last year’s tri-champions Gonzaga Prep, University and Central Valley, and Mead - have battled for league supremacy. Rogers returned to prominence last season.
This year the field will become more crowded if Ferris has its way.
Coach Tim Owen’s Saxons return nine top-six district finishers and could thrust themselves into the upper echelon.
“There are a lot of years when this team would be right in the money,” said Owen. “Time will tell.”
The Saxons must get past Prep and company, which won’t be easy.
Both schools will learn the extent of their challenge in GSL openers tonight when they host Mead and University respectively.
“Last year I picked Ferris as one of my sleepers and no one believed me,” said Bullpup coach Phil McLean. “I think we’ll be competitive, I just think the league will be more competitive as well.”
While the two schools chase their dream, Lewis and Clark is building anew. New coach Brett Racicot is familiar with that.
The former U-Hi state champion was hired away from Eastlake High, a four-year old school in the Redmond School District.
“They had one person who had wrestled when I started the program,” he said.
LC has more experience than his first Eastlake team. But unlike the Saxons and Bullpups, only one tournament placer returns.
The Tigers host league favorite Central Valley in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Saxons boast GSL’s most experience
Three state-seasoned wrestlers head the experienced Saxon lineup.
Joe Claros was eighth at 101 pounds during Mat Classic IX. He is one of a set of wrestling triplets.
Jack Claros was district champion, but lost to Joe in regionals. They’ll be at 101 and 108 pounds this year. Don Claros has yet to break through.
“He challenged at 115 but is too light to be varsity,” said Owen.
Joe will drop to 101 and Don to 108 for district.
Zack Moffatt, Ferris’s 141 or 148 pounder is the other state veteran.
Regional wrestlers back are Ryan Ellis at 122, Jeremy Eaton at 129, 178-pound district champion Ty Williams, Chad Cluever at 190 and Chris Cluever at 275.
Jeremy Morton, returned at 215 pounds, was sixth in district.
Jose Rodriquez, who wrestled half the year on varsity, is a junior 135-pounder battling sophomore Daryl Gardner. Senior Nathan Yates is contending at 115 pounds.
The Saxons, said Owen, have plenty of depth at the upper weights.
Senior Ken Baginski and currently injured sophomore Andy Harrison are at 158 pounds. Tyson Bevin has looked good at 168.
In the 215-pound class, sophomore Aaron Sedler would have challenged Morton, but injured a knee. Spokaloo champion Dan Durham, a sophomore, and district competitor James Missel are also at 275. “We have a real good nucleus,” said Owen. “We have fairly decent kids in every weight class.”
Going could be tough for Tigers
Racicot harbored no illusions when he left his burgeoning program at Eastlake and returned home.
“It’s almost like starting a new program,” he said. “We’re a little behind.”
The Tiger wrestlers, led by regional qualifier Derek Johnson at 141 pounds, are willing learners, he said.
Johnson, 168-pound Ronny Russomano, 148-pound Dan Cowger and 115-pound Zac Rollins are the most experienced returnees. Matt Rehder, up to 129 pounds, also had some varsity time.
The Tigers are thin in the upper weights, where Bob Mitchell is at 178, Don Goldsworthy at 215 and freshman Jacob Chapel at 275.
By contrast, 148 pounds is loaded with potential. Josh Potter and Spokaloo freshman champion John Holbrook are the challengers.
Prospects are 108-115 pound Jonnie Counts, 129-pounders Andy Hannum and sophomore Kevin Konestes. At 122-pounds is J.D. Nichols, another Spokaloo champion, or possibly senior Kris Blair.
Junior Jimmy Lehrman is a 135-pounder.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” said Racicot. “For the next couple of years, actually.”
Can Bullpups make it three straight?
Gonzaga Prep has shared the last two GSL wrestling championships. Can they make it three in a row?
“I think we might be a better tournament team than dual team,” said McLean.
There’s good reason. Last year’s state runnerup Chris Montgomery and two-time state placer Nick Bliss return at 115 and 158 pounds, and are joined by Lakeland transfer and Idaho runnerup Travis Pascoe.
“He’s got pretty high goals,” said McLean of the sophomore 168-pounder. “He was second in nationals last summer.”
Additionally the team includes regional veterans Kyle Gleason at 178 and Sean Malone at 141, and district placers Louis Peyron and Evan Volk, at 108, Paul Koehler at 148, and Peter Foltz at 190.
Those with varsity experience are senior 129-pound Chris Healey, 135-pound Tim Ulmen and 215-pound Doug O’Coyne.
Newcomers capable of breaking into the lineup are sophomore Jeff Zappone at 101, sophomore Danny Pearson at 135, Dom Severino at 178, Wyatt Treat and sophomore Eli Hansen at 190, Ben Coffman and 215 and Joe Gumaer at 275.
Most untested weight is 122 where freshman Rob Durland, whose dad Terry was a North Central state champion in 1973, and sophomore Brett Roberts are battling.
“We’ll be solid,” said McLean. “But it will be a battle all the way through.”
, DataTimes