Pirates, Saxons Weigh In Rogers, Ferris Put 9 In Regional; G-Prep, Cv, U-Hi Place 1-2-3

During a year in which numerous Greater Spokane League dual wrestling matches were down-to-the-wire thrillers, it might be expected that the District 8 AAA tournament would be wide-open.

No one could have predicted, however, that both Rogers and Ferris would intrude on the proceedings.

Regular-season tri-champions Gonzaga Prep, Central Valley and University finished first through third.

The Bullpups scored enough points prior to the finals to lock up their first title, finishing with 260 to CV’s 222-1/2 and U-Hi’s 216-1/2.

But the Pirates and Saxons got their points across by each qualifying nine wrestlers to next weekend’s Region IV tournament at Central Valley.

“We’re a way better tournament team than a dual team,” said Ferris coach Tim Owen. “But we actually did better than I envisioned.”

Rogers coach Walt Arnold was delighted with his team’s performance.

“I’m pretty pleased,” he said. “We wrestled as well as we could.”

Saturday’s daylong wrestling had something for everyone.

Although University suffered disappointments in consolation action and qualified just seven to regionals, the Titans had five finalists and won four championships.

Prep also had five finalists, winning two titles, and qualified eight wrestlers to regionals.

Coach Phil McLean said the Bullpups could have advanced a few more, but he was happy for some secondentry wrestlers who scored points and helped secure the title.

“Tournaments are a roller coaster,” he said. “Last year we finished fourth because we didn’t have the depth of this team.”

Central Valley’s back-door men only had two finalists, but also advanced nine wrestlers to regionals.

“The semis killed us,” said coach Dale Ethridge. “But to pull second out of the tournament is exciting.”

CV lost half-dozen semifinals including at 115 pounds, where Mead’s Jon Rugan upset John Reese. It was one of five matches, out of 28, where the top two seeds didn’t advance.

There were a few upsets in the championships, beginning with Ferris 101-pounder Jack Claros’s 10-2 win over Mead’s Mark Denholm.

“We had wrestled three times and he beat me every time,” said Claros. “This time I went out calm, took my time and was making my shots.”

In a thriller, CV second-seed Shane Cunanan hit a spectacular third-period reversal for a 6-5 win over Prep’s Cory Brannon at 122 pounds.

“With him in control, I knew if I made a risky move, it might work,” the two-time state placer said. “This is the first tournament I’ve ever won.”

Rogers’ Ryan Anstrom continued his spectacular freshman season by reversing an early loss to CV’s Courtney Brown, posting a 14-9 win at 158.

University champions were Jared Osborn, who won by technical fall over Rugan at 115, Andy Roberts at 129, Ed Stretch in a war with Rogers’ Nick Fuller, 10-8, at 135 and Sam Butler at 168.

Gonzaga Prep’s Chris Montgomery edged LC’s Brian Lehrman at 108 and Nick Bliss won handily at 148. Daryn Steeneck of Rogers won at 141, and North Central’s David Sandberg and Brian Burrow won back-to-back at 190 and 215.

And in matches that pitted teammates against each other for titles, Ferris’ Ty Williams pinned Nick Pavlin at 178 and Mead’s Joe Collier beat Art Avalon at 275.

District 7-AA

East Valley had 11 finalists and won half of the championships while piling up 385 points in the District 7-AA tournament at Pullman.

EV advanced 13 to next weekend’s Region IV tournament in Selah.

Kevin Woolf at 115, Justin Walker at 122, Joe Adamson at 129, Quinton Chapman at 135, Rusty Ruchert, who beat surprising teammate Mike Manuel at 158, Chris Duncan at 168 and Tristan Beeman at 190 swept to titles.

Clarkston had four champions.

Colville 101-pounder Kyle Aiken was the lone Indians titlist among six finalists. Cheney had two champions.

District 7 A-B

Lakeside High had 11 finalists and advanced 14 wrestlers to next weekend’s Region IV A-B meet in Chelan.

Included were champions Jason Belyea, Tim Weisser, Anthony Layton, Jason Christen, Nate Bohl, Matt Westenfelder, and Sean Wheeler.

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