Back Trouble Forces Coaching Switch For EV Boys Track
Dave McCarty will remain East Valley’s head boys track coach.
Only this time he’s going solo.
Because of continuing back problems that will require extensive physical therapy or surgery, recently appointed coach Curt Hisaw has withdrawn, said principal Jeff Miller.
Hisaw had been chosen to replace McCarty by an on-site committee of spring coaches.
McCarty, who had been EV’s co-head coach, was to have remained as an assistant coach with no change in pay.
“It’s hard to put into words how I feel,” said McCarty. “I’m back to what I’ve been doing anyway, ordering uniforms and planning schedules. The logical question is, what about next year?”
The position was opened when McCarty’s cocoach, Nick Lazanis, resigned to become assistant girls coach.
They had shared duties for 13 years and during that time the Knights won or finished second in the Frontier League a total of 10 times.
McCarty said the recent events caused him to question his worth.
“I second-guessed myself, not only coaching but in the classroom,” he said. “I never questioned what I was doing, but where they were coming from.
“I guess things are back to almost normal.”
Eagles trade places
One West Valley basketball team’s championship streak came to an end. Another Eagle team took its place.
The WV boys, who had won three straight Frontier League championships and eight of the last nine titles, finished in a tie for second place this year behind Colville, after losing 72-59 to the Indians.
The girls, whose last title was in 1982, 15 years ago, secured an outright championship last Friday with a 51-41 victory in Colville.
“You always like to win and it’s nice to finish first,” said boys coach Joe Feist. “We had a great run and came pretty close to doing it again.”
By beating Colville, the girls rendered Saturday’s 49-43 loss to Cheney meaningless, other than it brought to an end a 16-game Eagle winning streak and deprived the team of an unbeaten league record.
“Our plan worked out the way we wanted,” said girls coach Mark Kuipers. “We wanted to win the (league) in Colville. Enough was going on (at home against Cheney) as it was.”
Saturday’s home finale was Senior Night, when the graduating players and their parents are recognized.
And it pitted the team against the two-time champion it had replaced.
“You normally don’t go into a Cheney game knowing there’s nothing on the line,” said Kuipers. “There’s a lot of emotional pride and the rivalry that goes with it.”
Still, going into district with the burden of a winning streak and unblemished league record gone can be a relief. And the girls enter this week’s district as top seed.
“The fact we’ve won the league title is really gratifying,” said Kuipers. “I’m real proud of the kids. they deserve all the credit.”
The play of Gabby McClintock and Angela Kallas were key to this year’s title, he said.
“Gabby gave us 10-12 points a game, but she got the big rebound in critical situations and defended so well in the post,” said Kuipers.
“She was like the foundation of the house.”
The way Kallas handled pressure on the ball was more important than her long-range shooting.
“Cheney runs a diamond-and-one press. She breaks it and gets us into our offense. They pull it off,” said Kuipers.
Seniors Dawn Salfer, Sherry Shollenberger and Keisha Sowers, Cindy Simpson and Stacey Roberts all contributed as scorers, defenders or rebounders.
“It’s really nice to see the attention the kids are getting,” said Kuipers. “They hung together, stuck things out and found ways to win.”
Following a three-overtime loss against Cheney to determine second seed, WV boys play Riverside Friday in a 6 p.m. loser-out district playoff game at East Valley.
A win and the Eagles play Cheney again, at 3 p.m. The girls play Saturday at 6 p.m.
Third place for WV wrestler
West Valley wrestler Quinn Sharpe completed a wrestling career in which he won 110 of 133 matches and placed at state three times.
The Eagle senior finished fourth at 122 pounds in Mat Classic IX after losing a one-point semifinal match against East Valley’s Justin Walker.
“I’m absolutely satisfied,” said Sharpe. “My biggest goal was sticking with it for four years.”
Wrestling is the toughest challenge for an individual, said Sharpe, who also is a standout soccer player.
“It’s really much more of a sacrifice than soccer,” he said. “My compliments go to anyone who can finish it.”
As a sophomore, Sharpe placed third at state in something of a surprise.
“I was just out having a good time,” he said.
Last year he placed seventh. This year he was in a weight class where the top four finishers came from Region IV.
In the match for third and fourth, he lost to a wrestler he beat at regionals the week before.
The highlight of his career, said Sharpe, was wrestling for coach Bill Bauman.
“He had an impact on how I did the last three years,” said Sharpe. “He was behind me all the way and with all he has gone through he’s still my hero.”
Bauman returned the compliment.
“You don’t replace him. He has been a real help for us and a great kid,” said Bauman. “Three state places is something that can go on anybody’s mantle.”
Bauman stayed in Seattle after the tournament to meet with his doctor to prepare for a blood stem cell transplant because he has leukemia.
He hopes to undergo treatment soon and be back coaching next year.
“I’ll probably lose a few pounds,” he was able to joke about the impending ordeal. “It will be like a health spa.”
Roberts ends season 37-1
The Mat Classic weekend was strange in that the Spokane area produced two team champions but only two individual titlists.
One was University’s Andy Roberts, who won at state for the third time and helped the Titans to a fourthplace team trophy.
Roberts ended his career with a 37-1 season and 113-12 overall record.
Teammate Jared Osborn finished second at 115 pounds following a 1-0 loss to the wrestler he beat for the regional championship. Titan Ed Stretch placed fifth at 135.
Also in the finals was Central Valley 122-pounder Shane Cunanan. He lost 6-4 to two-time champion Aaron Mann of Richland, who he beat for the regional title.
Fellow Bear junior John Reese was fifth at 115 after losing to Osborn by pin in the semifinals.
Third finalist was Gonzaga Prep Valley wrestler Chris Montgomery, second at 108. He and sixth-placer Nick Bliss at 148, helped the Bullpups to an eighth-place team finish.
, DataTimes