Cut In Allocation Squeezes Gsl

Greater Spokane League gymnasts appear to have equaled or surpassed most state rivals, but some won’t have a chance to prove it.

GSL competitors captured five of the nine places during last Saturday’s Sehome All-Around Invitational in Bellingham. The 20-team field included much of the state’s elite, except for Newport (Bellevue) and Kentwood.

Although team scores weren’t compiled for the event, University coach Stacey Heaton and Central Valley’s Kim Brunelle both computed their teams’ efforts among the top five. Ferris, at full strength, would have also been near the top.

The GSL hasn’t competed well at the state level for many years, but the league’s state allocations have been slashed this year.

“I’ve seen a lot of strengths and weaknesses over here,” 15-year coach Brunelle said of the GSL, “and this is by far the most quality we’ve had.”

“I think all three schools (U-Hi, CV, Ferris) could place at state, if we could send them all,” Heaton said.

Region IV - the GSL and Big Nine Conference will send just one team to the eight-team state field. Ferris and U-Hi represented Eastern Washington last year.

“I think Spokane would have the potential to clean up at state, but were not going to have the opportunity,” Brunelle said.

The GSL regular season ends tonight with four-way meets at Mead and CV. U-Hi (18-0) and Ferris (16-2) will both compete at Mead. U-Hi, which has had close competitions with Ferris and CV, is aiming for its third consecutive perfect league season.

The District 8-AAA meet is Feb. 7 at North Central. U-Hi hosts the regional meet on Feb. 15. The Titans could be at their strongest because Lindsay Brandle, ninth all-around at Sehome, may compete in the all-around for the first time against GSL rivals.

CV has made a significant jump in team scores during the year, from a season-opening 159.6 to last week’s 166.45.

“My kids, I have to tell you, I’m astonished by the amount of strides they’ve made,” Brunelle said.

GSL teams dreamy

Last weekend’s Dream Duals at Auburn verified what local wrestling followers have said all season.

Spokane athletes and teams are among the best in the state.

Gonzaga Prep beat University for the AAA championship and Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls shared the A title. Coaches said Frontier League champion East Valley would have won the AA classification if it had attended.

“Gonzaga and University both just competed outstanding,” said Bullpups coach Phil McLean. “The only close match was between the two.”

G-Prep won 32-26, with the outcome hinging on an overtime decision by Don Wieber over Sam Butler at 168 pounds.

Butler originally was given an escape that would have won the match, but the timer waved off the move.

“Had the official stuck by his decision,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones, “all three championship duals would have ended in ties.”

Lakeside tied Connell in its title match 28-28 and competed without 215-pounder Randy Brownell, who was taking his Scholastic Aptitude Test.

McLean agreed the GSL and Eastern Washington have the cream of Washington wrestling.

“I think it (the Dream Duals) makes a pretty strong argument,” McLean said. “(Central Valley) was not there, plus Rogers and Mead are down the line. All could have competed.”

Out of control

A brawl at last Saturday’s boys basketball game between visiting Elma and Winlock has resulted in the suspension of seven players and a criminal charge against a Winlock fan.

With Elma ahead 43-21 and 47 seconds left in the first half, a fight broke out between the benches after a Winlock man allegedly attacked referee Ben Johnson, who was knocked to the floor.

After order was restored minutes later, officials ended the game and Elma was declared the winner.

Monday, four Elma players and three from Winlock were suspended following a meeting of educators from both schools under the direction of a representative of the WIAA.

One Elma player will miss three games. The other three were suspended for one. Two Winlock players will miss one game and one will miss two.

The schools declined to reveal the names of the suspended players.

The unidentified man was cited after the game and charged with fourth-degree assault.

Notable

Craig Bush is replacing Dick Cullen as the Mead boys soccer coach this spring. Bush has been an assistant. Cullen wasn’t expected to step down until Mead-Mount Spokane opens this fall, but his duties as athletic director at Mead are taking up too much time. Cullen replaces John Miller, who is heading to Mount Spokane.

WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese was hospitalized in Montana for five days during the Christmas break with a bleeding ulcer. He spent nearly two days in ICU.

“It was a hell of a wake-up call,” he said. “I was very lucky.”

Washington High lost a double overtime game to Tahoma last Friday and, on Tuesday, fell to Peninsula in five overtimes.

There were 13 OT periods in GSL boys games two years ago and seven last year. This year there have been just two.

One of the more unusual sights at last Friday’s Groovy Shoes games was boys referees Kent Schulz and Jeff Schlect wearing a red and black left shoe for North Central and a green and gold right shoe for Shadle Park.

, DataTimes