Ex-Eagle Runner Wheeler In Naia Championship Race

Thanks to an ex-girlfriend, Matt Wheeler is running this weekend in the NAIA national cross country championships at Kenosha, Wis.

Wheeler, a West Valley High School graduate, is a sophomore competing for Southern California College in Costa Mesa, Calif. He finished sixth in the Golden State Athletic Conference meet.

His former girlfriend, Dana Langford, was responsible for his enrolling at the Assembly of God-affiliated school, Wheeler said. She had visited the school and he told her to ask if there was a cross country program and if there was money available.

“They called me a bit later,” Wheeler said.

Langford, it turned out, couldn’t afford the school and stayed in Spokane. The two eventually parted.

“We weren’t together that long,” said Wheeler, “but it was fortuante we were together a little bit. It worked out nice for me.”

Wheeler was a soccer player who ran cross country at WV. He had a successful senior year for the state runner-up Eagles, which led to his decision to run in college.

“My first year was typical for a frosh,” said Wheeler. “I ran in the mid-28 minutes most of the season. This year I came in as No. 1 or 2 guy every race.”

He lowered his best 8-kilometer time to 26:33. He also ran track last spring for the first time.

“It was new to me. I really wasn’t prepared,” Wheeler said.

He did run the 5,000 meters in 16:28, which was one second off the freshman school record, and took up the javelin, throwing 140 feet.

“That’s not bad for being a distance runner,” he said. “I was throwing the high school javelin 170 feet in practice.”

Weather is the attraction of running in California.

“I’m doing a lot better because I can’t run real good in cold weather,” said Wheeler. “When I was in high school, I’d get through the season all right but at district and state would drop off a bit.”

So far there’s been no dropoff in college.

Different challenge for Bears

Central Valley’s football team faces a different challenge when it plays unbeaten Pasco at 1 p.m. today at Lampson Stadium in Kennewick.

The Bulldogs like to throw the ball out of a one-back, spread formation.

“They’re a doubles and trips (triple receivers) team, like Mead of last year,” said coach Rick Giampietri.

That, he said last week, actually lends itself to what the Bears like to do on defense: Rush the quarterback and force mistakes.

“Our front line has been so good when they pin their ears back and look for the draw play,” he said. “The teams that concern me are running teams that control the ball.”

Tuesday’s win over Wenatchee was an example of the damage CV’s front of Wil Beck, Brandon Bouge, Jason Robisch, Marc Hinckley and Colin White can do.

Their disruption made it easier for linebackers Garret Graham, Patrick Libey, Courtney Brown and Ryan Nelson.

Yes, the Bears gave up passing yards and a couple of touchdowns. They also had nine tackles for losses.

White had sacks of 13 and 20 yards. Hinckley had sacks of 8 and 7 yards that twice thwarted Wenatchee inside the Bear’s 35 yard line.

The Panthers, who had rallied from a 13-0 deficit to lead 14-13 in the second quarter, were held scoreless in the second half.

“I just think the momentum turned and their onside kicked killed us,” said White of Wenatchee’s scoring flurry. “We got together and said we had to do what we did the first part of the game.”

CV had limited Wenatchee to nine yards of offense for 19 minutes of a 24-minute half, but squandered other scoring opportunities. The Panthers got back into the game during a 4-minute period of time.

CV’s 85-yard, 50-second drive produced the winning touchdown 24 seconds before intermission.

“Todd Millar made some great catches along the sidelines, didn’t he?” said Giampietri. “Our two-minute drill was just perfect and that ends up winning it.”

CV will try to continue its playoff good fortune against Pasco today.

Foot Locker beckons

Three of East Valley’s state championship cross country runners - twins Melanie and Melissa Frostad and Korinda Godwin - will run in the Foot Locker regional meet next month in Fresno, Calif.

Airfare to the event is paid for by the Bloomsday Road Runners Association.

EV coach Nick Lazanis said the girls must seek help to raise additional money to defray costs. Donors can reach him at 927-3200.

Soccer team defends district

The U-14 Flames boys select soccer team defended its Washington State Youth Soccer Association District 6 championship last week in Yakima.

It wasn’t easy.

After tying Yakima 3-3 and beating Walla Walla 4-3 in pool play, the Flames edged Sandpoint 2-1 in a shootout and beat Yakima 2-1 for the title.

“Two our our wins were against team that we had not beaten during regular season,” said coach Mark Neste.

Team members include Ross Brower, Motie Curtis, Mike Greiner, Matt Halloran, Matt Hamlin, Brett Hite, Ryan Hite, Ryan Hulett, Kirk Jones, Mark Minarik, Brett Neste, Ryan Piche, Tim Padden, Eric Schnibbe, Nick Slater and Elliott Tenner. Assistant coaches are Dale Schnibbe and Pam Hite.

Five players have been together since age 6 and a total of eight play AAU basketball.

“Winning the tournament eased the pain of them missing their first league basketball game,” said Neste.

Lilac City open gymnastics

Lilac City Gymnastics Centers are hosting an open gym for children ages 5 and older.

Sessions are Saturdays at the Valley center, 1104 N. Park, from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at a cost of $2.

There also is a 12:30-2 p.m. session at the Spokane Center, 219 E. Augusta.

For information call 927-3366 or 325-4274.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo