Bullpups Swarm Mat Win District Crown, Qualify 12

District 8 wrestling

Gonzaga Prep’s “seconds” helped keep the Bullpup wrestling team first.

A bevy of backups helped Prep defend their District 8 championship and qualify a meet-high 12 wrestlers to next week’s Region IV 4A tournament in Yakima.

They scored 304 points, 40 more than Greater Spokane League season champion Central Valley.

“The secret to Prep’s success was their number twos,” said CV coach Dale Ethridge. “They had a solid 28 wrestlers who did a good job. My hat’s off to them.”

CV qualified 11 wrestlers to regionals, eight of them finalists, but couldn’t overtake Gonzaga.

Five Bullpups reached the finals, four winning titles. Of the 15 other points-earners during the tournament, only seven had substantial varsity time, several as backups.

“I wish I could capture what happened,,” said Bullpups coach Phil McLean. “They just wrestled inspired.”

At 129, 135 and 158 pounds, two Bullpups advanced in each weight. At 190, Wyatt Treat, mainly a junior varsity wrestler, finished fourth.

Bullpup champions included Chris Montgomery at 115 pounds, Nick Bliss at 158, Kyle Gleason at 178 and Travis Pascoe at 168.

Pascoe’s anticipated first meeting with CV’s Blair Alderman went as expected. Pascoe scored on a late escape and takedown with 4 seconds left for a hard-earned 8-5 triumph.

It was one of the few thrillers in a night of one-sided title contests.

There were four major decisions and two technical falls.

Montgomery, second in state last year, continues to wrestle with sore knees. He coasted 12-0 over Mead’s returning third-placer, Mark Denholm.

“They’re doing OK so far,” Montgomery said. “For seven more matches, I hope.”

Bliss won by a 16-0 technical fall and Kyle Gleason worked over defending district champ Ty Williams of Ferris, 10-3.

The night’s most flamboyant contest pitted top two seeds Ryan Ellis of Ferris and John Reese of CV against each other at 122 pounds.

It was non-stop action with Reese earning an early third-period reversal to complete his rally for a 9-8 lead. With less than a minute remaining Ellis used a granby cradle to catch Reese in a five-point move and went on to the 15-9 decision.

“It’s all position,” said Ellis of the move from underneath his foe. “I usually don’t use it.”

In CV victories, Shane Cunanan won easily at 129, Brandon Bouge won at 215 and Brandon Brown, in one of the night’s three thrillers, got past Zack Moffat of Ferris, 10-8 on a takedown with 25 seconds left.

“It was the third time I’ve wrestled him and every one seems to get tougher,” said Brown.

In another dandy, North Central 190-pounder David Sandberg was shocked by CV’s Tyree Clowe for nine early points, but came back to win 10-9.

“I hung my head and got caught,” Sandberg said. “You can’t give away big points, but I know I can come back from anywhere.”

The night’s other champions included University 101-pounder Tommy Owen and 135-pound Conor Jordan, both by major decisions.

“I’m just glad I don’t have four state champs in my weight class like I usually do,” said Jordan.

Rogers 108-pounder Ben Houk won by technical fall. Teammate Marshall Sims won at 275. Mead 141-pounder Keith Riddle, was the only non-No. 1 seed to claim a championship.

University and Ferris each advance eight wrestlers to regionals, Mead and North Central have six apiece, Lewis and Clark has two and Shadle Park one.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 Color)