Championship Wrestling Match Pits CV Against G-Prep

There will be a considerable Valley presence at next Wednesday’s Greater Spokane League championship match between Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep’s wrestling teams.

The Bears and Bullpups, both 5-0 after this week, will go for the title as predicted at the beginning of the season.

“We’ll have to wrestle perfect all the way.” said Bullpup coach Phil McLean.

Particularly in the 135 and 141 pound weight classes, one of which will be manned by Prep Valleyite Sean Malone.

Malone’s pin at 141 pounds on Thursday helped Gonzaga to a 34-32 win over Mead to assure next week’s 7:30 p.m. showdown.

But if CV wins those, the outcome of the other matches may be academic. The Bears will be favored in six events with five other tossups.

They also have the luxury of jockeying athletes throughout the lineup which could lead to several exotic tests between Valley athletes.

They include Bullpup unbeatens Louis Peyron (108 pounds), Chris Montgomery (115) and Nick Bliss (158 or 168).

Peyron could be involved in a pivotal opener against Central Valley’s once-beaten Kyle Bush.

Bliss could face Bear standouts Courtney Brown or Blair Alderman. Whichever Bear he wrestles, the other must face Bullpup sophomore star Travis Pascoe.

Montgomery could be asked to move up against state veteran John Reese.

“It will be their big guns against our big guns,” said CV coach Dale Ethridge. “Anything can happen in a dual, but we’re pretty focused.”

GSL wrestling mid-point

How are wrestlers from CV and University faring at the mid-point of the GSL season?

Because coach Dale Ethridge has moved his charges around so much, few are unbeaten.

Alderman at 168 and 178, Shane Cunanan at 129 and 135, Brandon Brown at 148, Brandon Bouge at 215 and 275 are perfect, as are Courtney Brown and 190-pound Tyree Clowe in limited appearances.

Alderman, the Browns and Alderman reached the round of eight in their 32-wrestler weight brackets in Reno. Another wrestler, Andy Bishop reached the final 12.

University’s Conor Jordan is 5-0 combined in the 135 and 141 pound classes. Included was a 9-5 victory over previously unbeaten Dan Johnson of Lewis and Clark during Thursday’s 43-19 win.

Tommy Owen at 101 and 108 and Josh Vande Vanter in three weights are both 3-0.

Magellan Laurich has one loss at 108 pounds.

Showdown for gymnasts

If Central Valley’s gymnastics team is to catch unbeaten University, it will have to begin next week.

The Bears and Titans will be part of a four-way meet at Ferris in what likely will be the decisive contest of the year.

University is currently working on a 31-meet winning streak and at 14-0 so far this year has a two-match lead over the Bears and Saxons.

On Thursday U-Hi beat Ferris, which was without its star all-arounder Kacey Frederickson, for the second time this year.

The Titans didn’t win the all-around, although Coleen Pierce and Alisa Brandle finished second and third. Tara Hulbert led a one-two-three sweep of the uneven bars that included vault winner Vanessa Cordova.

The 13-2 Bears next week will counter with Lindsey Linerud, Corinne Gannon, Lindsay Zacher and Emily Roberts in its attempt to close the gap. , DataTimes