Titan Gymnasts Beat Central Valley In Squeaker; Post-Season Will Be Tight

University survived its sternest test in several Greater Spokane League} gymnastics seasons to all but clinch a fifth straight league championship.

But it doesn’t mean the Titans are out of the woods come post-season. Central Valley pushed them to the limit during the 162.675-162.15 setback.

Any of three schools - U-Hi, CV and Ferris - could qualify for state following district and regional action.

Only one team and fewer individuals will advance to state this year.

Thursday’s meet was an instance of University’s top-end athletes, Alisa Brandle, Coleen Pierce and Tara Hulbert, offsetting CV’s numbers.

Each finished among the top five all-around by scoring 101.55 of their team total.

By contrast, CV had only one top-five all-around finisher, Lindsay Linerud, who tied Hulbert with a 33.35 score.

But she and sophomore teammate Emily Roberts had two top three finishes, and the pair had plenty of backing from their counterparts.

U-Hi’s Brandle, a freshman, was second overall at 34.35 and was a topthree finisher twice. Another Titan freshman Vanessa Cordova took third on vault.

The Bears have one more shot at U-Hi during a home meet on Jan. 29.

Burgess remains torrid

East Valley sophomore Andrew Burgess continued on a tear.

The Knight basketball player, fresh off a 20-point performance against West Valley, scored 27 more Thursday night against Coeur d’Alene.

Burgess hit an amazing 9 of 11 shots from the field, including six three-pointers during the 78-63 loss.

EV, 0-7 in the Border League and 1-10 overall, fell behind by 16 points at halftime before Burgess rallied the team within five at one point in the third quarter.

The Knight girls also lost, 54-46. They fell behind by eight points in the middle two quarters. A fourth-quarter rally fell short.

Rebecca Triplett scored 11 points with backing from April Tomblin and freshman Sarah Shogren.

Special Olympics gymnastics

Lilac City Gymnastics Center will begin training a team to represent Spokane at the Special Olympic Summer Games in Tacoma next summer.

Openings are available for all skill levels for both men and women.

Workouts will be at Lilac City Gymnastics’ Valley center, 1104 N. Park, each Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assist in coaching, as administrative helpers and fund-raising coordinators. No experience is required.

For information, call 927-3366.

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