CV Shows It’s Bad To The Bone
GSL wrestling
There would be no last-match drama during this year’s annual Central Valley-University wrestling bone of contention.
Nearly a decade worth of frustration was washed away by a 47-13 CV tidal wave in Thursday night’s Battle of the Bone.
It left the Bears (8-0) one match away from a perfect season and an undisputed Greater Spokane League championship.
They lead Gonzaga Prep (7-1), a 45-22 victor over Mt. Spokane (0-8). In other matches, Mead (6-2), won the Little Brown Jug, 48-21 over Rogers (4-4), Ferris (5-3) beat Lewis and Clark (1-7) 61-12. North Central (1-6-1) and Shadle Park (2-5-1) tied 37-37.
A capacity crowd at University High witnessed CV’s dismantling of the Titans (5-3), ending a string of eight straight Bear setbacks to their rival.
“None of that matters,” said an elated coach Dale Ethridge. “Every one we lost could have gone either way. Tonight there was no possibility of it going either way.”
The tone of the night was set in the night’s second match. CV junior Matt Applegate defeated Curtis Bash, who had been strategically moved up to 129 pounds.
But he gave up seven takedowns during the 19-12 loss that all but sealed U-Hi’s doom.
“John Reese (CV’s 122 pounder) got the sure win and they put their better guy against me,” said Applegate. “It didn’t work. We’re going to steamroller them.”
Right he was. Five matches into the Bone, CV had a 20-0 lead. It would balloon to 41-5 by the 11th match as Ethridge pitted his best wrestlers against U-Hi’s strengths.
Four matches were decided by one or two points, including Brandon Brown’s pivotal 148-pound 4-2 decision over Conor Jordan in a match of unbeatens.
“They tried to make a move on us at 129 and 148 but we beat them both times,” said Ethridge.
The 148-pound match, he said, was the back-breaker. It was also the match that generated the loudest noise.
Jordan had moved up two weights. Following a scoreless two periods, he cut Brown loose for a point in search of a takedown. Brown got it instead. Following Jordan’s reversal he had to cut Brown loose again.
In the confusing final seconds, Brown held tough.
Moments earlier time had run off the clock after a stoppage. U-Hi was docked a team point for protesting too loudly when only 2 seconds were put back on.
After that, the packed house was subdued and the match was decided.
“We hadn’t beaten them ever in the 1990s and in my previous three years,” said CV’s Shane Cunanan, winner of one of CV’s five pins or technical falls. “I thought for sure we would win this year, but it went through my head how they had pulled some strings and threw guys in there (during past triumphs).”
All the jockeying didn’t work. U-Hi’s young team proved no match for CV.
Mead 48, Rogers 21
The Panthers won seven straight matches between 141 and 215 to turn back the Pirates.
Included was Tony Curtis’ 15-6 win at 148 over previously unbeaten Kris Clarke, who was coming off illness.
Gonzaga 45, Mt. Spokane 22
The Bulldogs gave up matches in Mt. Spokane’s four strengths but had too much depth. Included was Doug O’Coyne’s 4-2 overtime win at 215 pounds over Matt Dunford.
Ferris 61, LC 12
The Tigers managed just three wins in 14 matches during their contest with South Hill rival the Saxons.
Shadle 37, NC 37
The Indians took a hit when 275-pounder Derek Phillips failed to make weight and forfeited, but they got the tie in the final match on Nick Stuart’s pin.
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