Bantams make University sweat out win

Perhaps Clarkston’s youth deceived or University wrestling coach Don Owen underestimated the Bantams a bit when he held out some of his regulars in their National Division Greater Spokane League showdown.

Clarkston, which eventually lost 45-24 to the defending State 4A champions, turned out to be every bit the contender as in the past two seasons when it finished among the GSL’s top four teams.

“They’re just a tough bunch of kids and their freshmen are scrappers,” Owen said. “I put a couple of younger kids in to wrestle tonight. Clarkston was probably better than I thought.”

The host Titans needed four victories in the night’s final five matches, including a nail-biter by a seasoned veteran moved up a weight or two, to pull out the victory.

The urgency of those late wins served notice of how important a couple of earlier victories proved to be in moving U-Hi to 3-0 and in the division driver’s seat entering the holiday break.

Clarkston (1-1) had six freshmen in the lineup and had a seventh ticketed for a possible start. But the Bantams made things uneasy for U-Hi.

It took Nick Zumwalt’s 6-4 overtime victory over Wes Braun at 189 pounds with four matches remaining to provide breathing room.

Zumwalt, who weighs less than 170, gave away substantial size in wrestling up a weight. But he avoided danger and led 4-1 entering the third period.

Braun escaped and pinned Zumwalt’s arms for a throw that tied the match after the latter tried for a double-leg takedown. In sudden-death overtime, Zumwalt used the same move for the winning two points.

“The first time he got me up high on the double underhook,” said Zumwalt. “The second time I just knew it was coming so I sagged my hips. I probably should have stayed more outside. He’s pretty big.”

The pivotal contest came four matches earlier with U-Hi leading 14-13. Junior Ken Cleveland found himself trailing stocky, 145-pound freshman D.J. Darnall 7-1 going into the third period. He was able to twice secure a head-and-arm throw, the second time for the pin that made it 20-13 Titans heading into their strengths.

“If we win, we’re ahead by (two points),” said Bantams coach Dan Randles.

“This is my first time wrestling varsity,” Cleveland said. “Usually I’ll throw, but coach wanted me to start setting up and shooting. I tried, but it wasn’t working so I had to throw him.”

U-Hi followed with a pin victory by Trevor Robb to lead 26-13, but Clarkston followed with a pin by Lyle Draper to maintain hope. The Bantams trailed 33-24 to be mathematically alive with two matches remaining.

Dono Totten pinned the last of the Bantam’s freshmen starters to clinch the victory.

Another vital win came from freshman Dan Seymour 6-1 at 119 in the second match of the evening. He had takedowns in each period to beat sophomore Tyson Larson.

“That was a big match with my freshman,” Owen said. “I didn’t know at the time how big it would be.”

It started U-Hi on a three-match win streak and 14-6 lead, but as the night played out, the Titans couldn’t get comfortable.

“The big thing tonight is we had some guys who worked so hard and trained in the summer I wanted to give them an opportunity to wrestle,” said Owen.

In other National Division matches Lewis and Clark (2-1) won at Rogers (0-2) 58-23. The Tigers had eight pins, seven in the first eight matches. Included was freshman 275-pounder Jordan Rothstrom’s pin. … Gonzaga Prep (1-2) edged visiting West Valley (0-3) 38-30 after trailing 26-21 with five matches remaining. John Healy’s 4-0 win at 145 over Jesse Swenson clinched the victory, but Michael Campbell’s near fall as time expired for a 6-4 win in the night’s first match was pivotal. The Eagles had won four straight between 103 and 125 to account for 26 points. … North Central (2-0), which beat G-Prep in a Wednesday night match that went unreported, was idle.

“East Valley, Central Valley and Mead remained unbeaten in the American Division. The trio meets in successive matches beginning Jan. 5, with EV hosting CV. … EV’s Knights (3-0) beat Mt. Spokane (0-3) 49-18 at home. They pulled away by scoring 22 team points in the final four matches after Matt Schaffer of Mt. Spokane beat Dan Michalski 9-6 in the 189-pound feature. … The host CV Bears (3-0) beat Cheney (1-1) 49-19. Nick Walker of CV won by pin after trailing 6-3 at 152. CV’s Dan Gadley, at 275, won by pin in his first match. … Mead (2-0) broke a 19-all tie to beat visiting Ferris (0-3) 46-19. The Panthers won the final five matches between 160 and 275. … Shadle Park (0-2) had a bye.