Wrestlers change focus for postseason
With the team aspect of the wrestling season behind them, individuals take center stage during the three-phase tournament portion of the sport.
District meets are this weekend, followed by regional tournaments next week that lead to Mat Classic XX in Tacoma Feb. 15-16.
Twenty years. It’s hard to believe that much time has passed since wrestling found its home in the Dome.
Not that team play isn’t still in the back of people’s minds. Coaches hope to advance as many competitors as possible for a run at state hardware.
Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) and Deer Park are among schools anticipating a title challenge. Lakeside is ranked No. 1 among 1A schools by two wrestling Web sites.
“Orting is a really tough team and Royal will come to fight at the state tournament, too,” said Lakeside coach Troy Hughes. “And Castle Rock is supposed to be tough. I always tell the kids that now is a new season.”
Deer Park is ranked first and second in 2A, with Riverside in the top four of both the Washington State Coaches Association and Washington Wrestling Report sites.
Deer Park coach Matt Jorgensen said the Stags’ 38-20 victory over Riverside for the Great Northern League title last week was closer than the score indicated.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy,” he said. “We both wrestled really strong and the crowd was crazy. I wish all duals were like that.”
Republic and Reardan are expected to challenge again for the B title by the Washington Wrestling Report site, where they are picked first and second.
University and Central Valley in 4A and East Valley in 3A are ranked among the top seven, with U-Hi as high as fourth.
But by and large this time of year, the individual becomes the focus.
At a glance
District 8 4A
Where: Mead. When: 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday
At stake: Greater Spokane League teams wrestle for four berths per weight class to regional in Yakima. Twenty-seven regional placers, 18 of them state qualifiers, are in the field. Finals are scheduled for 5 p.m.
Subregional 3A
Where: Kennewick. When: 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday
At stake: GSL teams EV, Mt. Spokane and NC compete for four berths per weight to regional in Wenatchee. Defending champ EV returns 10 of last year’s 15 GSL placers.
District 7 2A
Where: West Valley. When: 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday
At stake: Five berths per weight advance to regional, also at West Valley. Nearly two dozen regional placers return.
District 7 1A
Where: Chewelah. When: 10 a.m. Saturday
At stake: Five berths in 14 weight classes to regional in Cashmere. Lakeside will dominate. Included in the field are 18 state veterans.
Window narrows
As if Lewis and Clark’s boys basketball season hadn’t been disrupted enough because of the long football season, this week’s school-closing snowstorm added another complication.
The Tigers were already scheduled for a 2 p.m. game Saturday against Gonzaga Prep before both were snowed out on Tuesday. They now must also find another makeup date against Rogers.
Other GSL games pushed from Tuesday to Saturday are Mead at Shadle Park (SFCC) beginning with the boys at 2 p.m., and EV at U-Hi, the boys opening at 5:30.
And now it gets more complicated with postponements of today’s slate.
•District 7 1B playoffs: Friday (boys) – Wednesday’s Almira/Coulee-Hartline-Columbia winner vs. Panorama No. 3 Northport (7-11). Panorama No. 4 St. Michael’s (5-13) vs. Panorama No. 2 Curlew (14-6).
Saturday (girls) – Wednesday’s Odessa-St. Michael’s winner vs. Panorama No. 3 Inchelium (9-9). Panorama No. 4 Northport (7-12) vs. Panorama No. 2 Curlew (10-10).