GSL wrestling: Undefeated University beats CV to win league championship
Chris Jordan’s near-operatic rendition of the National Anthem brought appreciative cheers from the crowd anticipating the Battle of the Bone.
But the sweetest sound was the roar following the Titan senior’s stunning pin at 220 pounds that broke a 21-21 tie and propelled University (8-0) to the Greater Spokane League title with a 39-21 victory over rival Central Valley (6-2).
“That match was big,” a beaming coach Don Owen said of the pin that came 33 seconds into the final period. “What a great night for our kids.”
Three matches remained when Jordan, whose tenor voice preceded the mat war, took on Zack Millard.
The pair struggled through two periods with Jordan leading 4-3. But a quarter of the way through the final round, he caught Millard and put him on his back.
Coaches told him that the first round would be close, but to hang in and pin an inexperienced foe in the third round. Jordan did what he was told.
“I’m probably one of the lightest people in my weight,” Jordan continued. “I just tried to use my speed.”
The electricity of his pin begat another and then another as the Titans won by a surprisingly large margin.
“Momentum came in our favor,” Owen said. “And in a high school match, momentum is big.”
Jordan’s wasn’t the only big victory. It began at 113 pounds with Mikey Garrison scoring on a second-period cradle for a 3-1 victory. Two matches later, Brandon Clark was trailing 3-2 when he caught Gage Connole, scoring five points in the final 17 seconds at 126 pounds and Cam Sorensen hung on for a 5-3 win over Braedon Orrino.
John Fairbanks scored a takedown with 14 seconds left to beat David Shepard in a battle of state veterans that cut into CV’s 18-9 lead.
Then Connor Douglas pinned at 182 to put the Titans in front 21-18.
That started it all and Jordan finished it, because he was followed by unbeaten Tate Orndorff who wasn’t going to lose at 285.
Mead 35, Mt. Spokane 27: Tate LeClaire started a string of six straight match victories for the Panthers with a pin of Richie Bondurant at 138 pounds and Mead (6-2) held on to defeat the host Wildcats (5-3). Mt. Spokane’s Tom Harvey (220) remained unbeaten with a pin over Dustin Meier at 1:18.
North Central 43, Shadle Park 29: Clai Quintanilla recorded a pin for the Indians (5-3) at 113 pounds, Bryan Wais (152) and Cody Kiourkas (170) also took their opponents to the floor and NC beat the host Highlanders (2-6).
Ferris 50, Lewis and Clark 19: Donavan McElliot pinned the Tigers’ Samson Rich at 5:46 to win at 220 and the visiting Saxons (4-4) handled the Tigers (3-5). LC’s Dakota Numbers (182) pinned John Patterson at 2:36.
Rogers 48, Gonzaga Prep 33: Charles Smith (126 pounds) and brother Edward Smith (132) earned first-round pins and the Pirates (1-8) overpowered the visiting Bullpups (0-8).