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Mike Vlahovich

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Sports

Malsam serves in more than just a supporting role

If University wrestler Mike Malsam were making a movie of himself, it would make a compelling story. The protagonist's interests lie in music, the arts and competitive skateboarding. He wrestles only in season, mainly as the backup in weight classes behind state-championship-caliber teammates.
News >  Voices

Recent results prove nothing’s certain in GSL basketball

Greater Spokane League boys basketball coaches have been saying it for two years, and the players are proving it: Nothing is for certain in their league. West Valley, the overwhelming coaches' choice to win the GSL, proved that in last Friday's nonleague loss at North Central followed by a huge win Tuesday, 71-33 over previously unbeaten Mt. Spokane.
Sports

West Valley dominates Mt. Spokane

By any basketball yardstick, West Valley was thoroughly dominant during its 71-33 boys victory over previously undefeated Mt. Spokane on Tuesday night. "They beat us in every facet of the game," said interim coach Dan Smith. "Their post players beat us, they shot well from the three, they pressured us – we had a hard time with them tonight."
Sports

Deep Titans dethrone Knights

Competition during Saturday's Inland Empire Wrestling Classic at Central Valley was stern – with seven teams securing individual championships, including four by East Valley. But the strength of the tournament didn't faze University, which piled up 219 points and dethroned the defending-champion EV Knights, who finished second with 166.5.
News >  Voices

Bears coach ‘realistic’ about predictions

Don't let Central Valley's early wrestling result or Greater Spokane League predictions deceive, warned Bears coach John Owen. "I'm pretty realistic, I've been doing this stuff long enough and I laugh at those people trying to set you up," he said. "What I think is, it's a crap-shoot for third place."
Sports

Bullpups run and gun past Titans

Sarah Jennings had been accidentally hit in the eye by a candy bar and suffered temporary blurred vision late Friday afternoon at school prior to Gonzaga Prep's girls basketball game at University. But her sweet shooting that evening helped spark the Bullpups to a 62-53 road victory in a non-league basketball game between Greater Spokane League unbeatens.
Sports

Bears storm out of gate, win opener

A quick start propelled Central Valley to a satisfying conclusion, beating Mt. Spokane 46-25 to begin Greater Spokane League wrestling. The dual match at Mt. Spokane began with the Bears' strength weights, and they won all five in succession, including at 145 pounds in a test between two national Cadet All-Americans, for a 24-0 lead.
News >  Voices

Classic on-court rivalries start season

There were no surprises when Valley basketball teams began their seasons last week. In boys, West Valley continued its long-held mastery over East Valley 61-48 in a nonleague game between the two teams. Central Valley and University had a typical nail-biter in a rivalry where early leads often historically tend to evaporate. The Bears were able to recover in this one, however, and win 36-32.
Sports

Feeling the pinch

A year ago, Mead wrestler Mike Magee placed fifth in the eastern region at 275 pounds, leaving him an alternate to Mat Classic in Tacoma. But through a twist of fate, Magee wound up at state and placed seventh. Magee's good fortune came when regional runner-up Mikael Guzman of Pasco was unable to compete.
Sports

Without Pomante, Bullpups spanked

Mt. Spokane suffered the dreaded girls basketball curse. And it wasn't because the Wildcats faced a former teammate or suffered the indignity of a 75-20 thumping by last year's State 4A finisher Lewis and Clark.
Sports

Humphrey helps lift Shadle Park

Sophomore Zack Humphrey had a relatively quiet night despite scoring 21 points during Shadle Park's 57-42 season-opening non-league boys basketball win over North Central. But the noise he did make was substantial in helping the Highlanders subdue the visiting Indians.
Sports

Familiar faces, new places

Katelan Redmon has moved across town to play Greater Spokane League girls basketball. The journey to the GSL for a couple of newcomers was longer and more ambitious. Redmon, first-team All-GSL for Mt. Spokane last year, has transferred to Lewis and Clark.
News >  Voices

WIAA transfer rule inconsistent at best; hypocritical at worst

Nearly a year after the fact, Central Valley High School was forced to forfeit its entire 2004-05 boys basketball schedule due to an administrative oversight. Meanwhile, individuals statewide transfer schools with impunity. The inconsistency of enforcement is making a mockery of Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules.
Sports

Winning perspective

Tyler Hobbs learned from the outset that life doesn't always go as planned. That has resulted in a maturity beyond his years for West Valley's two-sport star. Hobbs' mother, Nancy, died of cancer when he was in eighth grade. He gave up doing some things kids that age typically do in order to help his stepfather, Dan Love, with the care of two younger siblings, Hanna and Jacob Love.
News >  Voices

Scotties make valiant effort despite loss

The football careers of 11 Freeman Scotties, seven of them regulars, came to an end with the heartbreaking State 1A quarterfinal loss. The 35-14 loss to defending state champion Royal, three-touchdown margin of difference notwithstanding, wasn't for lack of effort and was closer, said coach Jim Wood, than the score indicates.
Sports

Big plays just a Royal pain for Freeman

Coaches preach to their players about minimizing mistakes and not giving up big plays. Conversely, when Freeman and Royal squared off at Central Valley High School Saturday in the State 1A football quarterfinals, their biggest fears about those very same clichés came to pass.
Sports

Bjorklund chooses Tennessee

Although just beginning her junior season, University High basketball star Angie Bjorklund knows where she's going to college. Bjorklund on Thursday made an early oral commitment to attend storied University of Tennessee.
Sports

Freeman in familiar territory

With essentially a new offensive line and a retooled defense, it was not preordained that last year's State 1A football finalist Freeman would return to the quarterfinals for a third straight year. Though it doesn't surprise first-year head coach Jim Wood that the Scotties have. There were pieces in place at the skill positions and an expectation, the product of four successive playoff appearances.
News >  Voices

Scotties facing Knights in State quarterfinals Saturday

New names and faces dotted this year's Freeman's football roster, but the end result was the same – the Scotties' third straight Northeast A League championship and third successive meeting with Royal in the State 1A playoffs. Freeman and the Knights play Saturday, 1 p.m., at Central Valley in the state quarterfinals. Last year their game was in Tacoma for the championship.
Sports

Prep winter sports kick into gear with changes

Angie Bjorklund has been traveling for visits to colleges throughout the country. Katelan Redmon traveled across town. And a couple of other top girls athletes have traveled from out of town to join the Greater Spokane League. The four junior athletes are among those who began their seasons with the start of winter sports practices on Monday.
Sports

EV defenseless against powerful Ferndale

BELLINGHAM – East Valley was already facing a tall order in the State 3A football playoffs against top-ranked and unbeaten Ferndale. Playing without three starters, two of them integral parts of successive playoff teams, made the task nearly impossible, as the 34-0 loss testifies.
Sports

Gonzaga Prep faces familiar foe

Repeating the title of an old song, "Something's Got to Give" when Gonzaga Prep plays at Richland in the State 4A girls soccer quarterfinals today at 1 p.m. It's the same song, next verse for the Bullpups and Bombers, who are in their third postseason meeting in a year. The previous two have gone more than 3 hours of regulation and overtime without a score.
News >  Voices

Knights face Ferndale in 3A playoff today

East Valley's second straight State 3A high school football playoff appearance is no walk in the park. The Knights (9-2) drew a road game against the state's top-ranked team in today's opener in Bellingham.
Sports

Area players sign letters of intent

Three Greater Spokane League basketball players and one from the Great Northern League signed letters of intent with Division I women's basketball programs. All three GSL seniors, Lewis and Clark's Heather Bowman, University's Tonya Schnibbe and Central Valley's Heidi Heintz, faxed their signed letters on Tuesday.