Mike Vlahovich

There will be a considerable Valley presence at next Wednesday's Greater Spokane League championship match between Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep's wrestling teams. The Bears and Bullpups, both 5-0 after this week, will go for the title as predicted at the beginning of the season. "We'll have to wrestle perfect all the way." said Bullpup coach Phil McLean. Particularly in the 135 and 141 pound weight classes, one of which will be manned by Prep Valleyite Sean Malone. Malone's pin at 141 pounds on Thursday helped Gonzaga to a 34-32 win over Mead to assure next week's 7:30 p.m. showdown. But if CV wins those, the outcome of the other matches may be academic. The Bears will be favored in six events with five other tossups. They also have the luxury of jockeying athletes throughout the lineup which could lead to several exotic tests between Valley athletes. They include Bullpup unbeatens Louis Peyron (108 pounds), Chris Montgomery (115) and Nick Bliss (158 or 168). Peyron could be involved in a pivotal opener against Central Valley's once-beaten Kyle Bush. Bliss could face Bear standouts Courtney Brown or Blair Alderman. Whichever Bear he wrestles, the other must face Bullpup sophomore star Travis Pascoe. Montgomery could be asked to move up against state veteran John Reese. "It will be their big guns against our big guns," said CV coach Dale Ethridge. "Anything can happen in a dual, but we're pretty focused." GSL wrestling mid-point How are wrestlers from CV and University faring at the mid-point of the GSL season? Because coach Dale Ethridge has moved his charges around so much, few are unbeaten. Alderman at 168 and 178, Shane Cunanan at 129 and 135, Brandon Brown at 148, Brandon Bouge at 215 and 275 are perfect, as are Courtney Brown and 190-pound Tyree Clowe in limited appearances. Alderman, the Browns and Alderman reached the round of eight in their 32-wrestler weight brackets in Reno. Another wrestler, Andy Bishop reached the final 12. University's Conor Jordan is 5-0 combined in the 135 and 141 pound classes. Included was a 9-5 victory over previously unbeaten Dan Johnson of Lewis and Clark during Thursday's 43-19 win. Tommy Owen at 101 and 108 and Josh Vande Vanter in three weights are both 3-0. Magellan Laurich has one loss at 108 pounds. Showdown for gymnasts If Central Valley's gymnastics team is to catch unbeaten University, it will have to begin next week. The Bears and Titans will be part of a four-way meet at Ferris in what likely will be the decisive contest of the year. University is currently working on a 31-meet winning streak and at 14-0 so far this year has a two-match lead over the Bears and Saxons. On Thursday U-Hi beat Ferris, which was without its star all-arounder Kacey Frederickson, for the second time this year. The Titans didn't win the all-around, although Coleen Pierce and Alisa Brandle finished second and third. Tara Hulbert led a one-two-three sweep of the uneven bars that included vault winner Vanessa Cordova. The 13-2 Bears next week will counter with Lindsey Linerud, Corinne Gannon, Lindsay Zacher and Emily Roberts in its attempt to close the gap.

Border League girls East Valley's girls basketball team had too much full-court pressure early and too much Malea Schumacher later on. The Knights (4-6, 3-3) dispatched rival West Valley (5-5, 3-3) 56-46 to catch up to the Eagles in the Border League. The press created numerous first-quarter turnover baskets for an early 19-7 lead.

Ed Pospisil, building a bridge in class, says all of his misfortune has made him stronger. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Border League boys Of all the losses East Valley has suffered at the hands of West Valley in basketball - and there have been plenty - Friday night's 65-64 loss at East Valley was the unkindest cut of all. The Knights had rallied from a 14-point deficit to lead by as many as 15 early in the fourth quarter, only to lose on Ryan Browning's layin with 2 seconds left in the game. "I feel bad for Rich (King, EV's coach)," said WV coach Joe Feist. "I thought he did a great job of preparation and deserved a win."

Prep wrestling Gonzaga Prep's Peter Foltz made a prophet of his coach and assured a match between Greater Spokane League wrestling unbeatens next week. Prep edged Mead 34-32 and will host Central Valley, a 49-24 winner over Shadle Park, for undisputed first place. Both teams have 5-0 league records. Elsewhere it was: Ferris 50, North Central 25; University 43, Lewis and Clark 19; and Rogers 49, Mount Spokane 18.

Wrestling At this early stage of the season, East Valley wrestlers are competing on a par with last year's state championship team. "It's about like I predicted," EV coach Craig Hanson said following last weekend's championship at the Viking Invitational at Lake Stevens High School. "We're almost identical to last year." Both years the Knights had strong showings at the Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d'Alene.

Who is the best girls basketball team in the Spokane area? It would be tough to argue a case with followers of Lakeside High. The Eagles already have beaten Greater Spokane League leader Mead and during the Christmas break defeated Cheney, the favorite in the Frontier League.

CV's Jake Hebden hits for two points in the first half against Mead Tuesday at Central Valley. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

(From Replay, January 8, 1998): Ferris 190-pound wrestler Chad Cluever was misidentified in Tuesday's story on GSL wrestling. He, not his brother Chris, finished second in the Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament.

1. Wet-but-happy Central Valley High coach Rick Giampietri is hugged by team members after 49-13 victory over South Kitsap to claim the state championship. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. EV's Melanie Frostad helped her team to a cross country title. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. U-Hi cross country runners Dan Chavez, left, and Seth Mott round a corner during a meet at Shadle Park. The two were key members of the state championship team. 4. The East Valley girls team takes off at the start of the state cross country championships. 5. East Valley wrestlers coaches and cheerleaders accept the first-place team trophy for AA wrestling. 6. Will Beck makes a big hole for Tyree Clowe to run through in Central Valley's state title game against South Kitsap. 7. West Valley Eagles' Gabby McClintock drives down the court in a game against Post Falls.

Ty Gregorak, shown in his West Valley uniform last fall, was the most actively recruited player in West Valley history. File photo/The Spokesman-Review

The four-year wrestling career of Aaron Laughery has taken some interesting twists. Last summer, for instance, Laughery went to Norway on a cultural exchange and was named outstanding wrestler in a Greco-Roman tournament. Greco-Roman wrestling differs from freestyle and conventional high school wrestling in that it allows moves above the waist only. U.S. wrestlers have had scant success in the discipline.

When Central Valley's John Reese won the 119-pound weight class at last weekend's prestigious Tri-State Tournament, the Bear senior was not surprised. "I knew I could do it," he said. "It was really gratifying to prove I was the wrestler they expected me to be." Reese was one of two CV champions at the prestigious meet. Shane Cunanan also won at 125 pounds for the third-place Bears.

The Lakeside High School wrestling brothers: back row, left to right, Austin Laughery, Aaron Laughery and Adrian Laughery. Front row: Adam Christen, Jason Christen, Jason Belyea and Justin Belyea. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

The Rev. Charles Skok leads a mass at St. John Vianney Church. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Central Valley travels to University tonight for the first basketball meeting of the year between the Valley rivals. The boys teams play at 6:45 p.m., with the girls game to follow. CV's teams are coming off Tuesday losses to Greater Spokane League favorite Ferris. Both Titan teams are seeking their first wins of the season. "Inexperience," was Bear coach Dale Poffenroth's one-word explanation for his team's 62-63 loss to the Saxons. "They have three third-year starters and two second-year starters," he said. "We have one third-year starter, a second-year starter and the rest are new."

Central Valley's Brandon Bouge was able to overpower Chris Mattingly of Mead 18-4 in the 215-pound weight class. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

New Freeman High girls basketball coach Scott Moore has been through the good and bad of his sport. He coached girls basketball and had a state championship softball team during nine years at Lindbergh High in Renton, Wash. The Spokane native wanted to be closer to home and took a job in Post Falls.

Lakeside High continues to add laurels to an already acclaimed wrestling program. Last year's State A/B champions have won two invitational tournaments this season against the biggest and best schools in Eastern Washington. Last weekend, on the heels of their victory in the Deer Park Invitational, the Eagles won Central Valley's Inland Empire Classic.

The Panthers of Valley Christian stretch before practice while assistant coach Aaron Spuler leads the team in devotions. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Freeman wrestling is young and the turnout is small, but aspirations are large for some of the team's youngsters. "What I really like is their work ethic," said coach Ted Lundgren. "They are putting forth extra effort to overcome the fact there are not a lot of wrestlers." The Scotties This year are in a four-team Northeast A League with Colfax, Reardan and Kettle Falls.

Coach Craig Hanson hands out game uniforms to East Valley wrestlers. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

U-Hi's Gordon Bash upends Gonzaga's Brett Roberts for a 12-4 victory, but the Bullpups came back to win the match. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

West Valley football coach Steve Kent was all focus at a 1993 practice. File/The Spokesman-Review