Mike Vlahovich

New Mead High School wrestling coach Scott Bliss sees the Panthers finishing in the top three GSL teams. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Greater Spokane League schools are annually touted to be among the best wrestling teams in the state. In recent years, four schools - last year's tri-champions Gonzaga Prep, University and Central Valley, and Mead - have battled for league supremacy. Rogers returned to prominence last season.

When the defending state champion returns most of its starting lineup, the conclusion is clear. "It's going to be tough pickings to take the state title away from Lakeside," said Deer Park coach Steve Meuer. "They looked pretty tough in our tournament." The Eagles, last year's A/B champion, outscored defending AA champion East Valley and Greater Spokane League co-champions Gonzaga Prep and University on their way to the Deer Park Invitational championship on Saturday.

If you're looking for the strength of Greater Spokane League wrestling, look no farther than the three teams being previewed here. University, Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep shared the league championship a year ago. It was the third straight year the Titans have had at least a share of the title, and the second in a row for the Bullpups. And there's no reason to expect less this year.

1. Cunanan 2. Senior Shane Cunanan (in white) has placed three straight years at state wrestling tournaments and hopes to finally nail down a state championship. File/The Spokesman-Review

Kent

When Mike Huard was telling everyone he was retiring as the Puyallup coach after 17 years to watch his sons play football, Mack Brown may have been altering Huard history. Brown left North Carolina to be the head coach at Texas. Puyallup senior quarterback Luke Huard, who has committed to North Carolina, said he may not go to the Tar Heels unless the offensive coordinator is promoted. He would consider Texas but said he would not go to a Pac-10 school. His brother, Brock, is a sophomore quarterback at Washington. Another brother, Damon, also played at Washington. Brock, who will finish his sophomore season at the Aloha Bowl, confirmed at his dad's press conference that he submitted his name for review by the NFL Draft Committee.

Josh Robinson's dramatic two-point conversion couldn't save a state title for Colfax. But Robinson's a lifesaver nonetheless. It happened prior to the playoffs when Robinson came to the aid of choking teammate Carey Kirkpatrick. A few Bulldogs teammates had gathered at Robinson's home for an evening of entertainment.

Spokane Regional AAU will sponsor the first Santa Slammer basketball tournament Dec. 29-30 in the Valley. The Santa Slammer is a sanctioned AAU event for girls teams grades 6 through 8 and boys teams grades 5 through 8. The tournament will be played in Valley high school and middle school gyms.

Youth will be served when Central Valley and University's girls basketball teams play this week. Yet coaches of both teams figure they can be playoff contenders. The Bears will replace much of the lineup from their state runner-up finish with juniors.

Defending state champs, the West Valley Eagles, hit the floor running for this season. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

CV's Zac Scott takes down a Puyallup player in last Saturday's semifinal game. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

REPLAY: 12-11-97; N15 Mead High School junior Shannon Leaf is playing on Mead's varsity basketball team. Her name was inadvertently left out of last week's North Voice round-up of GSL girls basketball. New Mead girls basketball coach Beth Wing leads a team considered one of the league favorites. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Girls basketball Three teams can qualify for the State 2A girls tournament, a far cry from the lone berth that went to Lakeside High last year. "Three is better than one," said Deer Park coach Doug Watson. "It didn't make any sense to me." Watson's is one of four or five Great Northern League teams that must chase last year's sixth-place-in-state Eagles. It was Lakeside's fourth straight appearance and third successive trophy.

Boys basketball Last year's fifth-place State A Lakeside boys basketball team will find itself in good company in the new 2A Great Northern League. "It should be tough, a very, very competitive league," said Eagles coach Kevin Mulligan. The Eagles graduated much of their punch from a two-time state placing team. In addition to state-qualifier Medical Lake and Chewelah coming back, Lakeside now must contend with last year's AA semifinalist Colville, perennial Frontier League contender Pullman and Riverside.

Enough of life in the same old Frontier League. The West Valley and East Valley basketball teams are headed for the border. The Border League, that is, an amalgam of four Washington high schools and five from Idaho. The four-team Frontier League still exists as a means for regional tournament qualification.

Coach Rick Giampietri leads his Bears against Puyallup today at Albi Stadium. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

The season's first basketball game is just a week away. Central Valley coach Rick Sloan and six of his players aren't thinking about it. They're still involved in football as members of the Bear state semifinalists. Basketball must wait. "Memories and the experience gained by going to the football playoffs are far more important than missing a basketball game," said Sloan, himself a former two-sport star at CV.

The Greater Spokane League is starting a new era, one with little time to prepare for 18 league games. Instead of four pre-season contests, teams get two, beginning Dec. 4. Shadle Park coach Darcy Weisner prefers the longer league schedule. "Some guys would like more non-league games and I don't disagree with that," he said.

Following the resignation of longtime coach Laurie Ticknor, Mead's gymnastics program and the seasons of its veterans were in limbo. Ticknor's replacement pulled out before the season began. "We went through a six-month hiring process - posted it twice and hired a candidate who quit," activities administrator Dick Cullen said just prior to the season. "When we get a capable coach we'll have a program."

Pursue a dream long enough and it will eventually become reality. Lakeside High School, a member of the 2A Great Northern League, has begun a gymnastics program which was ambitious in scope. The Eagles wanted to compete in the 4A Greater Spokane League.

On the bar she was perfect, but on the landing Jennifer Lee lost her footing. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

When Central Valley and Kamiakin meet today in the State 4A football playoffs it will be a classic case of the irresistable force meeting the immoveable object. The force, in this case, is CV's junior back Tyree Clowe. Clowe has rushed this year for 1,754 yards and 32 touchdowns. He's gained over 200 yards in each of his last three games.

East Valley's volleyball team had been to state for two successive years. This year's team may have been its best, yet the season ended a week before the State 3A tournament. With good reason, it turned out.