Mike Vlahovich

Mead soccer coach Travis Hanson could empathize with Stacey Drollinger when he moved her from attacker to defender. When he played for the Panthers for three years between 1988 and 1990 he had been switched from center-midfield to stopper to goalkeeper. "Stacey's greatest frustration was not all that different from mine," he said. "I had scored 15 goals as a junior and was a keeper as a senior. Sometimes you realize in the end it's worth it."

CV defensive back and wide receiver Nate McFarlane is a big threat when he's on the field. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Moses Lake quarterback B.J. Garbe, above, and fullback Chris Nelson helped the Chiefs run over Cheney. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

EV Knight Elisha Stickel uses her head in soccer practice. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Matt Wheeler File photo

Lakeside's Mike Witt receives congratulations from mom, Debbie, after his first place in the 2A boys division at the State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Valley resident Jill Larson, a junior runner for Gonzaga Prep, was awarded a WIAA sportsmanship medal following the 4A state cross country girls race in Pasco. Officials choose an athlete for actions representing sport's ideals apart from the competitive realm during all state contests. Larson, who finished 72nd was singled out.

Fifth-place finisher Melissa Frostad hugs her twin sister Melanie, who won the state title, at the end of the race Saturday. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

The state champion EV girls cross country team from left, (back row) Melissa Frostad, AnnMarie Adams, Crystal Gerky, coach Mike Lanzanis, Joann Adams, and Missa Heid; (front row) Korinda Godwin, Cara Smith, Alyson Mahan and Melanie Frostad. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Further state tournament competition beckons North Side teams this week in football, volleyball and soccer. Mead's girls soccer team, unbeaten until last week's district finals, gets a rematch against the team that beat it, Ferris. The Panthers and Saxons were both first round state victors against Big Nine and will meet Saturday, 11 a.m. in a quarterfinal game.

1. U-Hi's Seth Mott finished second at state, behind Mt. Spokane's Tom Becker, left. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review 2. On the winner's perch are the members of the state champion University High Titans cross country team. From left are Dan Chavez, Kris Martin, Mark Davis, Seth Mott, Jeff Rees, and Matt Pierce. Up front, holding the trophy, is Mike Visintainer. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

After thoroughly dominating early, Central Valley's football team was sinking fast in its playoff game against visiting Wenatchee. Todd Millar answered a "mayday" plea during the Bears 21-14 victory. Mayday is CV's terminology for its two-minute offense. Millar was a big part of it during the 85-yard touchdown drive that won the game in the last 1:13 of the first half.

Central Valley's football team gets to stay home for its first playoff game on Tuesday. The Bears earned the 6 p.m. date at Sig T. Hansen field with Thursday night's stunningly easy 45-14 win over Lewis and Clark. Victory secured a share of the GSL title. It was CV's second title in three years. Depending upon the outcome of Friday night's Kamiakin-Kennewick and Pasco-Davis games, CV's opponent Tuesday will be Wenatchee, Davis or Richland.

Aseason's worth of tinkering produced a finely tuned girls soccer team at East Valley High School. The Knights host Hanford at 1 p.m. today in the first round of State 3A playoffs. The girls soccer team is one of four EV teams involved in post-season competition this weekend. They played four times against Cheney this year to win the Frontier League and district tournament.

Members of the Shadle Park girls cross country team: Front row left to right, Sarah Neeri, Frankie Stone, Lanaia Jones, Heidi Sawatzky, Julie Sawatzky; second row, Lynette Palmer, Erin Krogel, Christa Eide; and top row, Jill Leonetti, Brooke Shelman. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Leah Brereton, of the U-Hi Titans, fights for control of the ball during the playoff game with Ferris. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Mead may need a miracle to continue its string of boys state cross country championships. The Panthers will run in Pasco on Saturday, its nine-year reign in jeopardy. The team qualified for state only as the third place team from Spokane.

Seth Mott heads for state this weekend at Pasco. File photo

WV's Cori Watke prepares for her race Wednesday at Hangman Valley. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Cori Watke prepares for her race Wednesday in the regional cross-country championship meet at Hangman Valley Golf Course. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review 2. Inset, Watke, No. 375, holds a middle position one mile into the meet. 3. At 20 months of age, Cori Watke sports a body cast.

Central Valley must get down to basics for its final two Greater Spokane League football games. "The next two weeks are blocking and tackling weeks," said Bear coach Rick Giampietri. On successive Thursdays the unbeaten Bears play their two closest pursuers, Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark. Both have grind-it-out, ball-control styles that have resulted in a combined 14-2 record.

Matt Smith now operates the single-wing offense, a throwback to the earlier days of football. He enjoys the variety. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Clockwise form lower left, Andy Bolich, Justin Gaston, Troy Bishop and Josh Cowart, of the Mt. Spokane football team, are playing football for the first time since junior high. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

All four football playoff teams from the Greater Spokane League can be decided Friday night when Mead travels to University. The Titans are the team that can prevent the Panthers from becoming the league's fourth entrant in the end-of-season tournament. Mead defeated turnover-plagued North Central 45-10 last week. Victory over U-Hi would assure the 5-2 Panthers no worse than fourth place in league.