Mike Vlahovich

Sometimes a 25-Year Award winner packs enough on his résumé to be worth two awards. Joe Everson is that person. Indeed, behind the scenes, he’s had an impact on this community for just about that long. Everson, along with longtime University baseball coach Don Ressa and KXLY broadcaster Dennis Patchin, were honored by the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters on Wednesday at the 34th Junior Sports Awards Luncheon at the Convention Center with plaques for their more than 25 years of contributions in their fields.

Three Greater Spokane League 3A regional champions had separate reasons for their state-qualifying performances Saturday at University. North Central senior Kenny Jenks made good on his last chance at making Mat Classic next weekend in Tacoma. Shadle Park junior Terrence McKinney is seeking to improve on his state finish of a year ago. And University junior Ryan Gabel wants redemption after being legislated out of state last year.

Three Greater Spokane League 3A regional champions had separate reasons for their state-qualifying performances Saturday at University.

When Mead began its string of five straight finals wins from the strength of its lineup, four by pin, the team race was already a foregone conclusion. The Panthers had piled up 451.5 points before the District 8 4A wrestling tournament finals had even started.

Sam Voigtlaender knows he’s wrestling in long shadows.

Wrestling with an urgency that was lacking the night before, Central Valley got past rival University in front of a capacity crowd amid the pandemonium they call the Battle of the Bone. The Bears showed grit by surviving precarious back-point situations and winning the matches they were supposed to for the 33-24 victory and a share of second place with the host Titans (both finishing the season with 7-2 records.)

Wrestling with an urgency that was lacking the night before, Central Valley got past rival University in front of a capacity crowd amid the pandemonium they call the Battle of the Bone.

Heading into Wednesday night’s wrestling match at Central Valley, the Mead Panthers had beaten Greater Spokane League foes by a 57-12 team average score.

Deer Park wrestler Cole Harris found himself in a quandary Tuesday night at East Valley. The two-time 2A state placer trailed Alex Rockstrom 5-2 in the second period at 132 pounds following Rockstrom’s escape.

Before the wrestling season, University coach Don Owen wasn’t sure about the quality of his team. Nearly the whole lineup had graduated and this season’s roster was peppered with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and inexperienced seniors.

Cameron Babcock is too busy with other sports to devote the offseason to wrestling. That didn’t prevent the Shadle Park athlete, in his first matches since dropping to 195 pounds, from winning the weight class during the Pacific Northwest Classic Saturday at University High School.

There’s no love lost when Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga Prep girls basketball teams square off. It was evident Friday night in the intensity and physical play of their game at LC.

There’s no love lost when Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga Prep girls basketball teams square off.

Between them, the two combatants completing the Shadle Park-Rogers wrestling donnybrook Thursday night had one Greater Spokane League win between them. But the pair of the Highlanders’ Brett McVay and Pirates’ Ian Smith battled as if a state tournament 152-pound title were at stake.

The Mead Panthers are regional volleyball champions again and Paige Montgomery was smack in the middle of it. One of two junior middle blockers, Montgomery was the driving force, whether hitting or blocking, in a three-game sweep of Wenatchee during Saturday’s finals at home.