Mike Vlahovich

Central Valley's 34-31 victory over Mead in a match of Greater Spokane League wrestling unbeatens was decided in the night's final match between a pair of state-placing veterans. CV's John Reese, who was fourth in state at 108 pounds last year, throttled last year's 115-pound state runner-up, Jon Rugan, with a 23-8 technical fall to lift the Bears (2-0) past the Panthers (2-1).

The Central Valley wrestling team, led by coach Dale Ethridge, was happy to be back home after an aborted trip to the Super 25 Reno Tournament of Champions. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Forced to choose from among nearly a dozen football scholarship offers, West Valley linebacker Ty Gregorak's decision to attend the University of Colorado was easy in the end. "I loved it there, loved their style of football," said Gregorak. "That's where I want to go."

Despite some tough luck, Kevin Stocker maintained his good standing in the Phillies organization.

There is something different about Central Valley's boys and girls basketball teams, as University High found out in a Greater Spokane League doubleheader on Saturday. The CV boys won 62-55 because new coach Rick Sloan's flex offense has provided more easy inside scoring opportunities.

As a sophomore, North Central's David Sandberg discovered how good he can be in wrestling. This year the returning Washington 190-pound state placer has stepped up his game a notch.

Chris Anderson, left, performs his magic against West Valley recently. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Titan senior Erik Carlson loves to post up.

GSL/FL boys Poor free-throw shooting doomed the University Titans from the start of their 62-55 Greater Spokane League basketball loss to rival Central Valley on Saturday. The Bears (2-1, 3-4) won with a strong second-half effort, but it was the early going that came back to haunt the Titans. "If we make a decent percentage of our free throws in the first half and third quarter it's a whole different ballgame," said Titans coach Jay Humphrey. "We're very likely ahead and they're the ones pressing."

In the last couple of weeks, West Valley High School coach Steve Kent has witnessed a different side of football. He has rubbed shoulders with professional football's elite and watched grown men fawn over a young high school recruit. It was, he said, a humbling experience "for a coach of a 2-7 team."

Sherry Shollenberger takes a shot durng practice with the Eagles: "I like coming off the bench better. I'm not caught up in starting. If I don't, I can still contribute." Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

GSL wrestling Gonzaga Prep's 34-28 wrestling win over University, except in one instance, was not for the faint of heart. In key matches, Bullpup sophomore Kyle Gleason upset a seasoned veteran. His senior teammate, Don Weiber, moved up two weight classes for a come-from-behind decision. Even the coin flip that determines which team must first commit a wrestler to a weight class proved significant. It enabled Bullpup 129-pounder Tom Brown to avoid the Titans' defending state champion Andy Roberts - which played a part in the outcome. Both wrestlers won, but, said U-Hi coach Don Owen, it affected other contests throughout the night.

Gonzaga Prep and University, co-champions of the Greater Spokane League last year, square off tonight at 7:30 at U-Hi in just the second week of the league wrestling season. "It will be very, very close," said University coach Don Owen. "It depends on who shows up ready to scrap."

Central Valley's wrestling team opened the season with a second-place finish at its Inland Empire Classic tournament. The Bears had one champion, junior Courtney Brown at 158 pounds, and two second-place finishers, senior Shane Cunanan at 129 pounds and sophomore Tyree Clowe at 190.

New Deer Park wrestling coach Steve Meuer has more pressing business than to worry about Northeast A League wrestling tradition. "There are 40 wrestlers in the room," he said. "I'm just getting to know their names."

1. WV coach Joe Feist, left, and CV's Rick Sloan shake hands after the game. 2. West Valley's Aaron Mortensen goes for two of his 13 points against CV. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Rogers boys basketball coach Rick Mergenthaler is taking the Pirates' 3-1 preseason record with a grain of salt. Particularly in light of Tuesday's 58-35 Greater Spokane League opening loss to Central Valley. "The preseason record doesn't mean much," he said. "But it's a place to start."

Ben Heimerman's persistance in pursuing a basketball career has led him to a major role with the Whitworth Pirates. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

The high school wrestling season has scarcely begun and already the Greater Spokane League has scheduled a big match. Last year's co-champions, University High and Gonzaga Prep meet on the mat next Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at U-Hi.

Ben Heimerman, 22, is a junior at Whitworth College and is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game for Whitworth. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Cash Stone heads into his final season as Mead coach. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

When Greater Spokane League wrestling teams meet to start the season tonight, there will be few strangers. More than half of last year's district contestants are back, which is why four of the schools were ranked among the state's top 10 in preseason polls. Central Valley, second in the State AAA tournament last year, was rated No. 1. University was sixth, Mead ninth and Gonzaga Prep 10th. And the Bears finished tied for third in league with Mead, behind co-champions University and G-Prep.

West Valley and Central Valley renew basketball acquaintances after and eight-year hiatus Friday night, when the Eagles host the Bears. The game is part of the continuation of non-league basketball play for area schools, which are entering the second week of the season. CV and WV were former rivals as members of the old City League, to which both belonged until 1968, and the Border League, in which they played through 1973. The two schools haven't played each other in basketball since 1988. An opportunity occurred when Richland dropped CV from its schedule. Friday's game will feature teams who were 1-1 after Tuesday night victories. The Eagles rebounded from a 74-61 season-opening loss to Shadle Park to beat Mead 58-56 on Jade Cardwell's buzzer-beating three. CV, which lost to Kamiakin 76-66 in Kennewick, beat Coeur d'Alene 76-70 at home as Ryan Smith scored 29 points.

1. The West Valley All-Frontier League honorees are Ryan Stockton, Chris Hilsabeck, Ty Gregorak, Sean McLachlan, Clayton Holmes, Jessica Riehle, Jessica Ferguson, Chantelle Frost, Stacey Roberts, Cindy Simpson, Gabrielle McClintock and Dawn Salfer. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. The East Valley all-stars are Paul Shogren, Cara Smith, Trevor Eastman, Chuck Van Note, Tristan Beeman and Christy Grochowski. Not pictured are Ann Marie Adams and Deb Asbury.