Unlikely Heroes Pace Cv

Prep wrestling

Until two weeks ago, Central Valley’s Jess Hopson thought his wrestling days were over.

Instead he was one of the Bears’ unlikely heroes in a 37-30 Greater Spokane League victory over Mead.

It was CV’s first match of the year and left the Bears trailing Gonzaga Prep and North Central, which each won for the second time in as many weeks.

Hopson scored escape and takedown points midway through the third period of his match against Joe McClellan, for a 9-6 win that clinched victory for CV.

“I wasn’t going to wrestle this year. It ties up your whole winter, and I wanted to have fun,” the senior 129-pounder said.

But the lure of the mats and the fact that his sophomore brother Lucas made varsity brought him out late for the team.

“I was gassed,” he said following the clutch victory. “The rest of the kids are a month ahead of me.”

It was a match played out in front of two former GSL coaches whose sons were important to their teams.

First it was CV freshman Matt Danelo at 101 pounds, whose dad Paul coached the Bears league champions of a decade ago and who is back as an assistant.

Danelo won by pin during a run of seven wins in eight matches that put the Bears ahead 35-15 with four matches remaining.

Then it was Mead sophomore Josh Sicilia, whose dad Rick wrestled for Cash Stone at Mead and who was University’s head coach until two years ago.

The younger Sicilia rallied from an early deficit for a late pin at 122 pounds that kept Mead’s victory hopes alive.

It was the third of such comeback falls that kept CV coach Dale Ethridge on pins and needles.

“I thought the Mead mystique was going to hop up and bite us,” he said, “but it didn’t happen.”

Mead jumped on the Bears early. Joel Edminster rallied from a 10-2 deficit for a shocking pin late in the second round. State veterans tangled next. James Clark, up a weight to 158, made an early takedown pay off against Rick Giampietri.

“All he had on me was weight,” said Clark of the 2-1 win. “I knew if I stayed in good position and didn’t make a mistake, I could beat him.”

CV got going with Joe Thiefault’s pin at 178. Thiefault wrestled last year at Clearwater Valley in Kooskia, Idaho where he was an A-3 state runner-up.

Also key was Shane Cunanan’s 10-4 win over Jon Rugan at 115 pounds.

North Central 40, Rogers 33

Brian Largent’s upset 8-4 victory over James Dawe in the night’s final match secured NC’s thrilling victory.

NC never trailed, leading 37-21 with three matches left on pins by Josh Bocook and Josh Knox. Rogers rallied to within four points heading into the final match.

Gonzaga 47, LC 20

The Bullpups swept the South Hill for its 2-0 record, beating Lewis and Clark a week after winning against Ferris. Included were pins by Dave Rucker at 190 pounds and Daren Ferrell at 275 when both were trailing by substantial margins at the time.

Ferris 47, Shadle Park 16

The improved Saxons buffeted the Highlanders, winning all but four matches. Of Ferris’ 10 victories, four were by pin or forfeit and two others by technical fall.

, DataTimes