U-Hi Could Send A Dozen Wrestlers To Region Tourney

Greater Spokane League wrestling champion University High School will be among the teams expected to advance a large number of competitors from this weekend’s district tournament.

The Titans, like Mead and Rogers, could advance as many as a dozen athletes from district to the Region IV tournament, which is hosted Feb. 10 and 11 by Central Valley High School.

District competition begins Friday night and continues through Saturday at Mead High School. The top four finishers in each of 13 weight classes advance to the state qualifying regional event.

U-Hi No. 1 seeds are Andy Roberts at 122 pounds, Scott Garcia at 141 and Dusty Roberts at 148.

Another favorite is Josh Knowles who was unbeaten at 115 pounds.

University could send two wrestlers to regionals in three weight classes, including Jared Osborn and Craig Bishop at 101 pounds. The team has potential in five other weights as well.

Central Valley should advance at least a half dozen wrestlers to regionals, including returning state qualifier Rick Giampietri and Bob Perkes, the top seeds at 158 pounds and heavyweight, respectively.

Seniors Justin Linerud at 190, Ben Asbury at 178, Dean Jolley at 148, Joel Gehrett at 135 and freshman Shane Cunnanan at 108 are also among the league’s high ranked district competitors. And there are prospects in other weight classes.

Freeman sends large contingent

During a season in which Freeman High School wrestlers compiled a 3-4 Northeast A League record, the Scotties have qualified eight wrestlers to its district event.

The top two wrestlers in each weight class go directly into this weekend’s tournament at Deer Park against wrestlers from the Northeast B League. Four per weight will continue on to regionals.

Included were top-seeded 101-pounder Mike Amend and 122-pound junior Jeff Comstock who were unbeaten in league and 190-pounder Dustin Reed.

Beau Bradley was a second seed at 168.

Also advancing from last weekend’s subdistrict tournament were Jeremy Hardan at 178, Glen Barcus at 158 and heavyweight wrestlers Nick Dixon and David Aman.

District gymnastics next

GSL gymnastics champion University (21-0) and Central Valley (18-3, with the only losses coming to U-Hi) will begin their quests for state berths with district competition Friday at North Central High School.

Four teams and as many as 10 individuals per event not on those qualifying teams will advance to regionals.

The two Valley schools will be heavily favored. During seven meets, the Bears garnered 70 of 84 top three event finishes and the Titans had 62 of 84.

CV had 17 of the highest 21 all-around scores during the meets and U-Hi had 14 of 21.

In meets other than against each other, University’s margin of victory was 15.2 points and Central Valley’s was 11.4.

The Titans scored over 160 points six times with a season high of 169.0 against the Bears’ 168.15 in their second of three meets against each other. CV went over 160 points five times.

First place Eagles to be tested

West Valley puts its unbeaten Frontier League basketball record on the line tonight in Pullman.

The Eagles have a 6-0 league mark and are 14-2 overall.

The host Greyhounds are a game behind, having lost 65-50 when the two teams first met. Pullman is 11-4 overall.

Over the past four games, including last Friday’s 79-57 win over Clarkston, Greg Jones is averaging 25 points per game.

David Schillinger surpassed 20 points for the fifth time in his last six games.

Valley Christian sweeps Reardan

It’s not often that a team with the basketball tradition of Reardan High School is swept by an opponent, but Valley Christian pulled it off.

The taller Panthers beat the Indians for the second time this year. It was part of a weekend sweep that has assured them a winning season.

Valley Christian also moved into third place in the BiCounty League East Division. Season ends this week at Davenport and Sprague-Harrington.

The team won without Austin Gerrells in the lineup, but got double figures from three players, including Phil Spuler who scored 12 points.

Next day against Lind, Gerrells scored 15 points in a nine-point victory.

Lady Eagle Basketball League

West Valley High School’s Lady Eagle Basketball League for grades two through six will begin Saturday with registration at 8:30 a.m.

A $10 T-shirt is the only cost for participants. The free league will include clinics and basketball games for three successive weekends, including Feb. 11 and 18 from 8-11 a.m.

For information call Mark Kuipers at 922-5488.