Groom Misses Gsl’s Run On 108-Pounders

Daryl Groom must have agonized while keeping tabs on the 108-pound division at Mat Classic VII.

Greater Spokane League wrestlers earned three semifinal positions last weekend during the Class AAA state wrestling meet at the Tacoma Dome.

Cory Brannon of Gonzaga Prep ultimately topped the field, defeating Mead’s Jon Rugan in the final. Central Valley’s Shane Cunanan made it a 1-2-3 sweep for the GSL by finishing third.

Groom, the 108-pounder from Rogers, missed the state tournament by one place when he finished fifth at the Region IV meet.

Yet Groom, who finished sixth at state as a freshman in 1994, dominated Brannon, Cunanan and Rugan all year. Until it counted, that is.

In GSL matches, Groom defeated state champ Brannon 10-0, edged Rugan 9-7 and needed overtime to top Cunanan 9-7.

Groom won the District 8-AAA title by stopping Brannon 6-2 in the final. At Region, however, Rugan topped Groom in overtime during the semifinals, and Cunanan knocked him out of state consideration with a 2-0 decision.

Perfect

Almira/Coulee-Hartline heavyweight Severin Walsh completed a 35-0 season with the A/B state title.

Walsh was the lone champion from a Class B school.

Select company

Dusty Roberts of University became the fifth Spokane Class AAA wrestler to win two state titles.

Roberts, whose career record was announced as 115-12 at the Mat Classic, won the 148-pound title this year and the 135-pound division as a sophomore.

Previous two-time winners were: Mike Dotson, Lewis and Clark, 1981 and ‘82; Steve Meuer, Mead, ‘84 and ‘85; Gordi LaCroix, Rogers, ‘84 and ‘86; and Toby Holden, Central Valley, ‘87 and ‘88.

The Roberts family owns four of the seven state wrestling titles won by U-Hi athletes. Oldest brother Kevin won in ‘91, youngest brother Andy last year.

Another for Mead

Troy Hughes’ 178-pound state title for Mead was the Panthers’ third in three years and ninth overall.

Donnie Rein won during Mead’s team-title year of ‘93. Josh Morton won last year.

Fall from grace

Ty Smith of Olympic, winner of two previous state titles, advanced to Saturday’s final at 141 pounds.

Smith significantly trailed Kirk White of Curtis after two periods. During the final round, Smith illegally threw White then responded with an illegal jab when the match continued.

Disqualified by officials, Smith stalked from the mat after refusing to shake hands. He gestured obscenely at a photographer poised by the mat then exited to a chorus of boos. He was stripped of the second-place medal.

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