Clark Big Gsl Story For Region Mead Wrestler Moved Up To 148 This Season And Is Undefeated

When Mead’s James Clark steps into the fire of Region IV AAA competition he’ll bring with him the Greater Spokane League’s only unbeaten record.

The Panther 148-pounder has compiled a 26-0 record during this, his senior season.

Clark is one of 41 returning regional wrestlers and 21 state veterans, including 14 state placers, back for more from the GSL and Big Nine.

He is up two weights from 135 pounds last year and often wrestled at 158 pounds in the GSL.

“I did it for team points,” said Clark of his 5-0 record at the higher weight. “Almost every other team had their best or a better guy at 158. Wrestling bigger, stronger guys helped.”

Included were wins over district champion Rick Giampietri from Central Valley and runner-up Mike Caballero from North Central.

While compiling his unbeaten mark, Clark won championships of the Deer Park Invitational, Inland Empire Classic, Mead Tournament of Champions and Pacific Northwest Classic. Clark is one of a number of outstanding wrestlers in a traditionally strong region.

Wenatchee’s Nelson Crisanto is back to defend his 122-pound title, joined in that weight class by last year’s 108-pound titlist Cory Brannon of Gonzaga Prep.

The 122 class is loaded with six regional veterans and three state placers, including defending champ Nelson Crisanto of Wenatchee.

Seven of eight entrants in the

115-pound class are regional returnees, five with state experience.

At 108, state runner-up Tony Vehrs of Moses Lake returns along with four others with regional experience. District champions Central Valley and Wenatchee led their respective leagues with 13 and 11 regional qualifiers.

A/B teams face stronger foes

While Lakeside High stormed through league and district competition, coach Scott Jones is hesitant about what to expect during Region IV competition at Mead.

“The other side of the region is tougher than it has normally been,” Jones said. “We have three pretty good schools here but all three are pretty young.”

District 6 will bring nearly 30 regional veterans to the tournament, including defending state champions Jay McGuffin of Cashmere, Cole Denison of Tonasket and thirdplacer Dusty Lane from Cashmere.

Lakeside won seven district titles in seven tries and is sending 14 wrestlers to regional. Remaining schools divided up the other 42 spots with 9 Class B teams gaining 19 berths.

AA wrestlers have tough task

Frontier League wrestlers get just three entrants to the Mid Valley League’s five when Riverside High hosts the AA regionals.

Last year, the Mid Valley produced 20 of 26 finalists. Nine Frontier wrestlers with regional experience return, including state third-placer Quinn Sharpe from West Valley.

Colville 129-pounder Jeremiah Divis, Clarkston’s Cory Thivierge (178) and East Valley’s Matt Eastman (135) qualified for state. Three Riverside wrestlers, Matt Morin at 168, Dan Kruger at 158 and Adrian Bojorquez at 129 last year went to the State A/B tournament.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: REGIONAL WRESTLING AT A GLANCE Region IV AAA Date and site: Fri.-Sat., Walla Walla H.S. Last year’s finish: 1, Moses Lake. 2, Mead. 3, Davis. Most entrants: Central Valley 13, Wenatchee 11, Mead 9. Returning individual champions: Corey Brannon (G-Prep) 122 (first in state, 1995). Nelson Crisanto (Wenatchee) 122 (first in state, ‘95). Rees Chlarson (Moses Lk.) 135 (third in state, ‘95). Shane Anderson (Walla Walla) 141. Nic Oord (Pasco) 275. Returning regional wrestlers: 41. Others to watch: 129: Andy Roberts (Univ.) state champ 1994. 108: Tony Vehrs (Moses Lake) second at state 1995. 115: Jon Rugan (Mead) second at state 1995. Shane Cunanan (Central Valley) third at state 1995. 122: Josh Knowles (Univ.) fourth at state 1995. 129: Eli Zamora (Moses Lake) third at state 1995. 148: Ryan Gutzwiler (Wenatchee) fourth at state 1995.

Region IV AA Date and site: Fri.-Sat., Riverside H.S. Last year’s finish: 1, Othello. 2, Prosser. 3, Eastmont. Most entrants: Ellensburg 10, Sunnyside 9, Toppenish 9, Selah 9, East Valley-Spokane 9, West Valley-Spokane 8, Eastmont 8. Returning individual champions: Jorge Ruiz (Sunnyside) 101. Marcus Mays (Ellensburg) 115. Benji Villarreal (Othello) 122 (defending state champion). Jeremiah Divis (Colville) 129. Returning regional wrestlers: 33. Others to watch: 115: Quinn Sharpe (West Valley), third in state 1995. 122: Gabe Nunez (Selah) third in state 1995.

Region IV A-B Date and site: Feb. 9-10, Mead H.S. Last year’s finish: 1, Cashmere, 2, Lakeside. 3, Riverside. Most entrants: Lakeside 14, Cashmere 13, Quincy 12. Returning individual champions: Cole Dennison (Tonasket) 108 (state champion in 1995). Marshall Newberry (Cashmere) 129. Jay McGuffin (Cashmere) 135 (state champion in 1995). Cameron Smith (Cascade) 178. Brian Koch (Cascade) 215. Returning regional wrestlers: 37. Others to watch: 141: Clint Umbach (Deer Park), second at state 1995. 158: Dusty Lane (Cashmere), state champion in 1994, third in 1995.