Gsl Wrestlers Back On Road

Greater Spokane League wrestlers got home at 1 a.m. Wednesday following the Region IV tourney.

They’re on the road today for a 5-hour trip to Tacoma and Mat Classic VIII.

The regional tournament was postponed until Tuesday because flooding closed roads into Walla Walla, the regional site.

Will that pose a problem?

“Fatigue is our only concern,” said Central Valley coach Dale Ethridge, “and mentally if they worry that the other regions had a full week of practice.”

On the other hand, he said, sometimes the week of practice between region and state is dull and the later regional meet could alleviate the boredom.

“I talked to one coach at regional and he said he hated those practices,” said Ethridge.

The delay didn’t hurt the Bears, who won their first regional and qualified nine wrestlers to state.

Included were two finalists and five third-placers.

“One thing the flood did for us was it got our nervous energy out,” said Ethridge. “We got halfway down there and came back. This time we loaded the bus, got down there and it was to our advantage. We were a little looser.

All told, 32 Greater Spokane League state qualifiers took the trip to Walla Walla on Monday, wrestled into the night on Tuesday and are back on the road for two more days of competition.

Among them is regional 129-pound champion Andy Roberts of University, who is making his second appearance.

Roberts won state at 108 pounds as a freshman, but missed tournament action last year with a broken thumb. He’s only lost twice this season, both to champions from other states.

CV’s Rick Giampietri is making a third straight state appearance after winning the 158-pound crown.

Other regional winners were Brian Lehrman, Lewis and Clark’s junior 101-pounder and Jeff Schmedding, U-Hi’s 215-pounder. Both are making their initial state appearances.

Seven other GSL wrestlers reached the regional finals, four from Mead. Panther James Clark lost his first match this year, by a point.

The Panthers have seven state qualifiers, University has five, Gonzaga Prep four (including defending state champion Cory Brannon), Rogers and North Central two, and Lewis and Clark, Shadle Park and Ferris one apiece.

Frontier berths at premium

Frontier League wrestlers qualified just 16 wrestlers to state out of the 54 available berths.

Included are returning state qualifiers Jeremiah Divis of Colville and Cory Thivierge of Clarkston, who won regional championships, and Frontier Wrestler of the Year Quinn Sharpe from West Valley, third at 115 at the regional.

The league produced eight regional finalists and as many in the consolation finals for third and fourth.

Lakeside contender again

Cashmere, which won Region IV with four champions and a former state champion who placed fourth, will be among the A-B favorites.

Lakeside, by placing seven wrestlers in the Region IV finals, finds itself in the position of state contender again.

Despite its youth - five of the finalists were sophomores and freshmen - in the first half of the matches last Saturday it was the Lakeside against the world.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Mat Classic VIII Date and site: Feb. 16-17, 11 a.m., Tacoma Dome. STATE AAA Last year’s finish: 1, Moses Lake. 2, South Kitsap. 3, Davis. 4, Auburn. Team favorites: Auburn, Central Valley, Snohomish, South Kitsap. Local watch: Cory Brannon, G-Prep, 122 (state champ 108, 1995); Andy Roberts, U-Hi, 129 (state champ 108, 1994); Jon Rugan, Mead, 115 (regional champ, state runner-up 108, 1995); Rick Giampietri, CV, 158 (three-time state qualifier); Fletcher Barkdull, Ferris, 135 (fifth-place state finisher); James Clark, Mead, 148 (regional runner-up, 28-1 record): Shane Cunanan, CV, 115 (third in state 1995); Josh Knowles, U-Hi, 122, (fourth in state 1995). Returning finalists: Tony Vehrs, Moses Lake, 108; Brannon, Gonzaga, 122; Rugan, Mead, 115; Mike Mertel, Kentridge, 122; Nelson Crisanto, 122, Wenatchee; Jamie Quiles, 135, Tumwater; Otto Olson, 168, Everett; Adam Sampson, 178, Oak Harbor.

STATE AA Last year’s finish: 1, White River. 2, Othello. 3, Fife. 4, Monroe. Team favorites: Tahoma, Sunnyside, Bellingham, Lake Stevens. Local watch: Quinn Sharpe, West Valley, 115 (Frontier wrestler of the year, third in state 1995); Cory Thivierge, Clarkston, 178 (regional champ, two-time state qualifier); Jeremiah Divis, Colville, 129 (two-time regional champ). Returning finalists: Jason Parlari, 115, White River; Andy Cook, Burlington-Edison, 122; Benji Villarreal, 122, Othello; Brandon Springer, 148, Monroe.

State A-B: Last year’s finish: 1, Elma. 2, Zillah. 3, Vashon Island. 4, Cashmere. Team favorites: Orting, Cashmere, Blaine, Lakeside, Connell. Local watch: Jason Ogle, 115, Almira/Coulee-Hartline (regional champ, sixth in state in 1995); Clint Umbach, 141, Deer Park (two-time state runner-up at 108 and 129); Anthony Layton, 122, Lakeside (regional champ); Andy Hilzer, 158, Ritzville (regional champ, two-time state qualifier); J.L Chantry, 122, Selkirk (threetime state qualifier). Returning finalists: Cole Denison, 108, Tonasket; Dwayne Magnusson, 122, Blaine; Jay McGuffin, Cashmere, 135; Umbach, 141, Deer Park; Tony Harriman, 168, Blaine.