Calls Hurt CV Chances At State Title
Central Valley, which finished as the state’s second-best AAA wrestling team, had its most successful tournament performance ever at Mat Classic VIII.
Within a period of two weeks the Bears set a school record by scoring 329.5 points while winning the District 8 tournament, then won their first Region IV championship while qualifying an all-time best nine wrestlers to state, then had seven of those place at state, resulting in their highest state finish ever. Previous best was fifth.
“We had an outstanding tournament,” said coach Dale Ethridge. “It shows the quality and character of the kids.”
Yet the gnawing in Ethridge’s stomach won’t go away.
He and his coaching entourage will forever be nagged by events of last weekend’s tournament.
Bob Perkes lost his quarterfinal match to eventual champion Mike Mondt, whose win in the tourney’s final match gave Auburn a four-point victory over the Bears, 103.5 to 99.5.
Against Perkes, Mondt continually dragged himself off the mat without so much as a stall warning to preserve a 5-4 lead.
Rick Giampietri’s one-point loss was even more controversial when an apparant stall call was rescinded, costing him a tie.
“I can look a kid in the face and say he lost because he stalls or there is not enough action,” said Ethridge. “How can you tell a kid he lost what he worked for because they gave points and took them away?”
The final team outcome may or may not have changed. The tumult pointed to a tourney weakness.
The games committee, which resolves conflicts in tournaments such as this, would not intercede on CV’s behalf when numerous eyewitnesses saw the stall signal.
“Why is there a games committee if the official can overrule it (even) if he misinterprets a rule?” asked assistant coach Paul Danelo.
The two senior wrestlers came back to finish third. Giampietri became CV’s first 100 match winner, finishing a four-year career which included three district championships and three state appearances with a 103-30 record.
Also third was John Reese, who drew runnerup Kip Hauser of Issaquah in his opener, then won five straight 108-pound matches.
For the second straight year, CV’s Shane Cunanan lost in the semifinals. He placed fifth at 115. Also fifth was 168-pound Shane Yackel. Joe Thiefault was seventh at 178 and Tyree Clowe was eighth.
All five return along with several other varsity veterans.
“Every kid we brought scored points,” said Ethridge. “That’s how we did it the last two weeks. We’re going to build on this.”
Other state placers
A pair of Valley wrestlers from Gonzaga Prep and one from Freeman also placed in the state tournament.
Bullpup sophomores Chris Montgomery at 108 and Nick Bliss at 141 placed fifth and seventh in the AAA tourney. Freeman’s David Aman won 4 of 6 matches to finish seventh in the A-B event.
Good neighbor has bad luck
Thanks to good neighbor University High, Central Valley will be making its annual appearance in the regional basketball playoffs, regardless of the outcome of tonight’s district playoff game against Lewis and Clark.
But the luckless Titans didn’t get a chance to join them.
University’s win at Mead a week ago assured CV second place in league and an automatic spot in the regionals next week.
The victory, however, was not enough to get U-Hi into district. Shadle Park upset league champion Ferris and tied the Titans for sixth.
Saturday night the Titans lost for the third time to the Highlanders.
CV’s third-place girls, with their third win this year over University on Tuesday afternoon, plays second-place Ferris at 3:45 p.m.
Also in the Lamb-Weston regional, the winner stays home for a first-round game, the loser travels.
Favorites, like it or not
Based on history, West Valley basketball coach Joe Feist will have to get used to being the annual league favorite.
The Eagles won their eighth championship (and fifth outright title) in nine years even though nine juniors are on the roster. Nothing will change next year.
Post-season is another story. Nothing separates No. 1 from No. 4 in talent. Cheney is currently the league’s hottest team, outscoring WV 34-10 in the second half of a 60-41 win.
WV opens against Pullman Friday at 9:15 p.m.
East Valley’s girls accomplished what they wanted, reaching the playoffs and finishing with a winning season. The 11-9 Knights play against league champ Cheney at 7:30 p.m.
All games are at Eastern Washington University.
One win away from state
Freeman’s boys basketball team has two chances this weekend to qualify for state.
Back-to-back playoff wins, over Deer Park and Lakeside, put Freeman one win away from the State A tournament.
Friday, 9 p.m. at Mead, the Scotties play season champion Chewelah with the winner advancing to state. Loser plays Saturday at 7:30.
State hopes on line today
Valley Christian faces a loser-out basketball game today against Reardan during the Northeast B district tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.
The upstart Panthers went from fourth place in their division of the Bi-County League to third seed from the league into district by finally beating Liberty 67-65 after three equally close losses.
, DataTimes