University Beats Prep, Ties For Title
Following all the coaching strategy and wrestling performances it came down to this: Gonzaga Prep’s dream of an undefeated season was dashed by University High in overtime of the night’s final match.
The Titans earned a share Greater Spokane League championship with the Bullpups, winning 32-28 on Jeff Schmedding’s takedown a minute into the extra period.
He countered Ciaran Essex’s shot and pancaked his foe to the mat to end another dramatic GSL contest.
“Truthfully, looking back, we did as well as I anticipated,” said Gonzaga coach Phil McLean, whose team had its finest season ever. “It’s tough to be bummed after a match like that.”
University stormed to a 20-3 lead after five matches, including two pins and a technical fall.
Huge was a 9-5 decision by Josh Knowles over Prep state champion Cory Brannon at 122 pounds.
Knowles had lost to Brannon 8-5 in an earlier meeting.
“I was too cautious,” he said. “I knew if I shot I’d score.”
Knowles had three takedowns that his coach, Don Owen, said were of collegiate quality.
Gonzaga’s only win until 135 pounds was by 108-pounder Chris Montgomery, who gave Craig Bishop his first league loss, 3-1.
From 148 pounds on, both coaches were at their strategic best, and things began to fall U-Hi’s way.
Owen wrestled Ed Stretch, who is normally a 135-pounder, up two weights and he beat Pat Rusca 7-3. The win put the Titans up 23-10.
“I wasn’t going to weigh him in but thought they might move Eric Hundahl up,” said Owen. “Because Ed is lighter and quicker, I thought he was the better choice. What an outstanding job.”
Gonzaga rallied to within a point twice, beginning with Hundahl’s narrow win at 158, both coaches moving their wrestlers around for better advantage.
Titan Mike Clark went up to 190 and pinned to make it 29-22. Bullpup Dave Rucker moved up to 215 and did likewise, cutting the margin to 29-28.
A pair of 215 pounders, Schmedding and Essex went to 275, and they battled to a 1-1 standoff in regulation before Schmedding’s winning overtime takedown.
“I pinned him in our tournament but was being real cautious tonight,” Schmedding said. “Coach said to wrestle tough and get offensive, but I didn’t.”
It didn’t matter.
“Phil has a dynamo for a program and we’re just fortunate we didn’t wrestle them at the beginning,” said Owen, whose Titans are champions for the second straight year.
Elsewhere, Central Valley (6-2) tied for third place by breaking from a 15-all tie to win the final six matches and top host Lewis and Clark 49-15.
Four of the Bears’ final five wins came by pin. For the Tigers (1-7), Brian Lehrman (101) wrapped up an unbeaten league season and Josh Dalager (148) edged Loren Kitner 7-6 after trailing 6-2 with 40 seconds left.
At Ferris, Mead (6-2) tied CV for third by winning the final eight matches after trailing the Saxons (3-5) 21-11.
Mead took the lead for good when James Clark pinned Grant Darigol at 148. Joel Edminster (158) and Eric Strom (178) of Mead won tight battles by breaking from 4-all ties in the third round.
At Rogers, coach Ken Pelo ended a 37-year league career as his Pirates (2-6) buried visiting Shadle Park 65-6. Some fifty of Pelo’s former wrestlers were in attendance.
Rogers, which jumped ahead 11-0, received another boost when Kris Clarke (141) scored a takedown with 3 seconds left to beat Chris Roy 4-3. Shawn Howard (122) of the Highlanders (0-8) completed a perfect league slate with an injury default over Daryl Groom.
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