Titans Want To Challenge Mead Harriers

If the University Titans fail to win the State AAA cross country meet today in their seventh team appearance, it won’t be unexpected.

Eight-time state champion Mead is favored to make it nine in a row when the gun sounds for the 2 p.m. start of today’s AAA state cross country meet in Pasco.

Twice a runner-up, however, the Titan boys aren’t ready to settle for second best.

“We want to take a shot at Mead (today) and see what happens,” said Titan coach Bob Barbero. “We went after them at regional and were where we wanted to be through the first mile. Then we faded away.”

The Titans finished behind Mead 49-99 in regionals. That was no small accomplishment.

Just three years ago the Titans were 0-8 in the Greater Spokane League.

They’ve improved each year since. By last year they were sixth in the region.

A strong showing at the White Pass camp last summer created further optimism.

“During the team race at the end, we scored against the rest of the camp and crushed ‘em,” said Barbero.

And this year’s second-place league and regional finisher has just two seniors in the varsity lineup.

Juniors Seth Mott, Jeff Rees and Dan Chavez and sophomores Kris Martin and Marc Davis are all varsity runners. Sophomore Mike Visintainer is the alternate.

“Kris saved our bacon big time (at regional),” said Barbero.

Martin, who ran much of the season on junior varsity, was U-Hi’s No. 7 varsity runner by regionals and finished fifth for the team and 34th overall in the race.

Seniors are James Berry and T.J. Sulzle. Sulzle is running on a tender knee which wasn’t helped by the sharp turns and side-hill terrain in Richland. Pasco’s fast, flatter course will be more to his liking.

“Mead can fly, too,” said Barbero, “but the Pasco course will probably be better for guys like James and T.J. to get out and roll.”

The Titans have to “keep their stuff together,” said Barbero, but can win a trophy as one of the state’s top four teams.

Racing toward awards stand

U-Hi’s Taraka Campbell laments the fact her teammates won’t be running with her at state.

“It doesn’t feel very good,” she said.

But the Greater Spokane League’s sixth best cross country runner season long, now can point to an individual goal.

“I want to get on the awards stand,” she said.

Top 14 finishers in Saturday’s AAA girls meet will be so honored. Campbell finished a satisfying seventh in the regional meet last week.

EV in playoffs, CV crosses fingers

With football playoff fate out of their hands, Central Valley and East Valley concentrated on their regular season-ending non-league game.

The Knights lost to the Bears 35-7 but learned they had qualified for the State AA playoffs. Despite the win the Bears could only cross their fingers.

With Pullman’s 25-15 victory in Clarkston, EV finished in a second-place tie with Cheney but earned the playoff spot by virtue of its 10-7 win over the Blackhawks earlier this year.

Its reward? A trip to unbeaten Prosser next Friday. The Mustangs, said their coach Tom Moore, are bigger than last year’s state runnerup team.

They have two 270-pound tackles and receivers who stand 6-foot-5 and 6-3 and have caught the lion’s share of 1,800 passing yards.

Because Lewis and Clark defeated Gonzaga Prep Thursday night, Central Valley’s playoff chances hinged on a Shadle Park victory Friday and a successful coin flip among the Bears, Tigers and Bullpups.

The favorable toss for CV would either mean a Tuesday trip to unbeaten Big Nine league champion Kamiakin or second-place Walla Walla.

A Shadle loss and the CV season is over. Regardless of the outcome, CV’s victory produced a fourth-straight break-even or better season.

The Bears are 6-3 overall and return 18 regulars next year.

Included is junior quarterback Chad Adamson, who ran for one touchdown and threw to junior Garrett Graham for another. Adamson was 10 for 20 passing for 114 yards.

Also back is sophomore Tyree Clowe who rushed for two touchdowns and gained 178 of CV’s 299 ground yards.

The Knights ended the regular season with a 5-4 record.

Still time to play YMCA basketball

Practices have begun, but it is not too late for boys and girls in grades four through eight to sign up for YMCA basketball.

Teams have openings and the leagues don’t begin until Saturday, Nov. 16, with a jamboree.

“Many teams have openings and individuals can sign up now,” said youth coordinator Pat Estes.

Call 927-1474 for information.

, DataTimes