Expect ‘Brawl’ Among Gsl Mat Powerhouses Bears, Titans, Bullpups Early Favorites For Title
GSL wrestling
To say that wrestling is in good shape in the Valley may smack of understatement.
The Central Valley Bears return five state veterans from last year, when the Bears won the regional championship and were state runners-up.
With 11 veterans returned from last year’s dual meet third-place GSL team, they are ranked No. 1 in state preseason polls.
One scholastic wrestling magazine even had CV rated No. 2 nationally.
“We earned the ranking last year with our finish at regional and state,” said Coach Dale Ethridge.
Keeping it is another matter.
The University Titans are two-time defending Greater Spokane League champions after sharing the title last year with Gonzaga Prep.
“We haven’t beaten them in the ‘90s,” said Ethridge of the Titans.
University has much of last year’s team back - a team that beat CV for the seventh straight year.
Those two schools, along with the defending co-champion Bullpups, will once again be favored in the GSL when the season begins anew.
“It will be a brawl,” said Ethridge.
Upper weights key for Titans
If the Titans are to repeat as league champions, it will be because wrestlers surface at the upper weights.
“I think we’ll be fairly good through 168 pounds,” said Titan coach Don Owen. “After that it’s anybody’s guess.”
University returns eight top-six district finishers, including six who qualified for regionals. Three of those went on to state.
Andy Roberts is a two-time state champion who returns at 129 pounds for his senior year.
He’ll be joined in that weight by Craig Bishop. Bishop last year was district runner-up at 108 pounds.
State qualifiers Gordon Bash, a junior, and Jared Osborn, a senior, will man the 108 and 115 pound classes, leaving 101 pounds to sophomore Taylor Cosby or freshman Magellan Laurich, if he can make that weight.
Gordon’s brother, Curtis Bash, is a 108 or 115 pounder.
Regional qualifiers Conor Jordan, a sophomore, at 122 pounds and Ed Stretch, a senior, at 141 are also back.
Additionally the Titans have two other top-six district placers and two other varsity regulars and a AA regional qualifier back in the lineup.
Paul Purcell, who finished second at 141 pounds for Riverside in Frontier League districts last year after wrestling at U-Hi as a freshman, will join veterans Stretch and junior Josh Vande Vanter in the 141-148 classes.
Senior Ben Peterson is back at 135 pounds, and Jesse Larson will wrestle at 158.
Sam Butler moves up to 168 pounds.
In the 215 and 275 pound weight classes, junior returnees Ed Pospisil and T.J. Dowling will be joined by newcomer Kendrick Chane.
“The real question marks are 178 and 190,” said Owen. “I see people moving up or young kids who might come on. We’ve got to find somebody who will scrap.”
Pressure’s on for Bears
As far as Ethridge is concerned, it’s nice his wrestling team is getting recognition, but it also creates pressure.
“It’s not as much fun” when faced with those expectations, admitted Ethridge. “But I’d rather fill big shoes than no shoes.”
Junior John Reese, after losing his first match at state, won five in a row to place third at 108 pounds. He’ll wrestle at either 115 or 122 this year.
Two-time state placer Shane Cunanan, also a junior, was fifth at 115, and he’ll wrestle at either 122 or 129. Senior Joe Thiefault, seventh at state last year, returns at 178 pounds. Sophomore Tyree Clowe, who was eighth, is back at 190.
CV’s other state veteran, junior Courtney Brown, is one of three, including senior Brad Smith and junior Loren Kitner, experienced in the 148 to 158 pound class.
Sophomore varsity veterans Matt Applegate and Matt Danelo are in the 101-115 pound range.
Among district veterans are senior Travis Stephens at 129, Jared Ishiguro and Lucas Hopson at 135, junior Andy Bishop at 158 and junior Brandon Bouge at 215.
Junior Reggie Oakes, a district performer two years ago, is back after missing last season with injury.
Freshman 101-pounder Kyle Bush and senior transfers Andrew Steen and Josh Blessinger show promise in mid and upper weights classes.
“We have such fantastic coaches, the technical part is there,” said Ethridge. “My job is to maintain the ship.”
Two of Prep’s best from Valley
Two of Gonzaga Prep’s three returning state veterans hail from the Valley.
Chris Montgomery placed fifth at 108 pounds last year and expects to be at that weight again. Seventh-placer Nick Bliss will wrestle at 148. Both are juniors.
Last year they helped the Bullpups to a piece of their first-ever league championship.
They bring back several regulars with which to contend again.
“Last year we had a lot of luck and things went right,” said Coach Phil McLean. “If things fall in place, we could be right in there.”
Former state champion and last year’s fourth-place 122-pounder, Cory Brannon, returns, as does regional qualifier Tom Brown at 129 pounds, for their senior years.
“He’s really improved,” McLean said of Brown. “I think he’ll be a good surprise.”
Other varsity veterans are seniors Mike Goularte at 115, Valleyite Pat Rusca at 141 or 148, Ryan Turner at 168, Nick Sullivan at 190 and juniors Louis Peyron, who is battling Montgomery at 108, and Matt Betts at 275.
In addition, sophomore Sean Malone, 135-pounds, and Justin Dahman, 178, have varsity experience.
Another Valley athlete, Jason Francis, 215, came late to the team last year.
Varsity hopefuls include juniors Aaron Troy and Matt Walter at 141, and senior Don Weiber and sophomores Matt Largent and Kyle Gleason.
At 101, sophomores Evan Volk and Travis Kays are being contested by Montgomery’s brother, freshman Brandon Duke, a Mountain View Junior High product.
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