Ev’s Pack Mentality Continues To Work

Enjoy the individual wins, East Valley’s cross country teams say: We have a different goal in mind.

EV’s boys and girls, both 4-0, all but secured Frontier League titles Thursday with double-dual wins at breezy, cold Cheney.

The Knights didn’t run up front, but their pack mentality gave them convincing wins over West Valley and the host Blackhawks.

“We’ve taken individuals to state,” said EV boys coach Dave McCarty “It’s much more fun to go as a team.”

EV’s girls have advanced to state as a team the last two years and won the title both times. After EV placed six runners in the top nine Thursday, Cheney coach Jay Martin said to EV coach Nick Lazanis, “Can you say, ‘Three in a row?”’

“We’re just hoping to peak at district and state,” Lazanis said. “I still think these girls have a better race in them.”

The girls field included 1993 State AA champion Jessica Riehle of WV, ‘94 state champ Jeannette Zimmer of Cheney and ‘95 District 7-AA champ Angie Simmers of EV.

Zimmer, who missed state last year after a subpar district, broke away from Riehle and EV’s Cara Smith and Ann Marie Adams to finish the 3 miles in 18 minutes, 59.3 seconds. She broke Riehle’s course-record 19:02 set last year.

“I just kind of came out and said, ‘Let’s see what happens,”’ Zimmer said. “With these kind of (top runners), you don’t know what will happen.”

Runner-up Smith (19:20) beat third-place Riehle (19:34) for the first time. WV (4-1) captured places 11-15 to beat Cheney (1-4).

WV’s boys (4-1) had power up front, as senior Clayton Holmes (a course-record 16:19) used his long stride to hold off sophomore teammate and fellow beard-grower Sean McLachlan (16:21) in the stretch.

“Sean was right on me all race,” Holmes said. “He was telling me, ‘Let’s go, let’s push it.”’ WV had little support, however, and third-place Ryan Skinner (16:53) led an EV pack that picked off five of the next seven places.

Cheney’s boys fell to 0-5.

In other league meets, Riverside’s boys and girls improved to 4-1 with home wins over Colville at Bear Lake. Riverside’s Jon Ashcraft (16:22 for 3 miles) beat teammate Bill Warner by 5 seconds in the boys race, while Skyler Johnson of Colville (1-3) was another second back. Crystal Evans (20:12) of Colville (2-2) broke away late in the girls race to beat teammate Kyley Kirby by 14 seconds; Nora Zaprzalka (20:38) led the Rams’ team win.

At Clarkston, the host Bantams boys (2-3) beat Pullman (1-3) behind winner Paul Abernathy (16:04), who led all the way. Pullman’s girls (1-3), topped by winner Eryn Cook (19:07), easily beat Clarkston (0-5).

Frontier girls soccer

Standings remained unchanged, as league-leading WV (9-3-1, 9-2-0, 27 points), second-place Deer Park/Riverside (9-1-1, 8-1-1, 25) and EV (9-3-1, 8-2-1, 25), and fourth-place Cheney (6-5-2, 6-3-2, 20) all won.

Cheryl Nelson scored on a throw-in from Dawn Salfer, then fed Brooke Simpson for another goal as WV notched a 4-0 win over visiting Medical Lake (2-10-1, 2-8-1, 7).

Bernice Stime scored twice in the first 10 minutes, then had one of the three assists on Tracy Koesel’s second-half goals as DP/R rolled to a 7-0 win over visiting Clarkston (0-10-1, 1).

Kristina Manchester’s score 5 minutes into the match guided visiting EV to a 3-1 win at snowy Colville (2-9-0, 2-8-0, 5). Lindsay Day’s goal at 62 minutes put the Indians within one goal until Amanda Harvey added a late score.

Fullback Terra Pischel lofted a kick into the far corner at 62 minutes as visiting Cheney overcame goalkeeper Erin Wahl and Pullman 1-0. The Greyhounds are 3-5-2, 3-4-2, 11.

Frontier volleyball

Clarkston (4-4) remained in fourth place as Tracie Thayer had three kills and eight blocks in a 15-3, 15-5, 15-13 win over visiting WV (2-7).

Liza Mustard’s 13 assists and four aces guided Cheney (3-5) to a 15-7, 15-4, 15-12 win over visiting Riverside (0-9). Anna Getz added four kills and four digs for the Blackhawks.

, DataTimes