Lakeside Wrestling Tucks Two Tourney Wins Under Belt
Lakeside High continues to add laurels to an already acclaimed wrestling program.
Last year’s State A/B champions have won two invitational tournaments this season against the biggest and best schools in Eastern Washington.
Last weekend, on the heels of their victory in the Deer Park Invitational, the Eagles won Central Valley’s Inland Empire Classic.
“By far that was the biggest tournament we’ve won with the exception of state,” said coach Scott Jones. “I’m humble enough to know it’s a once-in-a-while type of deal.”
Among the teams Lakeside outscored were last year’s State AAA runner-up Moses Lake and AA state champion East Valley. The Eagles also have beaten Greater Spokane League and Big Nine champions during their two-weekend successes.
“Those are pretty impressive teams,” said Jones. “I have so much respect for them. At the same time we’ve got a group of five kids who wouldn’t surprise me if they were in the finals of any tournament.”
Aaron Laughery and Sean Wheeler were individual champions. It was Laughery’s second straight 148-pound title. Wheeler finished second at 178 the week before in Deer Park.
Jason Belyea, Anthony Layton and Matt Westenfelder finished second at 115, 129 and 168, respectively.
Three other placers were Adam Christen, third at 135, and Robert Paintner and Jason Christen, fourth at 101 and 141.
The Eagles finished with 181 points, ahead of Moses Lake’s 151 and Central Valley’s 150. CV finished second in state at the AAA level two years ago.
“It’s a great confidence booster for the kids,” said Jones, “but I try to keep it in perspective. We don’t want to peak right now; it’s all about getting better.”
As Wheeler told his teammates after they accepted the trophy, even though winning was a lot of fun, the great thing was they got to wrestle tough foes. The Eagles all have things to work on to get better, he said.
The bulk of the season lies ahead.
Rogers in heady atmosphere
Two weeks into the basketball season, the Rogers Pirates boys and girls teams are enjoying perfect starts.
Both are 4-0 heading into tomorrow’s doubleheader at Mt. Spokane. Sam Dempsey, the Pirate’s 6-foot-6 junior post, has been a major offensive catalyst with a pair of 23-point outings.
He had half of Rogers’ points during the 46-35 league-opening victory over Shadle Park. They won that game without 6-4 junior Greg Pugh, who had averaged 12.5 points in two pre-season games.
Pirate girls nipped the previously unbeaten Highlanders 50-48 in their Greater Spokane League opener.
Angel Fairbanks has averaged 17 points per game so far for the Pirates.
Rogers and Mead were first-week boys winners in the GSL. But the highest scoring duo comes from North Central where guards Chris Blotsky and Chris Allen were averaging 22 and 17 points per game, respectively.
Highlander girls scoring has been balanced among five players, including Sarah Harchuck, with a 16-point average.
In featured games Friday, Mead hosts Lewis and Clark’s boys and girls, Shadle Park is at Ferris and NC is at Gonzaga Prep. The doubleheaders have a 6:45 p.m. start.
Teams will then take a break until Jan 3.
Mead completes arduous start
Mead’s wrestlers tonight are completing an arduous start to the GSL season.
The Panthers hosted league favorite Central Valley Wednesday night and now face defending league champion University before breaking for the holidays.
Rogers is at Ferris and North Central at CV in other key matches beginning at 7:30 p.m.
, DataTimes