Mountain View Is King Of The Hill Under Smith

Mountain View Middle School’s Dave Smith wanted to create respect for his wrestling program.

He established a dynasty instead.

In 13 years as the Lancer coach, Smith’s teams have posted 10 undefeated Spokane Valley Junior High Activities League championship seasons.

They have won the last six in succession, 42 straight matches in all. This year’s average victory score was 88-21.

For added perspective, in a 20-match end-of-season tournament last year, the Lancers had 15 finalists. Seven other schools combined for the remaining 25.

Overall under Smith, Mountain View has compiled an 82-8 record.

Not bad for a person who characterized his own high school wrestling career as less than sterling.

“I enjoyed baseball more and wanted a college scholarship,” he said. “My senior year I kind of wimped out and didn’t put the time in I needed to make state.”

It was a lesson learned and one he teaches annually to his young Mountain View athletes.

“Every year I tell them I blew my shot,” said Smith. “I use it as a motivating tool.”

The unpretentious Smith, a 1978 Central Valley graduate, was a fine baseball player for the Bears and at Whitworth College.

But, he said, he respected then-wrestling coach and current CV activities coordinator Jay Rydellm, after whom he patterns his coaching style.

“The kids put him on quite a pedestal,” said Smith. “The things he worked on mentally we try to instill in our kids.”

At Mountain View he has benefitted from the expertise of former East Valley High coach Rick Leifer.

“I feel our kids have the best techniques,” he said. “Rick knows more than most coaches.”

Coaches of other sports, including his other assistant, Jim Stookey, have helped put more than 70 wrestlers a year in the practice room.

Hired at Mountain View in 1984, the earth sciences teacher took a wrestling team that hadn’t won in two years to a 3-3 record his first season.

The next four seasons, the Lancers didn’t lose. And they haven’t lost in the last six years.

“At first I tried to get any athlete to turn out,” said Smith. “There was no junior program, we’d just fill with green bodies.”

The wrestlers merely “banged on each other” during practices that extended to Saturdays, in order to improve.

He credits Dean Jolley’s successful junior program with allowing the coaches to now spend more time on technique.

The results are evident. East Valley, manned with Mountain View graduates, has won six of the last seven Frontier League championships.

It’s gone beyond just the Knights. His former charge and current friend, Mike Marzetta, competed collegiately at the University of Minnesota and is currently a volunteer assistant coach at CV.

Last year, former Lancers placed at state for other high schools. Riverside’s Randy Kruger finished second in the AA tournament. Gonzaga Prep’s Chris Montgomery and Nick Bliss were AAA placers.

“Put them in EV’s lineup last year and they’d have been tough,” said Smith.

He’s never considered coaching above the middle school level, preferring the shorter 7-week season which allows for more family time.

Smith likes coaching wrestling because of its aura.

“I like the fact it doesn’t discriminate by size,” he said. “A 97-pound kid can succeed like a 6-foot-5 basketball player or someone who throws a baseball 90 miles per hour.”

Although his numbers were down this year, Smith hopes to keep the Mountain View streak intact.

Stookey doesn’t doubt he will.

“He’s a good person,” said Stookey, “besides being an outstanding coach.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo