Mt. Spokane Goes Up Against Defending Champs
GSL wrestling
Seven state placers from among veteran North Side Greater Spokane League wrestlers begin the Mat Classic quest tonight.
Gonzaga Prep and U-Hi are considered the league favorites. Mead and defending GSL titlist Central Valley have tradition on their side.
“Until CV is beaten, they’re the champions,” said Mt. Spokane coach Larry Stranahan.
His team, winless last year, jumps right into the GSL fire by traveling to CV, last year’s state champion.
First GSL matches include Mead at home against Shadle Park, off one of its best seasons in recent years.
Rogers hosts University, North Central is at Lewis and Clark, and Gonzaga Prep is at Ferris in other openers.
The Pirates have a new coach in Rogers graduate and former state champion Shawn Carney.
Of note, the Washington Dream Duals, begun six years ago by second-year Mead coach Scott Bliss while at Auburn, will be in Spokane for the first time.
The six best dual meet teams in four enrollment classifications - 24 teams in all - will participate Jan. 23 during the competition.
“It was my decision because I started it,” said Bliss of the plan to rotate the contest between Auburn and Mead. “Coaches from this side had been putting pressure on me the last couple of years. It’s only fair.”
Prep remains in title hunt
Second last year, Gonzaga Prep has six returning starters and nine top-six district placers seeking a return to the top of the GSL.
“Many of our young wrestlers saw some action at the varsity level last year,” said coach Phil McLean. “We should improve as the year moves on.”
Three Bullpups are returning state placers, including defending champion Travis Pascoe, up two weights to 190. Finishing sixth at state were Kyle Gleason, 178, who is currently nursing an injured shoulder and Sean Malone, 148.
Senior regional veterans are 215-pound Doug O’Coyne and 135-pound Rudy Cavasier.
Other district placers include senior Evan Volk and junior Brett Roberts at 115 or 122, junior Greg Healy at 129 and senior James Deidesch at 141.
Additionally, junior Jeff Zappone was a 101-pound regular. He is being pushed by freshman Luke Kuhn, said McLean.
Sophomore 158 pounder Bruce Hart and 178-190 pounder Will Tombari wrestled some varsity.
Others who could fit in the Bullpup lineup are freshman Dirk Erickson at 108 pounds, sophomores John Ulmen and Mark Hughes, both 122, sophomore Greg Durland and junior Shaun Sorey at 129.
Battling Hart are juniors Danny Pearson and Jeff Brucick.
Senior letterman Mike Bradley is a 168-pound candidate along with freshman Kyle Malone and sophomore Josh Thorn.
Junior Ian Brown is at 178-90. Letterman Eli Hansen and sophomore Luke Orlando are 215-275 prospects.
Panthers continue to adapt
Last year amounted to a learning experience for both Mead wrestlers and coach Bliss.
The Panthers shared third place in league, but got only three wrestlers deep into the post-season.
“I think last year I was kind of on the outside looking in,” Bliss admitted. “In the dual meet phase of it we were pretty close, but the post-season wasn’t what we expected or wanted.”
This year, five returning starters and their peers would like to improve on that beginning.
“It’s a totally different atmosphere,” said Bliss. “Now they know my expectations and I know their abilities.”
Seniors Mark Denholm and Jesse McCarty are returning state veterans. Denholm was unplaced after finishing third the year before. McCarty finished seventh.
They’ll wrestle at 122 or 129 pounds and 135 respectively.
Regional veteran Travis Smith is back, at 215 pounds, as is district placer Kelly Compogno, now at 108 pounds.
Other wrestlers with district or varsity experience are Tony Russell and junior T.J. Merrel at 129 pounds, Chris Layton at 135, Kevin Klaus and Seth Knutson at 141, and Adam Johnson and Brett Sicilia at 148.
“In the middle weights we have a lot of experience,” said Bliss.
Rogers transfer Dusty Neeson is one of a young group of wrestlers competing between 101 and 122 pounds. The weights between 158 and 178 are question marks.
“That’s where it’s going to hurt us in dual meets,” said Bliss
But at 275, Josh Tindal and Mike Schneider show possibilities.
New coach has high hopes
New Rogers coach Shawn Carney has high hopes for his first team.
“I think we have a great mix,” he said. “A lot of guys have spent a lot of years wrestling. Even the younger kids have experience.”
Leading the way is defending district champion and state veteran Ben Houk at 108 pounds.
Varsity and district veterans include Anthony Kelp at 129 pounds, Ty Beason, 122, Tony Kenyon, 135, Cameron Sims, 141, Mike Piper and Zac Depue, 158, John Smith, 168, Dave DeCaro and Danny Gonzales, 190, and Adam Lindsay, 215.
Joining them are a group of strong sophomores who won the Spokaloo freshman city tournament.
Mike Zinkgraf is at 101 pounds, Matt Kelly, Will Jesse and Brandon Daily are competing for 115.
Ismael Varnell is a 122 pound candidate. Kevin Shaw and Lani Kelp are at 141 or 148.
Two Spokaloo champions, Brian Piper and Antonio Mantese are vying at 178 and Kyle Steinmitz is at 275.
“The sophomores are not used to losing,” said Carney, “but they are competing with juniors and seniors. There’s definitely a lot of learning going on.”
Shadle has everyone back
With 12 of 14 starters back, the Highlanders could continue the move upward that resulted in a 3-5-1 league record last season.
Coach Mark Miller’s concern is that most have moved up in weight leaving the lower weight classes, particularly 108 pounds, uncovered.
Shadle is led by regional qualifier Kevin Olson at 190 pounds and district placer Ty Schuetzle at 158.
Varsity veterans include Justin Eballer at 101, Makary Hutson at 122, Jared Lee, up three weights to 129 pounds, Scott Doughty at 148, Matt Largent at 168, Jeremy McVay at 178, Adam Sonduck at 215 and Josh Powers at 275.
Another returning starter, James Gerber, is currently behind senior Nick Brandon at 135. District competitor, senior Chris Ferraro, backs McVay.
Prospects are freshman T.J. Guttromson at 101, Casey Matthews at 108-115, senior Ryan Reid at 141 and Matt McMurtrey at 148.
Young wrestlers bolster NC
A core of 10 veteran wrestlers - including one state placer, one regional qualifier and a district top-six finisher - will be bolstered by a good-sized group of youngsters.
“We only have two or three seniors in the room but the outlook is promising with a committed group of sophomores and juniors,” said 13-year coach Randy Cloke.
Among them are state fourth placing junior, Tony Beggs, sophomore regional veteran Morgan Ball and district placer Dan Harris.
Beggs moves up to 141 or 148, Ball is at 108 or 115 and Harris is at 135.
Other veterans include senior 178-90 pounder Steve Cumbie, junior 215 pounder Chris Stewart and 275 pounder Dan Delozier.
Experienced sophomores are Brett Summers, 122, Jason Neumiller, 129, Victor Himes, 135 and Ezra Bocook, 168.
Promising sophomore newcomers are 141 pound Mario Montague and 275 pound Isaac Robinson.
Mt. Spokane seeks improvement
With virtually its entire lineup returned, the Wildcats are hopeful for improvment in their second GSL season.
“The ones who didn’t come back wasn’t because of graduation,” said coach Larry Stranahan. “We’re taking small steps at a time, hopefully to win a dual meet or two.”
Thirteen wrestlers who either started or saw some varsity action will be in the lineup.
Among them are district placer Landon Crecilius who has moved up three weights and is wrestling behind 148-pound returnee Mike Bafaro.
Curt Bailey will be up a weight to 108 with Joe Marek returning at 115 pounds for the team. Greg Peterson, who wrestled varsity three times at 101, is now a backup 122 pounder.
Ryan Pauley returns at 135 pounds, Adam Gumke remains at 141 and Ben Riddle at 158.
Ryan Dunford moves up to 178 pounds and Robert Smith down to 168. Bobby LaBelle is up a couple weights to 190, while Jerome Simmons, last year’s 190 pounder, backs returnee Matt Dunford at 215.
Willie Scott saw some 275-pound action last season. He is being contested by Brett Price.
Newcomers include 101-pound sophomore aWillie Heintz, freshman Paul Evenson at 122 and Jeremy Self at 129.