Erickson Sparks Bullpups

GSL wrestling

A wealth of experience was on the mat when Greater Spokane League wrestling favorites Gonzaga Prep and University faced each other Wednesday night in an early season dandy.

But it was a first-year Bullpup, freshman 108-pounder Dirk Erickson, who swung the 31-28 outcome his team’s way.

It was a typical Bullpups-Titans scrap, with the outcome undecided in front of a large and appreciative audience until the final match.

But the die was cast in the 10th of 14 bouts. Erickson was trailing when he pulled off a shocking pin with 4 seconds left in the second period.

That set the stage for two close Bullpups victories in the night’s final contests, enabling them to secure a narrow three-point advantage.

“All the kids competed,” said coach Phil McLean, complimentary to both teams. “Sometimes, you can’t control things. You let the kids go and it works out.”

The victory put Gonzaga’s record at 2-0, one of four teams with perfect records. Two others, Mead and Central Valley, meet tonight at CV.

The Panthers defeated Ferris (0-2) 39-26 and Central Valley won 39-25 over Lewis and Clark (0-2).

North Central also improved to 2-0 with a 30-28 win against Mt. Spokane (0-2). In the night’s other match, Rogers (1-1) battered Shadle Park (0-2) 53-18.

Gonzaga won despite a valiant performance by the host Titans.

“Sometimes, you come out prepared, the kids wrestle to the best of their ability and still come out on the short end,” said Titans coach Don Owen.

McLean pulled out the early stops by moving six of his wrestlers up a weight after University’s Conor Jordan opened with a pin. Still, the Titans built a 16-3 lead.

“It didn’t seem like things were going well at all for awhile,” said McLean.

Although several Titans wrestlers performed valiantly, notably Zach Ewers in a 7-4 loss to state placer Sean Malone, Prep caught up at 19.

Then Erickson took his turn. He fell behind Aaron Culler 5-2 in the first period of their match.

Neither scored in the second round until Erickson pulled Culler by his head over the top for the pin just before time ran out.

“He got too high and I grabbed his head and turned him,” said Erickson. “I got lucky.”

Tommy Owen tied the match with a 1-minute pin right afterward, and Magellan Laurich put U-Hi ahead 28-25.

Bullpup Rob Durland, who led 13-3, hung on for a 13-11 win. Rudy Cavasier then rallied from a quick 5-0 deficit for an 11-8 triumph.

Gonzaga had escaped with the win.

“I was hoping it would come to the last match, but didn’t count on Rudy giving up five points,” said McLean. “I don’t know if I can take many more of these.”

Mead rolled up six straight wins and a 26-0 lead against Ferris. The Saxons rallied to within five points, including freshman Blake Yonago’s 7-6 upset of Kelly Compogno at 108 pounds.

But Mark Denholm won by technical fall to right the ship, negating Saxon Daryl Gardner’s 12-9 win over returning state placer Jesse McCarty in the night’s final test.

Blair Alderman’s pin at 190 pounds, sandwiched between a pair of forfeit victories, gave CV a 27-4 lead and the Bears held on against the Tigers.

North Central’s Isaac Robinson won by pin at 275 and the Indians added two forfeit victories, starting a rally from a 22-3 deficit.

Bret Summers won by pin at 122 and Dan Harris won a decision to complete the comeback.

Rogers won the night’s final seven matches, good for 41 points, en route to its easy win over Shadle Park.

The match began to turn when Brian Piper, tied when Jeremy McVay escaped in their 178-pound match, took down and pinned McVay early in the second period.

The last half of the match included three Pirates pins, two forfeit victories, an injury default and a technical fall.