Cv,Ferris Matchup Has Appeal
(From Replay, January 8, 1998): Ferris 190-pound wrestler Chad Cluever was misidentified in Tuesday’s story on GSL wrestling. He, not his brother Chris, finished second in the Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament.
One team is fresh off a prestigious tournament in Reno, Nev. The other is coming off a tournament title.
The two, Central Valley and Ferris, headline the return of Greater Spokane League high school wrestling at 7:30 tonight at CV.
CV, who had Shane Cunanan finish third and four others place among the top eight, competed last weekend against 25 other schools in Reno.
Ferris, with nine placers among the top four finishers, captured the Pacific Northwest Classic at University High School.
Ferris’ Saxons pose a concern for Bears coach Dale Ethridge.
“There are several key points,” he said, “including the Zack Moffat-Brandon Brown rematch of the Inland Empire Tournament finals at 148.”
He also pointed to matches at 115, 122 and 178 pounds as crucial.
“We need to do what we did against Mead and not give up big points,” he said.
In other key GSL matches, Gonzaga Prep is at Rogers tonight and at Mead Thursday.
Just getting to Reno was a triumph for CV as flooding forced the Bears to forgo last year’s trip.
“The trip was fantastic,” said Ethridge of his team’s 21st-place finish. “We found out we could compete at a national level.”
The meet pitted wrestlers from 25 schools in 32-man weight brackets. Cunanan lost to unbeaten Sandpoint wrestler and eventual champion Jared Lawrence in the 130-pound semifinals.
“He had beaten two undefeated wrestlers and wanted to test his skills against Jared,” said Ethridge. “Unfortunately, he got caught on his hip and was pinned.”
Ferris had no champions at the PNW, although Moffat and Chris Cluever finished second. Five others placed third, including Joe Claros, who defeated his brother, Jack, while wrestling unattached at 101 pounds. < Sub-regional in the offing
Pending approval of the four-team league’s officials, Frontier League wrestlers will forgo district competition this year in favor of a 3A sub-regional tournament against the Mid-Valley League.
The sub-regional, in February at Moses Lake, will include six Frontier wrestlers per weight in 16-man brackets, said West Valley athletic director Wayne McKnight.
Region IV in Eastern Washington has traditionally been a state wrestling power, but because of the new enrollment classification, it is losing representation.
The KingCo League will join the region, taking away half of the tournament berths.
With a sub-regional, coaches feel the best wrestlers in the two Eastern Washington leagues will get a fair shot at qualifying for state.
, DataTimes MEMO: Cut in Spokane edition