Bears Stand Alone CV Slams Gonzaga Prep, Owns Gsl Lead
FROM SPORTS MENU - REPLAY (Friday, January 16, 1997): Replay Ismael Varnell made his first start of the season Wednesday night for the Rogers wrestling team. He was misidentified in Thursday’s report.
The move by CV wrestler Blair Alderman happened so suddenly even he wasn’t sure what happened.
Alderman’s throw for a third-round pin of Kyle Gleason at 178 pounds, however, propelled the Bears to a stunning 38-20 triumph over Gonzaga Prep in the match between Greater Spokane League unbeatens.
“I don’t know what it was,” said Alderman, “Kind of an underhook, and I threw him to his back, I guess.”
He was leading 10-5 when the throw occurred during a dual that one coach likened to a “chess match in full body armor.”
CV (6-0) took over undisputed first place ahead of the Bullpups (5-1) with three GSL contests remaining.
Elsewhere, Mead (4-2) beat North Central (1-5) 56-10, University (4-2) beat Ferris (3-3) 39-29, Rogers (4-2) beat Lewis and Clark (1-5) 53-18 and Shadle Park (2-4) beat Mt. Spokane (0-6) 36-28.
A noisy crowd taxed the capacity of G-Prep’s gymnasium, filling the stands and spilling onto the floor into spots normally reserved for waiting wrestlers.
The noise built as the contest entered its 10th of 14 matches with the score tied at 17.
Alderman’s pin, followed by three more CV victories, altered its sound.
Tyree Clowe earned a quick first-round pin at 190 pounds
“Blair and I, back-to-back, it never fails,” said Clowe. “Every match we bet each other, if he sticks his, I’ll stick mine.”
Brandon Bouge got the match-clinching decision thereafter and Derek Michielli added bonus points with a surprising pin at 275.
“Unbelievable,” said CV coach Dale Ethridge. “I didn’t plan on a finish that strong. I figured it would be more give and take.”
That’s what wrestling fans got in the early going. CV’s Shawn Conlon gave Chris Montgomery all he could handle at 115 pounds.
With CV gaining the benefit of the coin toss, Ethridge gained the upper hand when deciding which wrestler to put on the mat in the even matches.
As a result, Shane Cunanan met Sean Malone at 135, where his technical fall, followed by Brandon Bishop’s win at 141, helped the Bears to a 17-8 lead.
When the teams got to their strengths, from 158 pounds up, Prep forged a tie behind Nick Bliss and Travis Pascoe.
Bliss beat Courtney Brown by major decision in a match between state placers.
“My match was very important because both of us are athletes we expected points from,” said Bliss.
Alderman turned the tables.
“When we lost the coin flip, we lost it all,” said Bullpups coach Phil McLean, who ticked off four matches where, given the opportunity, he would have altered his line-up.
“I was hoping it would go to the 101-pound match, and it could have,” he continued. “They just took it to us and won all the close matches.”
Mead 56, NC 10
The Panthers lost only once in the night’s first nine matches before NC’s Steve Cumbie won in two overtimes, 4-3 over Keith Stamps.
In a match of two of the league’s better 115-pounders, Mead’s Mark Denholm won by technical fall over Nick Stuart.
University 39, Ferris 29
Six victories, between 129 and 168 pounds in a match of teams coached by brothers Don and Tim Owen, put U-Hi in front for good, 30-12.
But it took a pin by their nephew, Tommy Owen, in the final match, to assure victory.
Shadle 36, Mt. Spokane 28
At Shadle Park, the Wildcats were ahead 18-7 six matches into the meet, but the Highlanders caught up with a technical fall and four pins.
Willie Scott, a freshman who was entered in the heavyweight match at the last minute so the Wildcats wouldn’t have to forfeit, provided the surprise of the meet as he won a major decision over Josh Powers.
Rogers 53, LC 18
At Rogers, the home team dominated the Tigers (1-5) as Brandon Lang (168) made a 52-second pin for the Pirates (4-2).
Ismael Brunell (122), starting for Rogers for the first time, won by a pin at 3:14.
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