Eagles Knock Back Gnl Foe

Prep wrestling

People who aren’t aware of the strength of Lakeside High’s wrestling program haven’t been paying attention.

The Eagles’ 43-12 victory over Colville in a match between Great Northern League unbeatens was ample evidence.

Colville (5-1) won three matches in which the Indians were the clear-cut favorites and one of two contests between unbeaten wrestlers.

But the Indians needed victories in the first three individual contests to have a chance. Although they were suspenseful, three Lakeside victories took the suspense out of the evening.

The Eagles (7-0) stormed to a 40-3 lead by winning nine of the first 10 contests and completed a perfect Great Northern League season.

“This was a huge match for our guys,” said coach Scott Jones. “That’s a good team and it was very climactic for the seniors to end the year with a win in their own gym.”

They did it in front of a full house that required additional bleachers.

The first three decisions were pivotal, unbeaten 122-pounder Tim Weisser beating once-beaten freshman Tim Slater 8-3, scoring all his points in the first period.

Anthony Layton, wrestling despite a painful hyperextended elbow, got two quick takedowns and held on for a 6-4 win over Tom Cahill at 129.

Neither winner was particularly happy with his performance.

“I’m not going to win a state title wrestling like that,” said a disgusted Weisser.

Layton refused to offer the injury, which rendered his right arm nearly useless, as an excuse.

“I should have beat him by more,” he said.

In the first matchup of league unbeatens, Adam Christen got a second-period penalty point and reversal for a 5-2 win.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Christen. “He’s a scrapper. I knew he was tough.”

That early 9-0 start played into Lakeside’s strengths, including pins by Jason Christen and Aaron Laughery that made it 21-0.

Following a win at 158 by unbeaten Colville wrestler Justin Divis, Lakeside rattled off four more victories, two by pin and one by major decision.

The other match of unbeatens went to Colville’s John Slater over Jason Belyea, 6-3. The win in the night’s last match was too little, too late.

“We happen to be a very powerful team,” said Jones, “but I respect this league. Next year it will even out.”

In other GNL matches, Medical Lake (5-2) defeated Deer Park (3-4) 39-24. Anthony Bianche won by pin at 190 to finish the year undefeated, as did Matt Parker at 141 pounds.

Three other Cardinals had only a single loss, and three had two losses during the year.

Riverside (4-3) gave up the night’s final 24 points but won over Chewelah 42-39 by using a four-match string for 24 points of its own from 122 through 141.

Pullman (2-4) beat Newport-Cusick 48-29, winning six matches from 158 through 275, including wins by Brandon McGreevy and Andy Martson.

Frontier League

East Valley left no doubt when it secured at least a tie for its eighth Frontier League wrestling championship in nine years.

The Knights (2-0) steamrollered Cheney (1-1) 69-6, losing only at 215 pounds.

Several Blackhawk unbeatens fell - at 122 pounds where Kevin Woolf won by pin, 129 where Justin Walker won by technical fall, 135 where Jay Campbell won by pin, 168 where Josh Birt won 10-7 and 275 where Mike Eller won by pin.

EV completes the league season Tuesday at home against West Valley.

The Eagles (0-2), lost to Frontier runner-up Clarkston (2-1) 39-18.

, DataTimes