G-Prep, Shadle Park Keep Rivalry Friendly
Shadle Park cross country coach Bob Isitt received a congratulatory e-mail on Sunday from Gonzaga Prep runners Adrienne Isgrigg and Robin Bell.
The Highlanders girls team, ranked No. 1 in 4A, narrowly defeated the Bullpups 27-28 last Wednesday in a meet at Ferris.
Isitt appreciated the gesture, though he’s unsure how they found his e-mail address. Perhaps on the Web site for state cross country, he said.
“I think that was a class act on their part,” he said. “We’re rooting for them and they’re rooting for us.”
Why such a friendly rivalry?
Because Shadle hasn’t won a league title since 1979 and G-Prep never has. The Bullpups have never qualified for state and it’s been since 1979 for the Highlanders.
“Gonzaga is an outstanding team,” Isitt said. “I feel fortunate we won.”
Frankie Stone and Heidi Sawatzky held off G-Prep’s Beth Leonetti for the victory. Stone finished sixth and Sawatzky seventh.
“Frankie and Heidi obviously were sky high,” Isitt said. “It was a big win for us. They were the preseason favorite so we’re excited.”
Isitt said his top three runners - Lanaia Jones, Chelsey Latendresse and Erin Krogel - were disappointed and hoped to improve on their performances. They were third, fourth and sixth, respectively against G-Prep.
The Highlanders had another important meet Wednesday against Mead and University. Both teams were 6-1.
Kristin Wellman won state for Shadle in 1989.
Big game for Riverside soccer
Riverside soccer coach Kevin Moon is hoping for a quick start when his team hosts Pullman in a Great Northern League battle at 4 p.m. today.
“When we establish our game early we do well,” Moon said.
A win by the Rams will give them the league title and home-field advantage for the playoffs. They beat the Greyhounds 1-0 on Sept. 29 at Pullman.
The Rams may be without Tracy Koesel, who scored the game-winning goal late in the game last time against the Greyhounds. She is recovering from a stress fracture in her shin.
The game features two of the league’s top scorers in Riverside’s Larissa Mueller (22 goals at week’s end) and Pullman’s Kelly Pritchard (16). Riverside’s Jamie Rizzuto (14) and Brooke Dornquast (10) also are high on the list for goals leaders.
NC savors Prep win
North Central football teams hadn’t beaten Gonzaga Prep (3-3) since 1991. And, boy, did last week’s 16-14 win come at a good time for the Indians (2-4), who had lost three in a row. The Indians had lost 14 GSL games in a row entering this season.
Senior quarterback Nick Froscheiser led the way with 111 yards rushing on 12 carries and running back Steve Cumbie carried 26 times for 110 yards.
In other GSL football news, Mt. Spokane (4-2) plays an important game at 6:15 tonight against Ferris (3-3) at Albi Stadium. Both teams are in the hunt for one of the league’s four playoff spots.
But this one isn’t bigger than any other game, says Mt. Spokane coach Mike McLaughlin.
“We’re in a position where we’ve got to hold our own,” he said.
Smith ties record
Lakeside’s Trevor Smith equaled the cross country course record at Colville Elks Golf Course and led his team over Colville 22-35 in an Oct. 13 matchup of the Great Northern League leaders. Both teams were 4-0.
Smith crossed the finish in 16:31 to tie the 1996 mark by Colville’s Kory Sullivan.
Teammate Trevor Blackwell was second in 16:34.
Ouch! and other soccer news
North Central sophomore soccer player Shawna Christian suffered a concussion after hitting her head on the ground with 5 minutes left in a 3-1 win over Rogers on Oct. 14. She’s supposed to be back this week. Coach Tim Cox said he appreciated that the Rogers players wrote a get-well card to Christian.
The Indians recorded their biggest win of the season Friday, a 1-0 victory over Mt. Spokane. But the statistics reported to the paper were off. Lindsey Snider scored for the Indians on a pass from Kristin Walters. Kim Bowser played goalie and made five saves.
“They’re a team that has beat some pretty good teams,” Cox said of the Wildcats. “Finally we were at almost full strength for the first time.”