Prep Borders On Perfect Day Penalty Point Keeps Bullpups From Winning All 13
Gonzaga Prep willed its way into 4A State wrestling team championship contention with a near-flawless first-day performance.
The Bullpups won 12 of 13 matches, losing only on a penalty point to send five of six athletes into the semifinals. They scored a total of 47-1/2 points, second to Wenatchee’s 56. Evergreen-Vancouver is third with 43.5.
Included among the four unbeatens in each of 14 weight classes were two Gonzaga surprises, 101-pound Jeff Zappone and 168-pound Mike Bradley.
“We had a magical first two rounds,” said coach Phil McLean. “It was almost perfect and it could have been.”
Kyle Gleason lost 6-5 to J.J. Arnett of Enumclaw when he was penalized for locking hands with time running out in his 178-pound quarterfinal.
“That was a tough one,” said McLean. “He gave away three points, one at the buzzer which is too late to get back.”
Except for that one disappointment, efforts by Bradley and Zappone were cause for Bullpups euphoria. Exuded Bradley, who is in the 168-pound semis, “We’re all out of our slumps. For me, it was mental. My body knows what to do, but my mind was getting in the way.”
He said that assistant coach Kevin Shines told the wrestlers that he would do the worrying for them while they did the wrestling.
“I had nothing to lose,” said Bradley. “No one’s heard of me or expects much of me. I’m just having fun.”
That was the same approach for his teammates, including Zappone. A fourth-seed from Region IV at 101 pounds, he joined higher-profile teammates Rudy Cavasier, Travis Pascoe and Sean Malone in the semis.
“He doesn’t say anything, he just works, works, works,” said McLean. “That was big for a number four.”
They are among 16 Greater Spokane League wrestlers in the semifinals and a total of 26 from Region IV, nearly half the total.
University advanced three, Tommy Owen, 115, Conor Jordan, 141, and Reggie Lee, 168. Three teams, Central Valley, Mead and Ferris have two semifinalists apiece.
The Bears advanced Blair Alderman, 178 and Tyree Clowe, 215. Panthers are Mark Denholm, 122 and Jesse McCarty, 135. Saxons are Doug Baker and Aaron Sedler, 215.
Rogers 108-pounder Ben Houk and North Central 135-pounder Tony Beggs also made the semifinals.
There were a few skin-of-the-teeth victories, but in most instances, the victors dominated. And in general, the night belonged to Prep.
All six Bullpups will be wrestling today and all six are assured a medal. The semifinalists can finish no lower than sixth. By winning a consolation overtime match after his bitter defeat, Gleason will place no worse than eighth.
“We’re on a mission,” said Malone, who won in a romp and by four points. “We showed up to wrestle.”
Last year, he was a semifinalist at 135 pounds, losing in overtime.
Despite moving up two weights, Malone said, “It’s going to be a little different this year, I assure you. I’ll just go out and work my stuff and see where it takes me.”
Zappone won handily before his 3-2 thriller in the quarterfinals. Pascoe won by technical fall and pin. Bradley won 11-3 and 9-5 decisions.
U-Hi’s Owen teched his way through two matches in a weight class with eight returning state placers. Teammate Jordan started slowly, but won handily twice. Lee won by pin, then escaped with a one-point decision.
So, too, did Mead’s McCarty after an easy first triumph. His teammate, Denholm, unplaced a year ago, made sure history didn’t repeat with a technical fall and an 8-3 triumph in a group that has all four semifinalists from Region IV.
Saxons Baker and Sedler have made the most of their first state appearances. Baker draws Prep’s Zappone in the 101 semifinal and Sedler faces Sumner’s Nyle Chambers, the 215-pound favorite.
Rogers senior Houk, assured himself of a placing with two dominant outings. Beggs hopes to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish.
They’re all in the running for individual titles and the Bullpups are in the team championship hunt.
“For us, we did about as well as we could expect,” said McLean.