Lee Leads Way As U-Hi Wins Own Tournament

Prep wrestling

University and Lakeside matched each other wrestler for wrestler into the final rounds of the Pacific Northwest Classic.

But the Titans, including Reggie Lee at 168 pounds, were unmatched when it came to winning titles.

U-Hi pulled away for a 196.5 to 180 triumph by winning four individual weights.

Lee was named meet outstanding wrestler with his 6-2 victory over Lakeside defending State 2A champion Matt Westenfelder.

“He took away Matt’s double leg takedown and knee block and controlled the ties,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones. “It was a great job of coaching.”

Lee scored three third-period points, including a takedown with 18 seconds remaining for the triumph.

“The first thing Coach told me was if I was going to try something get on it or control an arm the whole time,” said Lee, “so I focused on that.”

University and Lakeside each had five finalists and four other top-six finishers. But in the position matches the Titans won six times and Lakeside just once, Chad Charbonneau’s 275-pound championship victory.

Tommy Owen began things for U-Hi with a technical fall during the 115-pound championship.

In the first of two matchups between Titan and Eagle wrestlers, Conor Jordan won a spirited 7-2 scrap with Adam Christen.

Ben Osborn followed with a late first-round pin to complete the run.

“It’s pretty devastating,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones. “But we had five in the finals and four guys in the backside. So it’s a good day for our school.”

There was elation in the Titans’ camp with the championship of its own tournament.

“It’s the first we’ve won in a long time, which is exciting for the kids,” said coach Don Owen. “They competed hard today.”

He was particularly happy for Lee, who has made huge strides this year.

“Man did he wrestle tonight,” said Owen. “It tickled my heart.”

He also had good words for his other champions. The Jordan-Christen match, he said, was a delight to watch.

“That was like watching two college kids,” said Owen.

Travis Pascoe pinned his way to the 190-pound title as Gonzaga Prep finished third.

Mead had two individual winners, Mark Denholm at 122 and Jesse McCarty at 129. CV’s Blair Alderman was the 178-pound champion and Ferris’s Aaron Sedler won at 215 pounds.

Other winners were Shaun Willey, St. Maries, 101; Corey Owen, Missoula-Sentinel, 108; Ross Kondo, Othello, 129; and Miles Mays, Ellensburg, 158.

Inland Northwest Championships

North Central had two champions and four consolation placers while finishing second in Sandpoint’s Inland Northwest Wrestling Championships.

Dan Harris won at 125 pounds and Tony Biggs at 135 among six Spokane area titlists. Kellogg won the tournament with 158.5 points to NC’s 156.

Among champions were Joben Nuesse, Brandon Morris and Spencer Murphy of Riverside and Juston Demke from West Valley.

Sandpoint sophomore Jake Rosholt, who won the 160-pound title over West Valley state placer Ty Roberts, was named outstanding wrestler of the tournament.