At A Glance: Gsl Wrestling

Wed., Dec. 6, 2000

Defending league champion: University Projected finish: East Valley, Rogers, University, Gonzaga Prep, Mead, North Central, Central Valley, Mt. Spokane, Lewis and Clark, Ferris, Shadle Park.

This week’s openers: (tonight) Shadle Park at Ferris, Central Valley at Gonzaga Prep, Lewis and Clark at Mt. Spokane, East Valley at Rogers; Mead at North Central. (Thursday) LC at Shadle, EV at University, Mead at Ferris, NC at Gonzaga, Rogers at Mt. Spokane.

Returning district champions: Ryan Montang, jr., University; Todd Slatter, sr., University; Tommy Owen, sr., University (also, regional champion and state runner-up); Mike Schneider, Mead.

Others to watch: Ezra Bocook, sr., NC, 8th in state; Ismael Varnell, sr., Rogers, 8th in state; state veterans Mike Zinkgraf, sr., Rogers; Josh Heuett, jr., CV; Blake Yonago, jr., Ferris; Andrew Smith, sr., U-Hi; Ryan Van Doren, jr., Mead; Justin Moody, jr., EV; district finalists T.J. Merrell, sr., Mead; Mario Montague, sr., NC; Brian Piper, sr., Rogers.

Outlook: 39 top-six district placers, but only 10 returning state veterans and four coaching changes make this the most unpredictable of league seasons. Coaches have said it’s anybody’s guess, but the guess is that last year’s top four, University, East Valley, Rogers and Gonzaga Prep, will finish there again in some order.

Notable: As inexperienced and young as is this year’s league, 20 of the 38 returning top-six regional placers are from the GSL… . Tommy Owen is a three-time finalist seeking his third individual state title… . Rogers’ Lani Kelp and NC’s Zach Lange are returning seniors who missed last year because of injury… . Veteran coaches Randy Cloke, NC; Shawn Carney, Rogers, and Jason Tebbetts, Lewis and Clark; and newcomers Kelly Kiki, Central Valley; Troy Hughes, Mt. Spokane; and Dusty Roberts, Gonzaga Prep, are all former GSL wrestlers… . Mead coach Phil McLean was a three-time state champion for Deer Park, and Shadle Park’s Mark Miller wrestled at East Valley.

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At A Glance: Gsl Wrestling

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