Pascoe Crowned Again Ferris’ Gardner Only Other Champ From The Gsl

On a night that was hard on defending state champions, including a pair of two-time winners done in by Moses Lake’s runaway team titlists, Gonzaga Prep’s Travis Pascoe shone through.

Pascoe capped his amazing career in typically dominant tournament fashion for his third straight state title during Mat Classic XII in the Tacoma Dome.

The win ran his season record to 39-0 and 135-8 overall. Six of those losses came as a freshman at Lakeland High School in Idaho when he finished second in state.

Not as fortunate was another season-long unbeaten, University’s junior Tommy Owen, who was thwarted in his bid to eventually become Spokane’s first four-time champion.

Owen was edged 5-4 by Moses Lake’s Ariel Garza in a match tainted by questioned calls. Owen was one of four Greater Spokane League titlists who wound up second during Saturday night’s finals.

Only Daryl Gardner of Ferris would join Pascoe atop the 4A podium during Mat Classic XII.

Moses Lake, with 156.5 points and three state champions, doubled the score on 4A runner-up Capital and third-place East Valley combined. Garza’s teammate, Carlos Adamy, also defeated a two-time state champion, Capital’s Steve McGettrick, during the siege.

Pascoe, who has typically been at his best at State, won three matches by pin or technical fall to reach the finals and outscored EV’s Josh Birt 14-7, his largest victory margin in five meetings of the pair. He hit a fireman’s carry for a takedown and three near-fall points to open the match.

“This is pretty cool,” Pascoe said. “You win your sophomore year and think you’re pretty tough. You win as a junior and think you’re really tough. When you’re a senior, everyone is coming for you, knowing you’re the one to beat.”

The Nebraska-bound Pascoe was up to the challenge. His coach, Phil McLean called him a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.

“People don’t realize what a special kid they had to watch,” said McLean. “I don’t remember a better kid coming out of this state.”

Owen’s chance to top the three successive titles by Pascoe was ended 5-4 when Garza scored a takedown with 45 seconds remaining. Garza had been awarded a questionable escape to end the second period, and Owen, when in the same position later, wasn’t afforded the same courtesy.

“Garza wrestled really well, but it was criminal for the match to be decided by something like that,” said U-Hi coach Don Owen. “It should have gone to overtime and whoever wins, so be it.”

Gardner’s match did go to overtime and the Saxons senior responded with his third takedown for a 10-8 win over Scott Martin of Central Kitsap.

“I expected to be a state champion,” said Gardner. “I had my mind set on it from the beginning of this day.”

He jumped to a 5-1 lead before Martin rallied, but escaped late in the match to force the extra period.

“He just turned on the juice and it was hard to stop his single-leg takedown,” said Gardner.

Following a celebration after Gardner’s winning move, coach Tim Owen of the fifth-place Saxons recapped Gardner’s season.

“If you would have asked me after Tri-State if he could win State I’d have said not a chance,” he said. “Boy, after that he turned it on and lost only one match.”

Ferris teammate Aaron Sedler lost at 215 pounds to Lincoln’s unbeaten K.C. Walsh. EV’s John Sommer was beaten 5-3 by defending champion Preston Chadwick of Central Kitsap at 112.