Sophomores Come Through For U-Hi

A year ago, when University High School won the end-of-season Spokaloo freshman wrestling tournament, Titan coaches figured they had a special class.

Now sophomores, four of those athletes produced three victories, two by upset, and a gutty effort in defeat, to virtually assure the Titans their fourth Greater Spokane League championship in six years.

“The sophomores saved us tonight, didn’t they?” U-Hi coach Don Owen said to a well-wisher after the 41-22 win against Rogers.

Of the sophomore efforts, none loomed larger than that by Sean Tiffany. Wrestling in his first varsity dual, he won by pin, clinching what up until then was an undecided match.

Tom Watson had started the turning tide with an upset. Tom Tran, who normally is U-Hi’s number two 103-pounder, scored four takedowns in the third period for a major decision.

Regular 103-pounder Ryan Montang moved up to 112 against a tournament-tough foe and, although losing by major decision after being denied 5 apparent points, had done what was asked of him.

U-Hi’s seasoned wrestlers produced the other seven wins, including Ben Osborn, who was protecting a shoulder injured in Montana the previous weekend.

U-Hi had placed fourth at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula with Tommy Owen placing first, Osborn and Magellan Laurich second, Josh Buege fourth, Todd Slatter fifth and David Courchaine sixth.

“Our goals at the start of the year were to be in the top five at Tri-State and we were third,” said Owen. “We wanted to win our own tournament and did. We wanted to beat Gonzaga Prep and the last thing was to go undefeated.”

U-Hi is 8-0 with two matches remaining, including the Battle of the Bone next Thursday at home against Central Valley. The Bears stand in the way of U-Hi’s final goal.

“Anything can happen in that,” Owen said of the annual rivalry. “But I tell you what. I like our chances right now.”

Knights just wanna have fun

East Valley wrestled for pride. Now the Knights can wrestle for fun.

After University’s win over Rogers Thursday night, that’s the best advice Hanson can offer his team which must content itself with second place in the Greater Spokane League.

The Knights are competing today in Auburn at the annual Dream Duals against some of the better 4A teams in state.

“If you come out of it with something, that’s fine,” said EV coach Craig Hanson. “But the great thing is you wrestle to have fun.”

EV’s victory on Wednesday over the Pirates was gratifying because it continued the trend of improvement that has characterized the team since its season-opening loss to the Titans.

“I felt if we’d wrestled flat it would be like we would have plateaued,” said Hanson. “In my eyes we’re still on a rise.”

One wrestler on a rise was sophomore Justin Moody who missed the first half of EV’s season.

His stunning pin at 215 pounds helped propel EV past Rogers. Although having lost to his foe, Brian Piper, earlier this year, he didn’t consider it an upset.

“If I considered myself the underdog, I shouldn’t be out there,” he said. “I knew what I was going to do. I was going to beat him.”

Moody played varsity football at 235 pounds. He now weighs 213 and showed remarkable balance and quickness afoot against Piper’s attempts to throw him to his back.

“All that baby fat is coming off him and the man’s emerging,” said Hanson. Josh Birt won by technical fall. Dave Musser and Matt Croskrey won by major decision.

Among EV’s six losses, one by Bryan Lopes at 171 pounds came on his missed attempt for a takedown to force overtime with time running out.

“I was worried at that point, but Josh gets a tech and Moody gets a pin that was just huge,” said Hanson. “It put us over the top.”

Late pins not enough for WV

Adam Aldendorf and Travis Collins finished the night with pins, but it wasn’t enough in their Frontier League wrestling opener.

West Valley lost 45-21 in Colville, getting only a forfeit and Anthony Hernandez’s triumph at 152 pounds for its other points.

Tennis players earn rankings

Two Valley ninth-graders have earned tennis rankings in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States Tennis Association to start the year. Rankings are based on their 1999 performances.

Dayne Kuhlmann of Greenacres Junior High is No. 11 out of 65 in the boys 14 A division. Nathan Fanning from Horizon Junior High is ranked No. 21 in the same division.

Both players train under Kevin Trim at 24-Hour Fitness in the Valley.

The Pacific Northwest region includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia.