Keeping The Pace Mt. Spokane, Mead, Shadle Park State Ranked; North Central May Surprise; G-Prep, Rogers Building

GSL boys cross country

Nothing has changed from last year. Three of the league’s top four boys cross country teams remain situated on Spokane’s North Side.

Mt. Spokane and Mead finished second and third in state last year. Shadle Park finished fourth in league and fifth in the region.

All three are again ranked among the state’s top seven teams. Additionally, Mead, picked sixth, and Mt. Spokane, 10th, are among three Greater Spokane League teams ranked nationally.

“Two teams in the top 10 from Spokane is amazing,” said Mead coach Pat Tyson. “It’s unbelievable.”

Several of the state’s best distance runners are represented in those teams, including defending Shadle Park state cross country champion Michael Kiter, Mead fourth-placer Chris Fayant and Mt. Spokane seventh-placer Cameron Schwehr.

Small wonder that coaches believe this year’s league will be stronger than last year.

“I think on paper a lot of people are going to pick us,” said Tyson. “But if you have a down day, they’ll beat you.”

It didn’t take long to establish a pecking order. The league’s very first meet at Finch Arboretum on Wednesday pitted the Wildcats, Panthers and Highlanders against each other.

But even winning that was just one small step of many as several GSL teams jockey for state supremacy.

“You know how this league is, you have to get better each week,” said Shadle Park coach Ivan Corley. “You have to keep everybody healthy mentally and physically and peak at the right time.”

Mead team experienced but young

Last year’s league and regional champions included five sophomores who at varying times started.

Which may, in part, explain why the team dropped to third in state last season after its earlier successes.

“I wouldn’t call it devastating; we knew there were three great teams,” said Tyson. “But it was kind of a bummer because the door was open.”

This year’s Panthers are experienced and a title contender again, but they remain young.

Senior Chris Fayant has been running well. Jesse Fayant leads the junior group that has been susceptible to injury.

Jesse Fayant missed the end of last season, Tim Schuermer fell on the ice last winter and broke his ankle, requiring surgery to insert screws. And Bryan Becherini suffers from tendinitis.

“If we get owies, we’re vulnerable,” said Tyson.

If not, the Panthers again will be in the thick of league, regional and state championship races.

Wildcats build on past success

A combination of experience and young additions will keep Mt. Spokane among the state’s elite.

“We have 10 kids who have a real good shot at being on varsity,” said coach Craig Deitz. “The only one probably fairly secure is Cameron.”

Schwehr was state 1,600 meter champion last spring in state track.

He’s one of five state cross country veterans on the second-place finisher. Tyler Hartanov, Leif Olson, Josh Koeller and Nathan Sharpe are the others. Freshman Travis Hartanov shows promise.

“We’ve got incredible frosh coming in,” said Deitz. “So we have years to look forward to.”

Presently, the Wildcats are focused on returning to Pasco with only one rung remaining on the state trophy ladder.

Highlanders rightfully optimistic

In Kiter and sophomore Richie Nelson, Shadle Park has two top flight ingredients for success.

The entire starting lineup returns. If the other five gain ground, the Highlanders will be tough.

“That was our downfall last year,” said Corley. “But our whole group is getting closer.”

Like Mt. Spokane, any of 10 athletes can make the top seven, including Joel Lewis, Alex Moon, Bryan Zimmerman, Travis Shea and Kenny Votava, regional veterans all.

Zimmerman has been limited in training because of a broken wrist due to basketball.

“I’ll do everything in my ability to have the kids ready,” said Corley. “I feel they can compete with anyone on a given day.”

New-look Indians could be better

North Central graduated five runners from last year’s eighth-place regional team, but coach Jon Knight is unconcerned.

“We had a good junior varsity last year,” he said. “We don’t have a strong front runner, but a pretty good pack which I’m hoping can step up and win some meets.”

James Toshack and Kyle Arrotta are the two returning regional veterans. Toshack is the only senior on varsity.

Juniors Drew Repp and first-year cross country runner David Weddle have been among team leaders.

“Starting off I would have said we’re in trouble,” said Knight. “But this group has surprised me.”

Young Bullpups seek improvement

Gonzaga Prep must also replace five of seven varsity members who ran regionals last year.

But coach Tony Maucione is not as worried as might be expected.

“It will be hard because we only have two seniors,” Maucione admitted. “But we are much better at this point than last year.”

He’s also excited about the possibilities of his newcomers.

Back from last year is John Ulmen, a senior who ran second for the Bullpups, and Brian Davis, who has regional meet experience.

Sophomore Joe Stachecki and junior Brendan O’Melvany are among the most improved runners.

“These are good kids,” said Maucione. “For the most part all are real runners. The potential is there.”

Rogers graduates top two

With the loss of its top two runners, the Pirates must go some to duplicate last year’s break-even league season and 10th-place regional finish.

But junior Tony Zammit is immensely improved, and sophomore Travis Craig shows promise.

Freshmen and newcomers join two other regional veterans, Will Jessee and Tim Pillers, who give Rogers a shot to do so.

Coach Steve Kiesel could not be reached for more details.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Boys rosters

Gonzaga Prep

John Ulmensenior senior

Brendan O’Melvany, senior, junior

Brian Davis, senior, junior

Michael Koehler junior

Ryan Mountjoy junior

Joe Migluiri sophomore

Joe Stachecki sophomore

Anthony Patterson sophomore

Dan McChesney sophomore

Colin Fulton sophomore

Cole Parsons freshman

Mead

Chris Fayant senior

Rick Geissler senior

Dan Absalonson senior

Jesse Fayant junior

Nate Boyer junior

Bryan Becherini junior

Tim Schuermer junior

Patrick Chessar junior

David Allen junior

David Sittser sophomore

Triston Cabrera sophomore

Evan Garber freshman

Mt. Spokane

Leif Olson senior

Tyler Hartanov senior

Josh Koeller senior

Jess Roskelley senior

Joe Merrick senior

Cameron Schwehr junior

Nathan Sharpe junior

Brennon Poynorr junior

Travis Hartanov freshman

Kohl Crecelius freshman

North Central

James Toshack senior

Kyle Arrotta junior

Drew Repp junior

David Weddle junior

Matt Larsen junior

Jess Kilgren junior

Adam Torker junior

Mike Diep junior

Jeff Shay junior

Bryce Worley junior

Max Clemens sophomore

Rogers

Will Jessee senior

Virgil Feezell senior

Tony Zammit junior

Tim Pillers junior

Ryan Meenach junior

Jared Johnson junior

Travis Craig sophomore

Nick Bailey sophomore

Michael Smith freshman

Pat Thornton freshman

Adam Dailey freshman

Shadle Park

Michael Kiter senior

Alex Moon senior

Travis Shea senior

Kenny Votava senior

Josh Arnold senior

Joel Lewis junior

Bryan Zimmerman junior

Chris Depner junior

Ken Martin junior

Richie Nelson sophomore

Brandon Zimmerman sophomore

Curtis Kincaid freshman