Feeling the pinch

A year ago, Mead wrestler Mike Magee placed fifth in the eastern region at 275 pounds, leaving him an alternate to Mat Classic in Tacoma.

But through a twist of fate, Magee wound up at state and placed seventh. Magee’s good fortune came when regional runner-up Mikael Guzman of Pasco was unable to compete.

It provides anecdotal evidence of what Greater Spokane League coaches have long said about this region.

“Over the past 15 years,” said coach Don Owen of defending State 4A champion University, “if you put the numbers into a computer to show which (region) is the toughest, we would win without a doubt.”

Unfortunately for wrestlers, as in most other sports this year, 4A Region IV gets only three state allocations, reducing typical availability by 25 percent.

“It’s going to hit us pretty hard,” said Magee’s coach, Phil McLean. “The margin for error is less and less. A lot of times you might be the best kid at the tournament, take fourth and get it done the next week. Now you can’t have a bad day.”

Magee’s fifth place regional effort wouldn’t merit state hope this year. Lewis and Clark’s Anthony Varnell, who was third in region last year yet placed third at state, would be skating on thin ice.

“This year,” said LC coach Ty Lingo, “he would just barely make it.”

That doesn’t take into consideration the increased pressure on winning the consolation match for third and fourth to get there.

“Now it’s a brutal match,” said Owen. “I’m not looking forward to that at all.”

The odds of a team state title challenge also become longer.

State is increasingly becoming a numbers game and those will be reduced in the east region and increased in the west region that gets the fifth state berth and includes state runner-up Lake Stevens.

“We had a good team and if it were put in the same position as this year, I’m not sure we would have won state,” Owen said.

Last year five fourth-place Region IV placers won state medals. Two Titans, Tyler Goss and Elliot Nay, were fourth-place regional state qualifiers. Goss finished sixth and Nay knocked off a top seed in his opening match. Those points were vital against Lake Stevens.

Also, the experience gained by underclassmen – a total of 16 juniors or sophomores over the last two years made it to state as fourth seeds – is immeasurable, coaches say.

Unlike the 4A GSL schools, 3A teams retain the advantage of advancing five wrestlers from subregional with Mid-Valley teams to regional that includes the Pacific Nine League. Four from there go to state.

“The good thing about the fifth guy is you get another chance,” said Craig Hanson, coach of State 3A second-place East Valley. “Last year we won over half those matches.”

Greater Spokane League wrestling begins tonight.

“I think the league is better than it was last year,” said Owen. “We’re not quite as good, but others are better.”

Owen’s crew is still overwhelmingly favored to win its division. Three Titans state placers – Brian Owen, Chase Fish and Nick Zumwalt – return. Trevor Robb and Post Falls transfer Craig Byers both placed in 2004.

LC in his National Division is improved. So, too, are Central Valley, Mead and Shadle Park in the rugged five-team American Division that includes EV and Mt. Spokane.

“We have a very youthful lineup,” said Hanson. “They’re going to learn, but are going to take some lumps along the way.”

McLean, entering his sixth year at Mead, is about to the point where he was when Gonzaga Prep emerged as the GSL power.

“There are a lot of guns in the league right now,” McLean said. “The league is going to be really tough. There are no weak opponents to count on.”