Greater Spokane League wrestling
Defending league champion: University, State 4A champion.
Projected finish: American Division – Central Valley, East Valley, Mead, Mt. Spokane, Shadle Park, Ferris, Cheney. National Division – University, Lewis and Clark, Clarkston, Gonzaga Prep, North Central, West Valley, Rogers.
Returning state champions: 4A – Brian Owen, sophomore, U-Hi, 103; Lucas Chesher, senior, CV, 125.
Returning regional champions: Owen, Chase Fish, sr., U-Hi, 112 (3rd in state); Chesher; Nick Zumwalt, sr., U-Hi, (7th in state) 160; Paul Senescall, sr., Mead, 215. 3A—Jason Fairley, sr., Clarkston, 135 (2nd in state); Tyler Jolley, sr., EV, 215 (5th in state).
Returning district champions: Owen, Fish, Chris Katus, junior, Gonzaga, 130 (3rd in state); Trevor Robb, sr., U-Hi, 135; Michael Holloman, sr., Rogers, 152; Zumwalt; Matt Schaffer, sr., Mt. Spokane, 189; Senescall; Mike Magee, jr., Mead, 275 (7th in state).
Wrestlers to watch: 4A – Taylor Yonago, sr., Ferris, 5th in state; Anthony Varnell, jr., LC, 3rd in state. Noah Hatton, jr., Mt. Spokane, 7th in state; Camren Ebat, sr., CV, 7th in state. 3A – Jason Fairley, sr., Clarkston, state champion (2003), 2nd (2005); Shelby Lawson, jr., EV, 6th in state. Dan Siebert, sr., NC, 5th in state; Tyler Jolley, sr., EV, 5th in state; Bryce Fisher, jr., EV, 5th in state.
Outlook: U-Hi’s tradition and depth from using numerous athletes on varsity during the season keeps it atop the National Division and GSL. LC is hoping to overtake Clarkston and have its best season in 20 years. The tougher American Division will be a four-team chase. A state placer didn’t turn out and state alternate moved away, but CV still has enough talent and experience to threaten EV’s long GSL run of success. Keep an eye on Mead and tourney-seasoned Mt. Spokane. … With only three wrestlers to state from the 4A eastern region, U-Hi’s bid to repeat as state champion becomes more difficult. EV’s Knights graduated six state placers and must fill around the three returnees if they are to repeat last year’s 3A second-place state finish. … Paul Senescall’s football knee injury and college future could hinder his return for Mead. … Thomas Montague has transferred from NC to LC.
Quotable: “It’s getting boring – University, East Valley, Central Valley and Clarkston – that’s the way I look at it. We won’t run with U-Hi, but will compete. We’ve got a good chance to finish No. 2 in the division, but we need to get over the hump and beat Clarkston.” – Ty Lingo, Lewis and Clark.
Notable: A dozen State 4A qualifiers, nine other regional top-six placers and 12 3A regional participants are back for the start of the 2005-06 season. … Fifty-two of the GSL’s 84 4A district top-six placers return, 31 of them regional veterans. Of those, U-Hi has 12 district placers in its lineup and has added transfer Craig Byers, a state placer from Post Falls. CV has nine, Mead eight, Mt. Spokane seven and LC six. … U-Hi’s Brian Owen finished fourth in freestyle and Greco-Roman at 112 pounds at the Cadet Nationals last summer; EV’s Clete Hanson, sixth and eighth at 160, and Jimmy Martin, eighth in freestyle at 215; and Mt. Spokane’s Noah Hatton, fifth in Greco-Roman at 145, are other national placers.