Bears storm out of gate, win opener
A quick start propelled Central Valley to a satisfying conclusion, beating Mt. Spokane 46-25 to begin Greater Spokane League wrestling.
The dual match at Mt. Spokane began with the Bears’ strength weights, and they won all five in succession, including at 145 pounds in a test between two national Cadet All-Americans, for a 24-0 lead.
Although the host Wildcats won five of the final nine matches, the result was all but decided.
“That’s a nice start,” said CV coach John Owen. “You know how important matchups are in high school wrestling. We got some momentum early and I’m not so sure that didn’t make the difference.”
Particularly in the night’s second match at 145, where Lucas Chesher, state champion at 125 pounds last year, and Noah Hatton, seventh in state at 140, faced off.
Chesher won convincingly on his feet, recording three takedowns with a variety of moves during the 7-1 victory.
“I go out and wrestle the way I can wrestle,” said Chesher, who hopes to be at 135 by postseason and expressed no concern about what the outcome may have been. “If I lose, I lose, as long as I wrestle the match I want to. He’s a good kid though. I just stuck to it. You don’t stop until you get it.”
There followed in succession two pins, by Nick Walker at 152 and Camren Ebat at 160, and a technical fall by Nick Severns at 171. The Bears also got an 11-1 win in the nick of time by Nick Cambron at 112 pounds to thwart Mt. Spokane’s possible comeback.
“I was really pleased with Nick (Cambron),” Owen said. “That’s a big score on a good kid.”
Another match, 189 pounds, pitted All-GSL football linebackers against each other. Wildcat Matt Schaffer caught CV sophomore Tyler Cochran in an early five-point move and went on to the 8-0 victory that began Mt. Spokane’s late comeback.
“It was just a muscle kind of match,” Schaffer said. “I just faked a couple of shots and took it. He kind of slammed me out of bounds and I wanted to give him something back.”
In other GSL openers, Mead held off Shadle Park 42-30, winning six straight between 275 and 130 pounds for a 32-6 lead. The Highlanders won the next five to cut the lead to two points before Jordan Greco and John Sullivan spoiled the hosts upset bid. … Defending champion University beat host West Valley 60-16. There were nine pins and a technical fall. Elliott Nay at 140 and Trevor Robb at 152 had two of U-Hi’s seven falls. Zack Thomas at 103 and Tony Valente at 112 won by pin for the Eagles. … North Central parlayed a 28-0 start into a 45-31 home win over Rogers. State placer Dan Siebert won by pin in the night’s fourth match, at 140 pounds, and Kelly Meade turned in a solid performance with a first-round pin in the 119-pound finale. … Lewis and Clark got a solid effort with its 48-20 victory over Gonzaga Prep. … East Valley won 12 matches by pin and 13 of 14 overall in its 75-5 romp past Ferris.