Titans take tourney championship

In some respects, University’s championship of last weekend’s Tri-State wrestling tournament at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene was more impressive than its share of the title a year ago.

True, the Titans scored fewer points – 152.5 – than the 189.5 of last year when they tied with Lake Stevens. And they didn’t have a champion, when last year they had two.

But the team’s six medalists – identical to a year ago – placed higher in total than last year’s group which had a third, fourth, fifth and sixth place to go with the titlists.

This year U-Hi had one finalist, four third places and a fourth.

Brian Owen, bad back and all, reached the championship match for the second straight year. He lost 3-1 to Battle Ground’s Anthony Hayes, a state finalist for Heritage two years ago.

Hayes lost in the 2004 finals to former Titan Cory Fish.

Four other U-Hi wrestlers lost in the semifinals, but came back to make the consolation finals. The sixth, Mike Malsam, lost in the quarterfinals to Hayes, 11-7, but won four straight matches for his third-place finish.

The Tri-State was a success in general for Valley wrestlers. There were a dozen placers, led by East Valley champion Tyler Jolley who beat U-Hi’s Dono Totten in the semifinals and won by pin for the championship.

There were three other finalists: Central Valley’s Nick Cambron and Lucas Chesher, and Freeman’s Danny Mathews.

West Valley competed at the Sundome Mat Classic in Yakima and finished eighth with 128 points. Jesse Swenson reached the finals.

Bowdish ends Lancer run

Mountain View’s wrestling program extended one streak, but another was ended at last week’s Middle School All-Valley tournament.

The Bowdish Rockets, coached by Dave Benner, and who came close to ending the Lancer’s 15-year unbeaten dual match record, handed Mountain View its first tournament loss to win overall championship of the league.

“There’s a new sheriff on the block,” announced University High wrestling coach Don Owen, while introducing the 80-person Bowdish team and coaches to fans during a Greater Spokane League match last Thursday. “Dave’s been coaching 17 years there and finally got it done. They are the champs.”

The Lancers, by the skins of their teeth, had extended their dual record to 105-0. It was the 19th dual-meet title over a 22-year period for Dave Smith, who has gone 138-8 in duals during his tenure.

The Rockets were missing 130-pounder Kevin Harder when they lost 49-43 to Mountain View in their dual match.

In the tournament they placed 16 wrestlers, including Harder in second place, among the top four to dethrone the Lancers 229-218.

“It was quite a deal,” said Benner, who added his teams have “knocked on the door” over the years. “I’m excited for the kids. They worked really hard. But I tip my hat to Mountain View. It was a heck of a run for them.”

East Valley finished third, Greenacres fourth, Evergreen fifth and Horizon sixth.

Mountain View had six champions out of 10 finalists. Bowdish had five champions and nine finalists. The Rockets, however, won the meet by placing third five times to the Lancers’ one.

“I told them they had to buckle down, this is where the championship would be won or lost,” said Benner. “Seven kids went for third and fourth and they went on a tear.”

Jason Choate, Jake Mason and John Wright won titles in succession between 142, 150 and 160 pounds to clinch the tournament championship. Other champions were Sean Mott and Sean Grady.

Mountain View had taken the early advantage with titles by Tyler Tran, Thomas Tran and Gabe Rodriguez in succession between 90 and 100 pounds. Other winners were Jess Monroe, Nick Coleck and Chris Hooper.

Horizon had three champions, Ryan Zumwalt, Jacob Fry and James Mullenix. East Valley finished with two champs, Dillon Pattison and Ronnie Jarvis. Greenacres’ Jarod Maynes and Centennial’s Quinn Gannon won the other individual titles.

Evergreen’s unbeaten eighth-graders and East Valley – 8-0 in league and 9-1 overall in seventh grade – won middle school volleyball championships.

League on minds of hoop teams

Valley Greater Spokane League basketball teams have a smattering of nonleague games left to play, but league, which begins Jan. 4, is not far from their minds.

Still there have been significant outcomes, not the least East Valley’s 64-63 overtime victory over previously unbeaten Gonzaga Prep.

The game helped validate early beliefs that this is EV’s best team since Freddie Rehkow became coach four years ago.

“It was definitely a win we were excited about,” said Rehkow. “But we also understand we’ve got them again and they’re not going to forget it.”

When the two meet at Prep, the game counts in league standings.

The Knights girls (4-2), scored at the buzzer to force overtime and beat the Bullpups at the free-throw line after falling behind by four points in the extra period.

Next night they fell behind Coeur d’Alene by 15 points in the second half, but tied the game with 23 seconds left before losing 53-50. The Vikings, ranked fourth in Idaho, are coached by former Central Valley coach Dale Poffenroth, for whom Rehkow was an assistant.

Beating Prep, however, was a confidence builder for the Knights.

“It was a game that kind of validated what the girls are capable of,” said Rehkow. “We’re playing the best team ball we’ve played since I’ve been out here. But I’m a realist. There’s a lot of ball left to play.”

East Valley’s girls and boys (3-3), led in scoring by Dylan Sattin with a 19.7 average, completed preseason at Lake City Wednesday night.

Central Valley boys (5-1) and girls (3-3) finish the preseason on Dec. 30 against Lake City. The boys are led in scoring by Luke Clift (12.8) and Kevin Cameron (11.0). Cameron has scored 41 in his last two games. Heidi Heintz leads the girls with a 19.0 average.

University’s Titan girls (3-2) play Auburn-Riverside and Snohomish in Auburn Dec. 29-30. They have three girls averaging in double figures, Dara Zack, 15.2 points per game and Tonya Schnibbe and Janna Erickson 12.4 apiece.

The boys (1-5) host the Diamond Valley Eagles as part of a series against local teams by the touring Australian team on Tuesday and are at Sandpoint Wednesday.

West Valley boys (5-1) and girls (0-5) are at Lakeside Tuesday. Boys leaders are E.J. Richardson (14.5), Tyler Hobbs (13.7) and Greg Bradley (13.3).

•Freeman’s DeAngelo Casto is a 20.7 scorer for the 4-2 Scotties boys. Jessie DePell (18.2) and Claire Moberg (13.0) lead the girls, who are 5-1. The Scotties host their annual Christmas Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday.

•Valley Christian boys have a 5-1 overall record, 4-1 in the Bi-County League. Vitaliy Kozubenko (16.6) and Josh Pope (16.3) lead the way. The Panthers girls (1-5) won their first Bi-County game, 45-42 over Almira/Coulee-Hartline. Lexie Riggan continues to lead in scoring at 13.2 points per game.