University dominates district meet with 19 qualifiers

The University Titans were expected to dominate this weekend’s District 8 4A wrestling tournament. What they accomplished was off the charts.

U-Hi scored an incredible 462 points, won nine championships with 12 finalists and qualified 19 wrestlers to the 4A regional tournament, which the Titans host next weekend.

“I’m sure that’s got to be a GSL record,” said coach Don Owen of the stunning point total. “I’m not so sure I’ve seen a team score that many points anywhere. To put that many points together in a 16-team bracket is just astounding.”

The Titans won individual titles in the first three finals and four of the first five. There were only four weight classes in which a U-Hi athlete didn’t compete for a title.

And at 119 and 160 pounds, it was Titan versus Titan. Cory Fish beat Mike Malsam by technical fall in the former. In a huge surprise, unseeded Titan junior Andrew Peterson reached the 160-pound finals where he lost to teammate Nick Zumwalt, 13-5.

“When you have the steam roller rolling, it’s tough to stop it,” said Owen. “The kids rose to the challenge today, over and over and over again winning big matches.”

One of several who rose up was Owen’s son, Tim, who won the 145-pound title 5-1 over Mt. Spokane’s Matt Pea. He had been seeded behind teammate Tyler Goss who finished third after losing to Owen 8-4 in the semifinals.

Another was Matt Machala who beat Gonzaga Prep’s Chris Katus 6-5 for the 130-pound title.

“Matt did a nice job,” Don Owen said. “It was technically one of the best matches he wrestled.”

Brian Owen, the coach’s freshman nephew, pinned his way through the 103-pound class to start things, beating Central Valley’s Nick Cambron in the final.

Chase Fish did the same at 112, pinning Lewis and Clark’s Steve Cooley for the title. Jeremy Montang cruised through 140, topping Mt. Spokane’s Noah Hatton. Ferris state champion Kyle Yonago lost to Hatton 7-4 in the semis.Jon Sahlberg beat Jake Reynolds, one of Mt. Spokane’s five finalists, and Dono Totten picked off U-Hi’s final championship of the night over Gonzaga Prep’s Mike Magee at 275.

Central Valley finished second with 235.5 points and qualified 10 to regionals. Lucas Chesher beat LC’s Nate Powell 7-2 for the 125-pound title.

Third-place Mead had three champions and qualified seven. Neil Didier beat Rogers’ Mike Holloman 7-2 at 152, Scott McKenney, won 189 over Mt. Spokane’s Matt Schaffer and Paul Senscal beat the Wildcats’ Bryce Malone for the 215-pound title.

Anthony Varnell, an 8-6 winner over University’s Trevor Robb at 135, was one of five Lewis and Clark wrestlers to advance.

District 7 1A/B

Colfax takes championship

Host Colfax was the team titlist during a meet in which Northeast A League and District 7 B schools divvied up the championships.

The scene shifts to Reardan Friday for regional competition with teams from the Caribou Trail League. From there, six wrestlers per weight advance to state.

The Bulldogs put six wrestles in the finals, winning three titles and scored 178.5 points to beat Reardan’s 151.

Jeff Jordan (125 pounds), Derek Hall (135) and Tony Starrett (160) were Colfax champions.

Other NEA winners were A.J. Doll (103) of Kettle Falls, Danny Matthews (112) of Freeman, and two Newport wrestlers, Clinton Teeples (152) and Tony Bushnell (215). Newport had four finalists.

NEB schools had a total of 15 finalists, four each for Reardan, whose champions were Josh Eldred (130) and Bob Christerson (189) and Liberty, which had champions Brice Williams (119) and Andrew Smith (140). Defending state champ Mic Goad (275) of Springdale, Seth Schertenleib (145), Republic, and Justus Caudell (171), Wilbur-Creston/Keller, were the others.