Mt. Spokane battles Mead to the bitter end

A Greater Spokane League wrestling match in which as many as eight unbeatens or postseason veterans could potentially have wrestled each other promised plenty of intrigue.

Mead and Mt. Spokane delivered, with the Panthers hanging on for a suspenseful 34-33 win that denied Mt. Spokane’s bid for a first win over its district rival.

Two early mistakes cost Mt. Spokane at least six points as Mead built a 28-3 lead through the first seven matches. The absence of two of the team’s better wrestlers because of injuries may have been a factor.

“I just feel bad for the kids,” said Wildcats coach Travis Hughes. “They wanted to win and we did what we could.”

Nick Petrie had been 2-0 in the GSL at 152 pounds and Nick Jordan was 3-0 wrestling at 215 and 275 before the injuries ended their seasons.

Those were three weights where Mead recorded pins, by Paul Senescal at 215 and Mike Magee at 275 to start the team on its six-win, 28-point run. Two-time state placer Neil Didier’s pin at 152 stemmed the furious Mt. Spokane comeback with six wins in the night’s final seven matches.

One of Mt. Spokane’s wins, 6-4 in the next-to-last match by regional veteran Braun Murray over sophomore Jordan Greco, clinched Mead’s win.

Relieved Mead coach Phil McLean lauded his young wrestler’s effort.

“He’s a sophomore, but he’s tough,” McLean said. “Shoot, he competed tonight and did an awesome job.”

Mt. Spokane wrestlers won four of the six head-to-head encounters between unbeatens or postseason veterans. But in three other pivotal matches, Senescal got his pin when Bryce Malone slipped to his back, while working out from underneath for a potential match-tying escape.

A couple of matches later, Philip Smith, trailing 3-2 with less than a minute remaining, got a takedown and near fall to win an upset at 103 pounds.

“I think that was the decider,” said Hughes.

Another pivotal match in Mead’s run was Ian Matson’s 5-4 escape of Scott Rabe at 119.

“I was just thinking not to give up near fall points, or I was done,” Matson said.

Also key for Mead was 145, where Ryan Peck got a third-period takedown in a scramble to prevent a major decision by Matt Pea and save a team point.

“That was a fun one. Mt. Spokane is the real deal,” said McLean. “It’s a true rivalry now. I don’t know in the early years if it was, but it is now.”

Mead (3-0) hosts Central Valley (2-1) tonight in a match to stay in the running for a top two American Division finish. Mt. Spokane is 2-2.

In other American Division matches, East Valley (4-0) lost only at 215 pounds during a 69-3 romp past Cheney (0-3). Included were four pins and four forfeit victories worth six points each. Travis McKenzie was Cheney’s victor. … Shadle Park (1-2) earned its first victory of the season, 39-29 over Ferris (0-3) on pins by Mike Norman (145 pounds) and Paul Burdulis (152) in the night’s final two matches. Ferris’s Taylor Yonago wrestled for the first time since rehabbing a broken leg and won by technical fall, 18-3. … Clarkston (3-1) whipped Gonzaga Prep 66-9. Matt Babino moved up to 112 and remained unbeaten in league with a 7-5 victory over freshman Kevin Healy. Sophomores Chris Katus (130 pounds) and Jon Healy remained unbeaten for the Bullpups (2-2). Clarkston is at North Central tonight to determine second place in the National.

NC (2-1) defeated Lewis and Clark (1-2) 44-33 by winning every match from 145 through 275 pounds, including pins by Mike Clute (152) and Derek Brown (189). LC won six of seven between 103 and 140, with Nate Powell (125) winning by technical fall and his brother Trevor (119) by pin. … West Valley (1-3) got its first victory, 54-24 over Rogers (0-3). The match included 12 pins in 14 matches, eight by the Eagles and four in a row by the Pirates who took a 24-12 lead. WV’s Tyler Brischle came from behind to beat Mike Holloman 11-9 in overtime at 152 pounds. Two matches earlier at 140, Eagle Jesse Swenson had beaten Wade Wessels 10-8, also in OT.