GNL pleased to participate in first wrestling regional

The Great Northern League has received its wrestling wish. Like other leagues and classifications throughout the state, the GNL will compete in a wrestling regional.

“We’ve been negotiating this for eight years,” said league wrestling coordinator and Riverside athletic director Marty Friedman. “We were the only league in state without a regional.”

Because of that, the GNL this weekend begins the postseason a week earlier, joining Greater Spokane League 4A and Northeast 1A/B wrestlers for a true district tournament.

GSL 3A schools are in Sunnyside for a subregional tourney with Mid-Valley League. Like the GNL, they’ll advance to a “super” regional the following week for the chance of more state berths.

The two-day 4A district at Mead qualifies wrestlers against those in the Big Nine. 3A tourney, also two days, sends qualifiers to a three-league regional. The 1A/B event, Saturday at Reardan, advances most competitors against Caribou Trail wrestlers.

Last year the GNL sent two wrestlers to state. The two-day district at Deer Park, including Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) state champion Jon Millard and finalists Levi Jones and Kyle Johnson, advances four to its regional with the CWAC League.

“We’re so happy,” said Scott Jones, coach of league and defending state champion Lakeside. “It sounds like we’re being greedy after saying it hasn’t been fair and we’ve been able to win some state titles, but it hasn’t been fair and I think the WIAA recognized that.”

GSL and defending state champion University returns three district champions, including defending state champion Brian Owen, but will be challenged to duplicate last year’s 12 finalists and 19 regional qualifiers.

Injuries, to last year’s third-place finisher Chase Fish in particular, hurt. Plus, Central Valley, with returning state champion Lucas Chesher, Mead, Lewis and Clark and Mt. Spokane will pose more of a challenge.

“Our league is tougher and our region is a lot tougher than last year,” U-Hi coach Don Owen said. “We were lucky last year in that our only injury was to Dono Totten.”

East Valley was second in State 3A last year and has its share of tourney-seasoned athletes, including three state placers. Coach Craig Hanson hopes to move at least 10 on to regional.

“I don’t know the Mid-Valley well enough,” Hanson said. “But we’re in deep in a few places.”

District 7 1A/B wrestlers and their region have traditionally had great success. Three state champions, Freeman’s Dan Mathews, Colfax’s Jeff Jordan and Republic’s Seth Schertenleib, are among 15 returning state placers who begin defense of their medals.