Titans capture district crown

University wrestling teammates Nick Zumwalt and Andrew Peterson are so familiar with each other’s moves that scoring against each other has become difficult.

So when they met Saturday for the second straight year in the 171-pound finals of the District 8 4A tournament at Mead, neither could gain much of an upper hand.

But when each was docked three times for stalling and on the verge of double disqualification for passivity, there was reason for concern.

“Wow!” Zumwalt exclaimed. “I was scared.”

Peterson said, “I think they should have just let us wrestle. It’s just like we practice against each other every day.”

Zuwalt won 7-6 thanks to a takedown and escape versus Peterson’s two escapes on a day when the Titans defended their district title.

But the outcome was closer than last year. U-Hi scored 322 points to 277 for Mead, 261 for Central Valley and 231 for Mt. Spokane.

Having seven finalists, six of them champions, was the difference. And U-Hi advances 12 to next weekend’s regional in Walla Walla.

“Last year’s tournament kind of spoiled me with 19 qualifiers,” said Don Owen, coach of the defending 4A state champions. “But 12 is good. And I thought if we got seven into the finals it would be more than I expected. They not only made it, but wrestled really well.”

So, too, did several teams during the two-day event. In finishing second, Mead moved 11 wrestlers, including a couple who were unexpected, to regionals.

Mt. Spokane, with nine, had its most regional qualifiers and first district champ in 189-pounder Matt Schaffer.

“It’s been a long time,” said coach Travis Hughes. “Last year we had five in the finals and lost all five. This year we had four and almost did the same.”

Central Valley had five finalists and two champions among eight regional qualifiers. Lewis and Clark had four finalists, two of them champs, and six regional wrestlers.

“We met our goal,” said coach Ty Lingo. “It’s been a good tournament for everybody. Next week is when the heartbreak starts.”

There were, however, some finals surprises this weekend.

In the night’s feature at 140 pounds, Tigers state third-placer Anthony Varnell’s takedown with 25 seconds left beat defending champion Lucas Chesher 6-4.

“It was just a really fun match and I visualized winning,” Varnell said.

One of U-Hi’s champions was a surprise. Ryan Williams reached the 135 finals with a 17-12 record but defeated CV’s Jeff Croskrey 5-3.

“He was so close (to a reversal) so many times,” he said. “I was just trying to hang on for dear life.”

Schaffer got a pair of takedowns for his history-making 5-2 victory at 189.

“It’s the first one ever,” said Schaffer of the school’s first district title. “Every time he lifted his arm up to hit my head, I ducked under and doubled (double leg takedown) him. It was basically like a tackle in football.”

In another eventful match, Gonzaga Prep’s lone regional qualifier, Jon Healy, beat Mt. Spokane’s Noah Hatton in overtime to win the 145 title.

It was Prep’s first district title since 2003, the year his brother Tim won.

“I’m really excited,” Jon Healy said. “It’s the first time I beat that kid.”

University’s other champions were Brian Owen (112), Mike Malsam (119), Trevor Robb (152) and Dono Totten (275).

Also winning titles were Central Valley’s Nick Cambron (103) and Camren Ebat (160), LC’s Trevor Powell (125), Ferris’s Taylor Yonago (130) and Mead’s Paul Senescall (215) over Mt. Spokane’s Bryce Malone in a repeat of their district final from a year ago.

3A

East Valley won four individual championships among five finalists and advanced 11 wrestlers to regional in Wapato while winning the District 8/5 Sub-Regional tournament.

The Knights scored 265.5 points to beat Clarkston, which scored 171.

Tyler Jolley remained unbeaten as he pinned his way to the 275-pound title. Anthony Rivera (112), Bryce Fisher (145) and Foster Orton (160) were EV’s other champions.

Greater Spokane League 3A schools secured half of 14 titles and 34 of 70 available regional berths.

Cheney’s Brendan Parker-Risk (130 pounds), North Central’s Dan Siebert (135) and Clarkston’s Jason Fairley (140) were the GSL’s other champions.

2A

Four Great Northern League schools advance large contingents of wrestlers to next week’s regional wrestling tourney in Moses Lake.

Lakeside, which won the district championship with 343 points sends 12 wrestlers, including four champions among seven finalists.

Among them were defending state champion Jon Millard at 171 pounds and state finalist Levi Jones at 135.

Medical Lake had five individual champions and seven finalists, including a one-two finish at 119 pounds from Justin Murry and Tony Fino. The Cardinals, Riverside and Deer Park each have nine regional qualifiers.

1A/B

Colfax handily won Saturday’s District 7 1A/B wrestling tournament and qualified 17 wrestlers to next weekend’s regional at Lake Roosevelt.

The Bulldogs advanced wrestlers in every weight but one, including successive championships from 160 through 189 pounds by last year’s third-place finisher Tony Starrrett, defending state champion Josh Campbell and Hugh Jones.

Another returning Colfax state titlist, Jeff Jordan, took third.

Newport had three individual champions and placed third in the meet behind Wilbur-Creston, 160.5-160, which qualified 14 to regional.

District titlists included defending state champions Danny Mathews of Freeman (112) and Seth Schertenleib of Republic (145).