Wrestler gains distinction over older brother
Trevor Powell, a junior 125-pound wrestler from Lewis and Clark, has something on his older brother, Nate.
Nate never won the district title at the same weight Trevor did two weekends ago.
“I can throw that one at him,” Trevor said good-naturedly after the district win. “I’ve got to get one on him every year.”
Of course Nate Powell, who graduated last year, has two things on Trevor: his fourth and third state place medals won as a freshman and junior.
Trevor, who has a 23-4 record, gets his state chance this weekend at Mat Classic XVIII in the Tacoma Dome beginning Friday at 10 a.m.
He finished second last weekend in the eastern regional to qualify, along with teammate Anthony Varnell (27-3), the 140-pound regional winner. and Ferris’ Taylor Yonago (33-3) was 130-pound champion,and Gonzaga Prep’s Jon Healy (29-7) was second at 145.
“I feel I’m pretty much at my peak, which is good with state coming up,” Yonago said two weekends ago.
He finished fifth in state last year.
Cheney has two 3A state qualifiers, and Medical Lake has seven in the 2A meet, while Freeman, including defending state champion Danny Mathews, and Liberty have a combined five in the 1A/B tournament.
District basketball next
Ferris coach Don Van Leirop couldn’t help but point out the irony.
“We could have only one loss all year and will be the No. 2 seed for district,” he said.
The Saxons (20-1, 13-1) ended their season with a 78-54 win over Rogers on Tuesday and tied for first place in the Greater Spokane League.
But they are ranked No. 2 in state but will be No. 2 behind Gonzaga Prep (17-3, 13-1) when it comes to next week’s District 8 4A playoffs.
Prep beat Ferris earlier this year, and head-to-head breaks the tie.
Not that it really matters. Both teams are assured regional berths, and the Saxons can still be the district champions after completing its season on Tuesday.
Lewis and Clark girls team finds itself in a similar situation. But with a game to play the Tigers (18-1, 11-1) are not quite in the same boat. Dominant virtually all season, they too could be tied for first in the GSL, yet No. 2 behind Gonzaga Prep (18-2, 12-1) .
But, if they lose at home to University tonight, they would have to settle for third seed and play in a loser-out district game.
Competition begins Tuesday at the home of the highest seeded teams, third through sixth, and continues for girls at Central Valley and boys at University.
Cheney’s boys and girls, both third among GSL 3A teams, host loser-out games beginning at 6 p.m. Friday for the right to advance to next week’s eight-team regional tournament.
Blackhawk victories would assure them no worse than third seed in the district tournament, which concludes Saturday, beginning at the same time, at Mt. Spokane.
If they finish as high as
No. 2, they would travel to a Mid-Valley League site on Tuesday but be assured double-elimination in the regional tournament.
A third-place district finish would mean loser-out status throughout the playoffs, but all games will be in town.
Gymnasts in Tacoma
Ferris’s state qualifying gymnasts will perform this weekend in state individual routines in the Tacoma Dome.
The Saxons compete beginning at 3:45 p.m.