A child leads ‘em

The tiny freshman was swallowed up in a wave of jubilant East Valley wrestling teammates and it took him a while to surface for air.

Sean Biltoft had just delivered the decisive win, a major 11-1 decision at 119 pounds in Wednesday night’s final match at University. His four team points were just enough to eke out EV’s 27-26 victory over the Titans and attract the congratulatory mob.

“You get all the attention. It’s amazing,” said Biltoft, who admitted he was worried with the outcome resting on his shoulders. “I knew I could do it, but was really nervous. It was do or die, so I had to go all out.”

As befitting the first of three Greater Spokane League wrestling showdowns among league unbeatens, this one had enough drama for everyone.

As the contest ebbed and flowed, there were several surprising, nail-biting or stunning outcomes that delighted and drained a crowd in excess of 1,000.

U-Hi (7-1) opened with four straight victories and a 17-0 lead in lower weights – matches they needed in order to have a chance against EV’s strengths from 145 through heavyweight.

The Knights (7-0) rallied back despite the fact that two of their GSL unbeatens suffered losses.

They took the lead, 23-20, on Nick Weyrauch’s spectacular throw and pin at 285. But after the Titans regained a 26-23 advantage on sophomore Zach Lester’s 8-2 win over GSL unbeaten Kyle Hunter at 112, the stage was set for Biltoft’s heroics another freshman, Titan Scott Lovinger.

“I don’t know what to say,” said EV coach Craig Hanson. “I thought it was just a tremendous dual on the kids’ part, and then to have it come down to a freshman to win it. That’s a lot of pressure to put on any kid, to win it for the team.”

There were several impressive efforts by youngsters as well as veterans win or lose.

The meet began at 125 where sophomore Casey Olsen then freshman Ryan Zumwalt earned major decisions for U-Hi.

Titans senior Elliot Nay survived a back points war with EV sophomore Nic Price to win 16-14 in overtime. Combined, the wrestlers totaled six reversal-to-near fall moves.

EV came back for a couple of wins to set up a pivotal match at 160 between U-Hi’s Danny Jordan and league unbeaten sophomore Dakota Lawson. Jordan controlled the contest after surrendering a first-round takedown, to win 6-2 for a 20-6 Titans lead.

“I knew we were evenly matched,” Jordan said. “I’m glad I was able to come out on top and give us a bigger lead.”

That was the one dent in EV’s strength weights as the team worked its way back with four straight victories.

But Weyrauch was trailing at 285 and Billy McGlasson attacked for a takedown. Weyrauch used a freestyle move to throw his foe over the top and pin in 1 minute, 24 seconds.

“I just locked him at the waist and rolled,” he said. “I knew, really, if I kept my hips up I’d end up on top.”

EV’s Keith Babington rallied from an eight-point deficit in a 13-11 loss to Sean Mott at 103 and U-Hi’s Lester couldn’t get two more points against Hunter, giving EV a chance.

“It was a great match,” said U-Hi coach Don Owen. “Their kids wrestled hard tonight and I thought our kids wrestled well to get the early lead. I was hoping to win at least one of the upper weights.”

Instead it was at a lower weight, where Biltoft delivered for the Knights.

In other GSL matches, Central Valley (8-0) won all but one match in a 65-6 romp at North Central (4-4). Mike Pursel was the only Indians winner, by pin. Tanner Teeples, Jeff Croskrey, Jake Neumann and Tyler Cochran remained perfect in league for the Bears. … Ferris (2-6) won the last match by technical fall for a 39-34 victory over visiting Gonzaga Prep (2-7). Tyson Riehle trailed 4-3, but rallied for a 5-4 win in a pivotal early match and Andre Rivera trailed 5-2 before winning 7-6 at 171. … Host Mead (5-3) defeated Lewis and Clark (2-5) 54-15. Ian Tyrrel beat Isaac Fry with a reversal in the last 18 seconds of the night’s final match and Jordan Greco and Chance Johnstone had quick pins. … Shadle Park (2-6) beat Rogers (0-9) at home 56-15. At 160, Damien Crooks defeated Mike Langford 6-3 in the best match of the night.

“Host Riverside (3-0) pitched a shutout 73-0 over West Valley (0-3) in the Great Northern League. The Eagles forfeited five matches and lost five by pin. The Rams’ Dustin Kasinger defeated Tyler Brischle 13-11 in overtime at 145 and freshman Garrett Fantana remained unbeaten at 119. … Deer Park (3-0) whipped visiting Cheney (2-2) 56-10. Deer Park’s Viktor Nesenchuk defeated Jason Skothaug 12-9 at 140. Pullman (1-2) defeated visiting Medical Lake 48-22, Brandon Groat beating Kyle Fuller 4-2 in overtime.