Titans fend off Saxons
Sophomores jump-started University Wednesday night and a sophomore secured a home victory as the Titans held off Ferris 35-27 to open the Greater Spokane League wrestling season.
Beginning at 103 pounds, U-Hi got pins by Brandon Matlock, Tyler Clark and a major decision by Brandon Byers, sophomores all, for a 16-0 lead. State-placing senior Danny Seymour increased it to 22-0 with another fall. The Titans nursed it until Jacob Laden’s pin in the final match.
The Saxons had pared the score to 29-27 by then, but Laden, bumped up to 275, pulled through.
“I’ve got a talented bunch of young kids,” U-Hi coach Don Owen said. “Our lightweights are all really hard-nosed, dedicated guys.”
He was particularly impressed with Byers, who beat senior Parker Geren 15-1 at 125. He said Byers wrestled technically smart in dominating.
“Of all the kids, he probably wrestled as well as any of them did tonight,” Owen said.
The lead was substantial, but not insurmountable. In the middle weights Ferris chipped back, winning the next four, three by decision. Scott Davis’ 8-3 win at 145 over Titans sophomore Taylor Keeton cut the deficit to 22-15.
“The lower weights were where coach told us middle guys they’d have a lot of momentum and (we) guys had to turn it around,” Davis said.
U-Hi bumped the lead back to 26-15, including junior Jake Mason’s 6-0 decision at 160 over Max Coulson in a match between seasoned veterans.
“I just went out and wrestled,” state veteran Mason said.
Ferris made another run as senior state competitor Anthony Rivera scored five points in the final 15 seconds to rally for an 8-4 victory in the first of three straight wins.
Included was a pin and sophomore Russell Stinson’s overtime 7-5 win over experienced senior Marques Johnson.
That left it up to Laden, who pinned in the third period. Ferris was missing expected starter, R.J. Ryals for a variety of issues, said Saxons coach Tim Owen.
“We could have used him,” he said. “I wasn’t happy about drawing 103 pounds (to start the match) because I knew we were the underdogs. But I was real happy the other kids got to stop momentum and get it going our way again and give us a chance.”
Mt. Spokane 34, North Central 26: The Wildcats won three of the final four matches at home to rally for a victory, including Teddy Fernau’s 3-2 win over David Stratton in the finale at 189.
Shadle Park 55, Lewis and Clark 18: Trailing 18-9 after state veteran Bo Schuetzle was pinned by the Tigers’ Peter Van Voorhis at 189, the visiting Highlanders won the final seven matches to pull away.
Central Valley 75, Gonzaga Prep 6: The Bears proved ungracious hosts, winning 12 matches by pin or forfeit.
East Valley 63, Rogers 15: The host Knights won all but three matches against the Pirates, nine by pin or forfeit.
Gymnastics
Stacie Davis (34.2) and Keleich Campbel (33.0) finished 1-2 in the all-around to lead University to the team win during a four-way GSL opener in the first meet at the new Rogers gymnasium. Davis won the uneven bars (9.3) and balance beam (9.3). North Central’s Christy Grorud won the floor exercise (8.8) and vault (8.55). … In another opener, Taylor Gray won the floor (9.35) and the vault (8.6) as balanced Mead defeated visiting Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) at Mountainside Middle School. Lakeside freshman Anade Egland won the beam (9.3) on the way to the all-around title at 34.675.
Girls basketball
Alyssa Kacalek scored 20 points to lead the Lake City junior varsity to a 63-47 non-league win over host Lakeside (3-1) in non-league play at Plummer. Rian Miller had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Lakeside. Hannah Donnerberg added 14 rebounds and Saundra Curley had eight assists.