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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Republic stands on brink of state championship

TACOMA – Jim Gubler told his wrestling team that if it was going to win it all this year, it would have to do it Friday.

If Gubler is right, the Republic Tigers should one-up their second-place finish of last year and bring home the Class B team title at Mat Classic XX at the Tacoma Dome.

The Tigers have six of eight wrestlers in the championship finals today, which begin at 5:15 p.m., and 121.5 total team points – 22 points ahead of second-place Kittitas.

Jim Gubler’s son, J.J., will defend his 135-pound title against John Kealoha of Ocosta.

“Our coach – my dad – told us we had to put ourselves in position to win,” J.J. Gubler said after his semifinal victory over Reardan senior Tim Eggleston. “It would be outstanding (to win the team title) – it would be a miracle.

“We’ve worked so hard and we’ve never done it before so it would mean so much.”

Also through to the finals for Republic are sophomore Levi Larson, who will take on Springdale freshman Conan Kalugin in the 112-pound championship; sophomore Ryn Rollins, who will defend his 119-pound title; freshman Scotty Bacon (130); two-time defending champion Jordan Hancock (152); and senior Landis Mills (171), who placed second last year at 160.

“If we leave it up to Reardan we know what’s going to happen – the same thing that happened last year,” said Jim Gubler. “Guys like Derek Toney don’t miss opportunities, so that was what we talked about all week is let’s end it Friday night.”

Last year it came down to the heavyweight match and the Tigers had no control over the outcome. Reardan’s Toney pinned Ocosta’s Kyle Strode to give the Indians a half-point margin over Republic for the team title.

“They’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do – we brought eight and we’ve got six in the finals. We’ve done everything we can,” Jim Gubler said.

For Reardan, which is third overall with 88 points after day one, senior Chris Goodson looks to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the 125 title match against Kittitas’ Robert Langloss, last year’s runner-up at 119.

Reardan senior Josh Eldred, who has placed in his three previous state tournaments but never had a shot at a title, will take on Springdale’s Alex Kalugin in the 140-pound championship.

Rory Beckstrom, also a senior at Reardan, will meet Darrington’s Conner Rounds in the 215-pound championship. Also, Toney and Strode will square off in a rematch of last year’s 285-pound final in the concluding B match of the night.

Girls

Six Eastern Washington wrestlers competed in the second official championship for girls, also at the Tacoma Dome.

Two advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight classes – Central Valley’s Emily Juhre (125) and Colfax’s Deidra Starret (285). Both were eliminated and will have a chance for third today if they can get through the consolation semifinals.

Three Springdale girls – Theresa Scott (135), Adrienne Anderson (145) and Mary Kenney (285) – and Liberty’s Cheyenne Venturella (112) were eliminated at various stages in the consolation bracket.