Indians respond to Leifer’s urging

Luke Leifer was competing for Randy Cloke at North Central nearly two decades ago when the Indians tied Mead in Greater Spokane League wrestling.

“My junior year, in 1991 we tied, but when I wrestled (the other years) we came up short,” Leifer said.

That has been the case since, but the NC coach told his veteran crew that he wanted a win this year.

So the Indians upset the Panthers last week 31-30, a highlight of Leifer’s three-year building program. The key was Mead’s decision to bump state champion Jordan Rogers up to 171 pounds to face Indians’ state runner-up Ben Carter.

“That’s a pretty big (weight) jump,” said Leifer. “It was just a barn-burner.”

Carter took an early lead and his granby move in the waning seconds, said Leifer, produced a reversal and near-fall points for a 14-10 win that helped whittle an 18-9 team deficit to three points.

“Another one that had me on the edge of my seat was the 103-pound match,” said Leifer, “because I knew we were in trouble at 112.”

In that one between youngsters, Kenny Jenks pulled out a 6-5 win and state placer Jared Berlinger’s major decision in the final match produced the victory.

It’s hard to believe that Leifer graduated a decade and one-half ago as a two-time Tri-State champion and two-time sixth-place finisher for the Indians.

He wrestled at Boise State, assisted at East Valley and moved to Hillsboro, Ore., for his first teaching job. After seven years – as assistant at Glencoe High, then as head coach at newly opened Liberty for the last three seasons – a teaching position opened in Spokane. He helped at Lewis and Clark before taking over at NC. There was optimism this year.

“This crew’s seniors were wrestling varsity as sophomores,” he said.

Many are products of a youth program which, coupled with Leifer’s freestyle coaching involvement with them, has meant contender status. The Indians lost to favored University, but toppled Mead, then East Valley last week for a 3-1 GSL start.

“If I expect them to put the time in, I have to put the time in, too,” Leifer said of a trait he learned from the Knights’ Craig Hanson. He has tried to copy Cloke’s motivational speeches and has his dad and ex-head coach, Rick, and the man he replaced, Mike Ranieri, helping him.

“We throw ideas around and figure what’s best for each kid.”

It culminated in last week’s big victory.

“I don’t know when the last time it was we beat Mead,” said Leifer. “But it had been a while. There was a good buzz around the building and we’re happy to be going into the Christmas break on a high.”

Basketball bonanza

Jerid Keefer has taken on an ambitious basketball project, though nothing like his work with Mark and Marcy Few on Coaches for Cancer projects like the Dec. 31 Gonzaga University game that benefits Ronald McDonald House.

The event planner is coordinating the Holiday Showcase basketball tournament Dec. 28-30 at Spokane Falls Community College, which is bringing in high schools from the Tacoma area and one from Canada to play teams from here.

“Hopefully it translates into some great games next week and something we can build on for the future,” Keefer said.

The fact that Greater Spokane League teams are playing non-league games this year was the impetus. Keefer’s contacts with local coaches looking for foes led to the project. It also will raise funds for the schools and gives area prep basketball fans a chance to see different competition.

Canada’s South Kamloops (11-2) opens against Shadle Park (5-1) at 1:30 p.m. Monday, followed by South Puget Sound team Kentridge (4-2), whose Gary Bell, Jr. has had a 55-point game this year, against Lewis and Clark (2-2) at 3 p.m.; the Narrows League’s Foss (5-1) against Lake City (5-1) at 6 p.m. and Curtis (7-0) against Ferris (0-3) at 7:30. Each will also play Tuesday and Wednesday, with the title game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Holiday Showcase is one of several Christmas events involving area schools. Included is a 12-team round-robin at North Idaho College on the same three days. There will be six games each day.

The boys field at NIC includes University (4-1), Coeur d’Alene (5-1) and Post Falls (4-1) against Lincoln of Tacoma (4-2), Walla Walla (4-1) and Chief Sealth (2-1) from Seattle.

Girls teams Coeur d’Alene (10-0), Lake City (8-1) and Post Falls (7-3) entertain Shadle Park (4-2), Walla Walla (4-1) and Lapwai.