Wrestling: Mead captures GSL title, handles Mt. Spokane
Not all win-loss records are equal.
The Mead wrestling team proved as much Thursday. In a showdown between undefeated in-district rivals, the Panthers mauled visiting Mt. Spokane 63-9 before an estimated crowd of 1,600, punctuating a Greater Spokane League championship.
It was the fourth league title in 17 seasons for Mead coach Phil McLean.
“They were intense, focused, gritty and tough the whole time,” McLean said. “I was really impressed with how we competed. If they compete like that I’ll always be happy.”
Mead (9-0) won 12 of 14 matches. By the time Blake Haney of Mt. Spokane stepped on the mat at 120 pounds, the Wildcats (8-1) trailed 33-0 after watching seven straight wins by the Panthers, beginning at 170.
Haney, a State 3A runner-up last year, pinned in 3 minutes, 29 seconds.
Mt. Spokane got its second win in the final match at 160 when Hunter Hohman topped Jared Boharski 7-3.
The lopsided victory was similar to most of Mead’s wins. The season began with a blowout at Mead when the Panthers ran over Central Valley 58-12.
Mead’s closest match was a 46-18 win over University.
The Panthers won nine matches by pin.
Juniors Brock Fickle (132) and Devante Goodman (145), both losers a year ago against Mt. Spokane, both recorded first-period pins.
Mt. Spokane was without No. 1-ranked Jake Howerton at 132. He injured a knee at the Dream Duals.
Fickle took advantage, needing just 55 seconds for his pin.
“I didn’t expect it to be this big of a difference,” Fickle said of the team win. “We thought they’d come out with a little more of a bang. We just competed hard and brought our best. I just tried to get the (pin) for my team.”
Moments later, Goodman got a takedown 10 seconds into his match before turning a three-point near fall into a pin just 33 seconds into the match.
“I went out there and I was scared last year as a sophomore,” Goodman said. “This year I’ve been training hard with my partner and I came out gung ho. I was ready.”
The teams are off until their respective district tournaments, Feb. 3-4 at Shadle Park.
McLean expects more of the same from his team in the postseason.
“They’ve been like this all year long, steadily getting better and better. If we compete like this I expect really good things.”
University 42, Central Valley 26: Cam Domke (113), Terrell Sanders (126), Austin Head (152), Reed Kannapien (160), Hunter Greggerson (170) and Neftali Lopez (195) had pins to lead the Titans (7-2) over the Bears (6-3). Lopez needed just 14 seconds.
Ferris 39, Lewis and Clark 27: Sipriano Barrera at 106 got one of six pins for the Saxons (4-5), who won nine of 14 matches. Ken Johnson provided a spark for Ferris with a 9-6 win over Colby Richardson at 138. LC (1-8) scored four pins in its five wins.
North Central 45, Shadle Park 28: Heavyweight Khanian Charlton needed just 44 seconds for a pin, propelling the Indians (5-4). Steven Truong (106), Sam Seremet (120) and Bryan Wais (170) also got pins for NC. Andrew Rogers (152) got a pin for Shadle (3-6).
Northeast A
Colville 46, Freeman 27: Kyron Ray (113), TJ Baun (138), Ryder Goff (152), John Knight (160) and Thailor Morrison (170) had pins to lead the Indians past the Scotties. Hunter Nees (120) of Freeman had the fastest pin in 36 seconds.
Riverside 39, Medical Lake 34: A pin from Jared Lenz (152) propelled the Rams past the Cardinals.
Lakeside 54, Chewelah 24: Of the four matches contested, Dalton Young (138) had a pin - one of three wins by the Eagles. The teams combined for 10 forfeits.