Greg Lee: 2016-17 prep athletic year full of triumphs, some heartbreak

The 2016-17 high school sports year in the Inland Northwest contained the usual triumph and heartbreak for teams and athletes.

Striving to win a league title, earn a state berth and ultimately a state championship is going to be full of moments that span the emotional radar.

Plenty of life lessons – as coaches are wont to say.

Alas, we keep score for a reason – participation medals not included.

Suffice it to say there were more stories of expectations met or exceeded than can be chronicled here. Here’s an abridged look in the rear-view mirror at some of the best of the best:

North Central boys cross country continued to add to its phenomenal streak of State 3A championships, which reached 11.

This was the year of the pack for the Indians. And it may have been coach Jon Knight’s best coaching job.

It’s unlikely that NC’s streak will reach a nifty dozen. The Indians must replace five of seven lost to graduation.

The Central Valley boys took second in the State 4A meet and served notice that they will battle for the state title this fall.

Northeast A boys teams continued to dominate the State 1A meet. Deer Park pulled off a repeat, giving the league six of the last seven state titles.

Medical Lake, back-to-back state winners in 2013 and 2014, is the early favorite for next year.

In girls, Elyria Kabasenche of Pullman captured the State 2A title and will be looking to repeat.

Keep an eye on twins Erinn and Mia Hill of North Central. They had outstanding freshman seasons.

In volleyball, Mead returns the core of its state runner-up team as does state runner-up Mt. Spokane.

Both should be in the state mix again.

Lakeside (1A) and Oakesdale (1B) captured state titles – adding more evidence to the case that eastern Washington produces some of the best volleyball in the state regardless of classification.

In a thrilling state final across the border, the Lake City girls soccer team captured a title thanks to edging Rocky Mountain 5-4 on penalty kicks.

The coldest time of the year saw a pair of outstanding wrestling careers come to an end.

Dalton Young of Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) became just the second known wrestler in the region and first in the Spokane area to finish his career undefeated. The Stanford-bound Young finished 170-0.

I have to say for seemingly the 1,000th time, Young never dodged anybody. Throw out a mat in the middle of the freeway and he’d take on anybody his size.

Clai Quintanilla of NC became the first four-time state champ from the GSL. Hard to believe this hasn’t happened before in this wrestling-rich area.

The Davenport and Republic girls captured state basketball titles.

Republic’s surge to the top saw Colton’s consecutive run of eight straight State 1B titles snapped.

An undefeated state champion the year before, the Central Valley girls were upset 56-55 by Bellarmine Prep in the State 4A quarterfinals.

CV may have been the best team in the state, but the Bears stubbed their toes. They’ll be heavily favored to win next year.

In Idaho, the Timberlake girls, led by four-year starters Allison Kirby and Keelie Lawler, captured a second straight 3A State title and third in four years.

In the boys, Gonzaga Prep fell 56-53 in the semifinal to eventual State 4A champ Kentwood. The Bullpups return a core hungry to break through next year.

Yes, there were state tournaments held in one of the wettest springs in history.

In boys track, Mt. Spokane surged to a State 3A title, scoring points in most of the 18 events.

Mead, led by hurdler/jumper/sprinter Joseph Heitman, captured the 4A title with just three of the five state qualifiers scoring points. Heitman, a junior, captured titles in both hurdles and was runner-up in the long jump.

It was Mead’s ninth state title (the WIAA records don’t identify Mead as tying for a state title for some reason).

The Lakeside and Oakesdale girls continued a wonderful year with titles in track.

Allow me a postscript: The fourth annual Spokane Youth Sports Awards ceremony was held Monday.

The event, the brainchild of GSL secretary Herb Rotchford and the Spokane Sports Commission, honors top athletes and teams from all classifications in eastern Washington.

The largest crowd to date, estimated at 800, attended the event that is held in the classy Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. They had to open up the balcony for the first time.

Whether athletes or coaches from your school win, this event is must see for the serious or casual sports fan.

Check it out Saturday when SWX broadcasts event at 6 p.m. You’ll see red-carpet arrivals by athletes and teams, quick interviews with the finalists and the doling out of the spiffy glass trophies to the winners.