Bullpup Girls Go 8-0 In Tennis

There were no stars, and therefore not a lot of individual recognition. Collectively, however, Gonzaga Prep girls tennis team was unbeatable.

“No one could be singled out, it was such a team effort,” said second-year coach Donna Lenseigne, who preached selflessness. “A win at number three doubles was just as important as at number one singles.”

The Bullpups surprised even their coach by going 8-0 and winning 50 of 56 matches against Greater Spokane League opponents.

“We were stronger than I thought,” said Lenseigne. “Actually I didn’t think we would have it that easy.”

The Bullpups won five times by shutout. Three doubles teams of Alecia Nelson and Kristen Casey, North Sider Vanessa Waldres and Wendy Lin, and North Sider Kara Clavio and Erin Janosky went undefeated.

Two singles players, freshman Lisa Van Gemert and North Sider Ali Powers, were 6-2 in league. The other two, Kendra Leyda and Krista Kubiak, went 7-1.

Gonzaga Prep girls and boys combined to win tournaments in Lewiston and the Tri-Cities.

“They had their talent; they were very talented,” said Lenseigne. “They were also very committed, very supportive and had team spirit. It’s been a wonderful year.”

Van Gemert and the Leyda-Nelson and Powers-Kubiak doubles teams have qualified for regionals.

Joining them are Mead boys singles champion Ryan Moran, doubles champs Brett Kaiser and Tory Gambill and the girls doubles team of Marie Vagstad and Lindsay Wagstaff.

Also qualifying are Prep boys singles players Luke Witt and Riggs Kubiak.

Panther horde leads regional crew

Not everything went according to plan at last week’s GSL district track meet, but Mead still captured the lion’s share of berths to this weekend’s regional track meet at Central Valley High on Friday and Saturday.

Forty-nine Panther boys and girls athletes will be in action when the top three individuals per event advance to Star Track in Tacoma.

All told, nearly 100 North Side athletes are continuing their seasons.

Perhaps the biggest Panther setback came in the pole vault, where 14-6 leaper Shawn Gumke failed to clear a height.

He entered competition a foot below his best, which left coach Gary Baskett miffed.

“Four of our five vaulters no-heighted,” he said.

Brian Pruess, however, saved the day with a seasonal best 14-6 to win the event. He will carry Mead state meet hopes along with 57-foot-8 district champion shot putter Scott McGlockin, distance runners Ryan Wiser, Morgan Thompson and Jason Fayant, district champion discus thrower Joe Collier and long jumper Chris McCullough.

McGlocklin was pushed in the shot by Brett Jordan and David Sandberg from North Central, who both bettered 54-5.

Shadle Park’s Oliver Cook started slow but finished strong with a 196-1 javelin throw.

“My footwork didn’t start working until the last throw,” he said. “I’d like to break 200 feet.”

Cook was beaten on his last jump by teammate Sam Glanzer in the triple jump.

Former Highlander April Gallagher helped Mead’s girls throwers star in district. She won the discus at 123-6 and was part of a one-two-three finish behind Jen Bennett and Leah Merrill in the shot put.

Distance runner Katie Pollock, jumper Jamie Wakefield and jumperhurdler Alli Bailey also had strong meets.

Shadle Park advanced a total of 24 athletes, including four relay teams, to regionals.

The quartet of Carolyn Nelson, Emilee Steckler, Vanessa Larkin and Katie Schurra in the 400 and 800 are state hopefuls along with 800 runner Carrie Curtis from Rogers.

Golfers to state

North Side golfers survived torrid competition in order to qualify for next week’s State AAA tournament.

A two-round score of 151 wasn’t good enough to make the top eight and a state berth, when last year it would have placed fourth.

Mead’s Brian Fong won with a near-par 145 two-day total from the Indian Canyon and Hangman Valley courses. Joining him are teammate Keith Ross, Gonzaga Prep’s Dan Potter (both 149), Shadle Park’s Robert Selland and Rogers’ Charlie Nap (both 150).

Girls qualifiers include Mead champion Britney Holt at 151, teammate Sarah Northcutt (163) and Gonzaga’s Lisa Zimmer.

In the District 7 A/B qualifier, Lakeside’s Bobby O’Brien finished sixth.

Baseball, softball teams advance

Mead’s league champion baseball and runner-up softball teams will be involved in regional competition this weekend.

The Panther boys play in the Tri Cities at 1 p.m. Saturday against Richland during the four-team playoff that qualifies one team to the state finals.

The girls play Friday and Saturday in Moses Lake in an eight-team double-elimination tournament that sends three teams to a 16-team tournament.

Lakeside’s league championship baseball team routed Chewelah 18-0 for its first district title and plays in Moses Lake on Saturday.

After a slow start, Lakeside’s softball team rushed into third place and is involved in the AA/A eightteam playoffs that send two teams to state.

Northwest Christian baseball and softball teams also are continuing post-season action.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TRACK COMPETITORS

GSL Boys Regional qualifiers Mead - Joe Zelinski (100-200), Seth Normington (400), Zach Grimm, Ryan Wiser (800-1,600), Chad Wiser (800), Keats McGonigal (800), C.J. Skyberg (800). Jason Fayant (1,600-3,200), Morgan Thompson (1,600-3,200), Tom Becker (1,600-3,200), Eric Stutzman (110-300 hurdles), Scott McGlocklin (shot put), Ossim Hatem (shot put), Matt Williams (shot put), Joe Collier (discus), Jason DeJong (discus), Chris Morgan (discus), Andy Johnston (discus), Chris Callahan (javelin), Steve Savage (javelin), Troy Bishop (javelin), Chris McCullough (long jump-triple jump), Pat Hudson (long jump), Mark Stenerson (long jump), John Lindow (triple jump), Derek Bynagle (high jump), Brian Pruess (pole vault).

North Central - Brandon Roth (400-1,600 relay), Jon Caballero (1,600), Ty Carter (110 hurdles), Ben Johnson (1,600 relay), David Robinson (1,600 relay), Jim Lehman (1,600 relay), Brett Jordan (shot put), David Sandberg (shot put), Ed Eschenbacher (discus).

Rogers - Isaac Solomon (100), Cameron Hatch (3,200), Max Devore (triple jump), Greg Pugh (triple jump).

Shadle Park - Demetrius Scott (200), Dylan Underhill (400), Casey Perry (1,600-3,200), Greg Forni (110-300 hurdles), Adam Peters (300 hurdles), Nick Kimmett (400 relay), Anthony Walters (400 relay), John Ball (shot put), Oliver Cook (javelin-triple jump), Chris Anderson (discus-javelin), Ben Pate (javelin), Grant Caldwell (long jump).

GSL Girls Regional qualifiers Mead - Abby Hornstein (100-200), Jennifer Jenson (100), Alisha Simchuk (100), Julie Miller (200), Jenny Frazier (400), Jayme Mottram (400), Kelly Curry (400), Morgan Bennett (400), Katie Pollock (1,600-3,200), Annie McCabe (1,600-3,200), Rachae Probst (1,600-3,200), Allie Bailey (100 hurdles-triple jump), Michelle Gemmill (300 hurdles), Meghan Wittman (300 hurdles), Jen Bennett (shot put-discus), Leah Merrill (shot put), April Gallagher (shot put-discus), Elysia Hanna (discus), allahan (javelin), Angie Edmonds (shot put), Jamie Wakefield (long jump-triple jump), Kate Gibbons (long jump-triple jump), Maggie Temte (long jump).

North Central - Carrie Payne (shot put-discus), Darcy O’Neill (discus).

Rogers - Carrie Curtis (800), Sandra Kanan (100 hurdles-300 hurdles), Amber Conrath (triple jump).

Shadle Park - Carolyn Nelson (100-400 relay-800 relay), Tachel Hayes (400), Julie Sawatzky (800-high jump-1,600 relay), Lania Jones (3,200), Lisa Hansen (100 hurdles-300 hurdles-1,600 relay), Amy Ridings (300 hurdles), Missy Alake (shot put-discus), Rachael Garnett (discus), Trisha Simmons (javelin), Vanessa Larkin (high jump-400 relay-800 relay). Emilee Steckler (400 and 800 relays), Katie Schurra (400 and 800 relays), Hays (1,600 relay).