Tourney: GSL wrestling a work in progress

Dec. 19: Who was the most valuable wrestler at the Tri-State Tournament last weekend? Some observers felt it should have been Riverside junior Ryan DesRoches.

The defending state 2A champion had to negotiate formidable obstacles to win the 160-pound title last weekend. Among them was a third-period pin quarterfinal victory over 4A state veteran T.J. Lochmann from Monroe, followed by victories over a pair of returning state champions.

DesRoches defeated three-time top-three state placer and defending 145-pound champion Trevor Hall from Battle Ground, 13-7. He followed that up with a 3-0 shutout of three-time finalist and two-time state champion Michael Lomsdalen of 3A power Sedro Woolley.

DeRosches was one of just two Spokane-area titlists.

What could be divined locally from the tournament, a gathering of the elite wrestlers from four states? That the Greater Spokane League is still a work in progress.

Several teams, showed individual talent but appear short on team big-meet power. University’s 93 points, seventh behind champion Sedro Woolley, was the best, with a champion in Brian Owen, third place finisher in Anthony Rivera – who beat Mead’s Philip Smith – and fourth by Elliott Nay.

Trevor Powell from Lewis and Clark was second at 125 pounds. Other third or fourth place finishers were LC’s Anthony Varnell, who beat Jon Healy from Gonzaga Prep 3-2.

Deer Park, which qualified seven nonsenior wrestlers to state last year, four of them freshmen, is a re-emerging 2A power. Sam Lane wasn’t one of those state qualifiers but finished second at 130 pounds. The Stags had three other top-eight placers.

Basketball this week

Dec. 18: Preseason Greater Spokane League favorite Ferris is currently unbeaten with games at North Central tomorrow night and home against Rogers on Thursday.

Coaches are now saying it looks like the Saxons with everyone else a notch behind. What’s scary is that there are only three seniors on the team and all the Saxons’ leading five scorers are juniors.

Most other teams have at least one athlete in that talented junior class helping carry their teams.

So far the boys and girls standings are following eerily close to preseason prognostications. Teams not standing where expected have legitimate excuses. They haven’t been playing at full strength.

Only losses for Mead (6-1), whose Brendan Ingebritsen averaged 20 points during three wins last week, and Shadle (5-1) so far have come against Ferris. The Highlanders face 3A Mt. Spokane (tonight). The Wildcats make you play their style that so far has held opponents under 40 points three times and limited Ferris to 48.

Girls league is also going pretty much according to pre-season form with Lewis and Clark, University and Mead at the top. They are followed by teams expected to make up the next tier, Shadle Park, Ferris, Gonzaga Prep and East Valley.

As young as the boys league is, the girls are even younger. Sophomores and freshmen are factoring heavily at nearly every school, including eight impact frosh representing five teams.

Hot commodity

Dec. 13: DeAngelo Casto is a hot commodity. Three college coaches, from Gonzaga, WSU and Oregon State were in the packed Shadle Park gymnasium on Tuesday when the 6-foot-8 Ferris junior performed.

He didn’t reprise the 37-point outburst a game earlier against University. Early foul trouble in a tightly called game limited him to eight points and seven rebounds. But the physical post gifts of the Saxon junior have college coaches drooling. (And) there’s a good chance, given his youthful appearance, that he’s not done growing.

Good sportsmanship

In a nonposted item, an e-mail from Central Valley girls coach Judy Walters lauded the sportsmanship of Mt. Spokane. While diving for a loose ball in their game against the Wildcats Friday, Bears junior Mallory Flesher broke her arm in three places above the elbow when she slid into the scoring table. She will spend 10 weeks in a splint followed by eight weeks of rehabilitation. “Yesterday Mallory received a bouquet of flowers from the Mt. Spokane girls team.” said Walters. “I think it is a great show of sportsmanship and respect for those who share a love of the game.”

Flesher is one of two juniors on a freshman-sophomore oriented team. “So I think my average age (of the team) is now 14.7 (years),” said Walters.