Pirate Gives All; CV Falls

Prep wrestling

Mark Rinde is paying for his shift to 148 pounds, but not until his matches are over.

Wiped out after his gyrating, no-backing-down win over Central Valley’s Shane Yackel on Thursday, Rinde collapsed on his back for several minutes.

After he’d had extra time to compose himself, Rinde summed up his crucial match during Rogers’ 32-26 Greater Spokane League wrestling win over the previously unbeaten Bears (2-1).

“I use up everything,” said Rinde, who had wrestled as high as 168 pounds this year before dieting to get to his current weight division. “That’s what I try to do.”

Rinde’s 16-8 major decision, plus Shawn McMackin’s 8-4 win over Jeremy Albert at 168, allowed the Pirates (2-1) to hold off CV, which is toughest in the upper weights.

The Rogers win also gave GSL-leading University (4-0) more breathing room at the top. U-Hi has already defeated Rogers.

Rinde’s win was necessary for Rogers because CV won six of the final eight matches after falling behind 25-0.

Adding to the drama: Yackel nearly pinned Rinde late in the third round, when the Bears’ 148-pounder trailed 11-8. Rinde pulled off a reversal with 25 seconds left, however, and added a three-point near fall.

“I knew what (Yackel) was trying to do to me, and I knew I was strong enough to turn him over,” Rinde said.

“Every one of Mark’s matches seems to take an hour and a half,” said Rogers coach Ken Pelo. “He’s so competitive that he charges around like a wild bull.”

Lopsided matches were the theme of the night. The only matches closer than McMackin’s win were at 108 and 178.

Daryl Groom of Rogers, also slowed by recent weight-shedding, needed overtime to defeat Shane Cunnanan 9-7 at 108. Groom, a state veteran, trailed 6-4 before a three-point near fall with 39 seconds left. Cunnanan forced OT with an escape 28 seconds later.

Although CV’s Ben Asbury defeated Tim Patterson 2-1 at 178, the Pirates clinched the win because the Bears needed pins in the final three matches.

At U-Hi, the Titans stormed to an 18-0 lead - highlighted by Tanner Scarlett’s first-round pin at 115 - in a 41-18 win over Shadle Park (0-3-1). The Titans held out state veteran Scott Garcia at 141 so he can compete at U-Hi’s Pacific Northwest Classic on Saturday.

Shadle’s big wins were at 129, Casey Laughary’s 2-0 overtime win over Andy Richardson, and 135, Rodney Martinez’s 9-6 win over J.D. Peterson.

At Lewis and Clark (0-3), Mead (2-1-1) won seven of the final eight matches to defeat the Tigers 49-13. Mead’s Erin Vandagriff (168) earned a 16-0 technical fall over Zack Ripley, one of LC’s best wrestlers. Mead’s James Clark (135), who had an 11-0 major decision, continued a strong comeback from an illness.

At North Central, Gonzaga Prep (3-1) took a 17-0 lead after the first three matches during a 44-24 win over the Indians (1-3). Prep’s Steve Steigleder had a 17-2 technical fall at 129. Ryan Malone (148) of the Bullpups trailed NC’s Lance Light 10-4 before notching a third-round pin. NC’s Eddie Jones (122) had a 30-second pin.

Frontier League

In a surprising league opener, West Valley slapped visiting Pullman - one of the favorites - 36-27 after jumping ahead 27-3 on two pins and two forfeits.

WV’s Shawn Simon (108) and state veteran Aaron Lehinger (115) had first-round pins to stake the Eagles to an 18-0 lead. The Greyhounds, who forfeited at 101 and 129, rebounded in the upper weights with pins by Kyle Ryan (168) and Earl Eastman (275).

At East Valley, the host Knights (1-0) won three of the final four matches to overcome Cheney’s 20-17 lead for a 35-26 win. Matt Beaulieu (168) started the EV rally with a second-period pin. EV’s Quinton Chapman (115) led Gabe Schaefer 7-0 after two rounds before the Blackhawks’ state veteran unleashed a reversal and two near falls for an 8-7 win. Cheney is 0-1.

Clarkston didn’t report its meet with defending champion Colville.