Cheney wrestlers: playoffs in sight

CHENEY — Blackhawk wrestlers spent the weekend at area tournaments ahead of post-season Great Northern League action that kicks off Friday.

As a team the Blackhawks took 11th at the North Idaho Rumble at Coeur d’Alene High School Friday and Saturday, where Dylan Straley, with a 32-3 record, took third in the 145-pound weight class in a 11-6 decision over Potlatch’s Gabe Prather.

At 152, Cheney’s Jackson Showalter snagged a first-place finish over Ethan Miller of Post Falls with a 12-2 major decision.

“Jackson Showalter won his first belt with a 12-2 major decision,” head coach Jason Connor said. “As usual, he was a hammer on top for six full minutes.”

Blake Seubert, wrestling at 160, was pinned in 2-minutes, 32-seconds by Coeur d’Alene’s Gunner Giulio.

“Our guys want to face tough competition on bigger stages and they definitely got that in Coeur d’Alene,” Connor said.

Freshman wrestled at Rogers High School, also on Saturday, for the Spokaloo tournament where the Blackhawks faired well, taking second of 13 Spokane area teams just behind 4A Mead.

“Our freshmen had a great weekend,” Connor said. “We look forward to getting more of these young studs in the varsity line-up. They showed that we can compete at 3A/4A in the Greater Spokane League.”

Cheney’s Joe Showalter took first place at 120 over Mt. Spokane’s Jackson Hale on a 7-1 decision.

At 145, Dalton Taylor settled for a second-place finish after getting pinned by Mead’s Austin Justice in 1:29, while Blackhawk Thayne Acedo also took second after being pinned in 1:15 by M.t Spokane’s Hunter Osso.

In the 160 weight class, Cheney’s Elijah Aguilera took first away from Mead’s Seth Simmons in a 9-4 decision, while Jake Harmon had to settle for fifth-place after being quickly pinned by East Valley’s Own Spendlove in 14 seconds.

Blackhawk Braiden Leach pinned his 170-pound opponent, Gonzaga Prep’s Chris Shirley, in 2:05, while at 182, Blake Gross pinned East Valley’s Curtis Art in 1:14.

“Blake Gross wrestled up two weight classes and pinned his way through,” Connor noted.

The varsity Blackhawks, who secured the GNL title for the second year in a row with their win over Pullman on Jan. 22, will be heading into the district championships beginning tomorrow and Saturday at Central Valley High School before heading to regionals on Friday – Saturday, Feb. 14 – 15 at East Valley.

Then it’s off to state championships in the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 21 –22, where second- year head coach Jason Connor has said the team’s goal is to place fourth or higher.

Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].