Halfway through the first season of girls doubles in the Greater Spokane League, no other team has been as dominant as the varsity.
On Wednesday night at Mead High School, the Titans proved why they are not only a force to be reckoned with in the district, but come next month in the postseason.
University (4-0) outscored Mead 51-18, pacing by four pins and a pair of technical falls to remain undefeated on the year.
“When somebody’s feeling down, we bring them up,” varsity sophomore Lily Cunningham said after the double. “If one of us needs to work on something, we’ll get in there and help him work through it. Just to make each other feel good and get to the next game.”
Cunningham sets the tone in front of a packed Panther gym with a quick 15-0 technical fall in the 100-pound match. Freshman Denni Bippes then added a first-period pin at 105 pounds to give the Titans an 11-0 lead.
First-year girls coach Bryce Tellinghusen said having the duo step into games for the Titans gives his team a quick edge and sends a wave of energy to the bench.
“They are the leaders of this team and they both really wrestle at such an impressive level,” Tellinghusen said. “They’re having a lot of success on the mat and that just sets the tone for both the team we’re wrestling and our girls.”
Bippes also adds versatility for the varsity boys team as she wrestled at the 106-pound spot in the boys’ dual meet later in the evening.
“She’s always willing to fight and send a message,” Cunningham said of Bippes. “When we can start a game 1-2, it tells the other team we want a challenge.
Mead, wrestling in her first girls dual of the GSL season, got on the board behind a quick pin from freshman phenom Briella Portrey — who was fifth at preseason nationals and has a stellar junior background.
However, the Titans answered with a pin from Maci Hoadley and a 15-0 technical fall from Korie Daines to extend the lead to 22-6.
Tellinghusen said the team’s success early in the varsity season should benefit the Titans in next month’s postseason and Mat Classic 37 in Tacoma, where a high finish in the 3A team rankings is more likely than in years past.
“The girls are learning how to fight tooth and nail every game because team points are so important,” Tellinghusen said. “It means fighting for that extra 30 seconds for your teammate, because the difference between one or two points, between a decision and a crucial decision, can mean the trophy.”
Mead (0-1) cut the deficit to 10 points on pins by Kendall Smith and Lyndon Kueck, but University scored the final two wins and added a pair of forfeits to seal the victory.
Cunningham said she and her teammates enjoy fighting for each other, but they also thrive in the spotlight and in front of a crowd.
“It feels like a university now,” Cunningham said. “In the past it’s felt like JV at times, but now we’re getting the same attention the guys get and we’re having fun.”
Mead boys remain a perfect, top university: In a battle to keep the GSL undefeated, Mead again showed its depth that has led to three state titles in the last four years, outscoring University 57-9.
Breydon Nguyen (113 pounds), Billy Weisgerber (132), Duane Leslie (175), Ethan Harvey (190), Caden Brooks (215) and Caius Kimpel (285) all had pins for the Panthers (3-0), while brothers Kaysic Lundquist and Trandyn Lundquist all had technical falls at 138-4. pounds, respectively
“We all say this is the toughest task force we’ve ever had,” Harvey said. “Every single day, every single guy is covered in sweat. We go the whole practice. We make sure that even if we lose to someone on the mat, we’re the one with the bigger tank, we’re the one pushing until the end.”
University (2-1) had wins from Josh Sherwin, Paxon Cunanan and Isaiah Ramirez, all coming by decision.
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