Cheney’s fledgling diving program earned its second state trophy with a championship in 3A diving — a rarity among swimming and diving programs in Eastern Washington.
The Blackhawks wrestling program showed it is making strides towards the future with a couple juniors who placed at Mat Classic XXXV, while Medical Lake basketball teams gave it their best in post season runs.
CHENEY
Boys swimming
Blackhawks junior Alma Smith captured his second consecutive 3A state title in the diving competition held Feb. 15 at the Federal Way Aquatics Center. Smith easily outpointed James Ferrier of Gig Harbor, 401.90 to 297.35, to improve on the point total that earned him his first title in 2023 in an event typically up to this point dominated by divers from Western Washington high schools.
Smith’s dives were technically more difficult than the other divers, earning him more points. Heading into his final dive he needed 18 points to earn the title — and received 40 points.
This is the second year of existence for the Blackhawks diving program, now led by head coach Greg Schmidt. Smith, who started diving in 2021, is also coached by Aaron Kilfoyle at the Inland Empire Diving Club.
Wrestling
Trenton Moore and Mason Bennett took home fifth and seventh place medals respectively at Mat Classic XXXV Feb. 23 – 24 at the Tacoma Dome.
Moore opened with a bye at 175 pounds, and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 12-0 second-round major decision over Ryan Cortez-Avile of Heritage. Sent to the consolation bracket after a 10-5 loss to Ever Yamada of Edmonds-Woodway, Moore battled back with a 9-6 decision of Arthur Ruff of Hazen and a 6-4 decision of Carson Bailey of Lakes before losing a tight, 6-5 decision to Bainbridge’s Garret Goade.
Moore decisioned Mead’s Caden Brooks, 8-2, for fifth.
Bennett also received a bye at 144, bumped to the consolation bracket with a 9-5 second-round loss to Parker Scheschy of Auburn Riverside. After another bye, Bennett advanced with a 3-1 decision of Mead’s Evan Urann and 9-4 decision of Ballard’s Miles Price before losing to Tyson Ramsey of Central Valley’s Ridgeline High School 6-4.
Bennett earned a 12-6 decision over Arlington’s Chase Deberry to place seventh.
Also competing at Mat Classic was Camron Bogle at 132. Bogle pinned Alix Jeanniton, Jr. of Lakes in the first round, but lost in the second round to Justin Broxton of Kelso, 3-1.
Bogle advanced in the consolation bracket with a pin of West Seattle’s Jackson Prater-Thaden and a 4-2 decision of Wesley Fox of Capital before ending his tournament run just short of the medal round via a 6-5 decision loss to Mark Kucheryaviy of Kennewick.
Jennifer Tian and Jalisca Holmgren also competed in the 3A/4A girls state tournament. Tian lost her opener via a fall to Puyallup’s Kinsey White at 110, finishing with a consolation bracket 3-1 decision loss to Sandy Gayed of Auburn Mountainview.
Holmgren lost in the first round by a fall to Kayce Potts of Kelso, and ended with a consolation bracket loss by a fall to Kylie Michalke of Peninsula.
All three Blackhawks boys are juniors while Holmgren is a sophomore and Tian a freshman.
Cheney placed 29th overall in team scoring. The Blackhawks GSL opponent Mead captured its third straight 3A state title, setting a scoring record in the process with 272.5 points.
MEDICAL LAKE
Boys basketball
The Cardinals post season hopes ended with a 70-44 road loss to Riverside on Feb.14 in a game for the Northeast 1A’s third seed to regional action. Maverick Rasmussen led Medical Lake (6-6 NEA, 8-15 overall) in scoring with 14 points.
Girls basketball
Charde Luat paced the Cardinals with 39 points, and Medical Lake advanced in the post season with a 52-44 win over Colville in the game for third place in the Northeast A league on Feb. 14. Medical Lake drew ninth-ranked Cashmere in the opening regional round, and was eliminated by the Bulldogs 53-32 on Feb. 17. The Cardinals (5-7 NEA, 14-11 overall) ended up with a 21st ranking in the state 1A RPI by the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association.
Wrestling
Junior True Cole was the only Cardinal to advanced out of regionals to Mat Classic XXXV. Cole lost by a fall in his opener to Roman Tabile of Seton Catholic.
He received a bye in his first match in the consolation bracket, and squared off against an old nemesis in the second match — Xavier Cardona of Omak. Cole lost to the senior in the regional semifinals, and lost at Mat Classic in a fall in the second period to the eventual state third-place finisher.
