U-Hi state champions pace winter sports honor roll

By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

When the 2022-23 wrestling season began, University High senior Q’veli Quintanilla had a goal of competing at Mat Classic in Tacoma with his younger brother and Titan teammate Czar.

Then Q’veli tore his ACL in December and the road to state become muddled at best.

U-Hi coach Ryan Montang saw the bond between the brothers early in the season when Q’veli and Czar – a freshman – both captured gold at the prestigious Tri-State tournament in Coeur d’Alene.

“It really first shone through there,” Montang said. “They knew each other’s goals and were really cheering for each other.”

After the injury, Q’vali tackled rehabilitation until the district tournament with an eye toward state.

“It was a challenging season,” he said. “I debated not wrestling at state but I knew I wouldn’t have this opportunity again. I just wanted to compete one last time, especially with my little brother.”

Q’vali won his first district match and took an injury default for the rest of the bracket. He advanced to state with a strategy of “getting matches done as quickly as possible.”

“I don’t think many wrestlers could have done what he did,” said Montang. “It’s just a testament to how good he is.”

Q’vali brought an impressive resume to Tacoma that included state titles his freshman and junior year as well as two national championships. Only a pandemic his sophomore season prevented a chance at four consecutive first-place medals. He is also a three-time All GSL Wrestler of the Year.

Czar also moved on to state with a perfect record in the GSL like his brother. Being a first-year wrestler in the high school arena never presented a hurdle for the confident freshman.

“Even last summer, I had confidence going into this season,” Czar said.

The championship pedigree runs in the Quintanilla family. Czar and Q’veli’s older brothers Izaec and Clai were elite wrestlers at North Central High before competing at the University of Wisconsin and Fresno State, respectively.

Q’veli started his prep career at Gonzaga Prep, then transferred to U-Hi as a junior.

“I’d say University High School changed me into a better person,” he said.

In Tacoma, the Quintanilla brothers soared to the top of the podium. Czar won state at 106 pounds while Q’vali overcame his knee injury to capture first at 145.

“After winning state I went right to my brother and family,” Czar said. “It’s probably the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Q’veli said seeing his brother secure a state title “ranked right up there with winning nationals twice.”

“The biggest thing for me was getting Czar to that point of knowing he could win state,” Q’veli said.

Q’Veli, who is part of the Advanced Athlete program that produces many Team USA Olympic athletes, had surgery on his knee in late March. He will continue his wrestling career at Utah Valley State.

The following is a roundup of outstanding achievements among Greater Spokane Valley athletes and teams during the 2022-23 winter sports season:

Central Valley

Girls’ basketball – Autumn Agnew, senior – All GSL 3A/4A First Team; Eden Sander, sophomore – First Team

Boys’ basketball – Daniel Crowley, senior – All GSL Honorable Mention

Gymnastics – Sixth in 4A state team competition; Mikah Baggot, senior – All GSL First Team, balance beam, Second Team, all-around, floor exercise; Kyley Schneckloth, senior – First Team, floor exercise; Kylie Morias, sophomore – Second Team, uneven bars; Schneckcloth, Baggot and Makenzie Moll (state qualifiers)

Wrestling – Blaine Beard, junior –All GSL First Team (fourth at state); Bayden Beard, sophomore – aFirst Team (seventh at state); Danner Smith, junior – First Team (seventh at state)

East Valley

Boys’ basketball – Luke Holecek, senior – All GSL 2A First Team; Coleton Hansen, senior – Second Team

Wrestling – Orlando Morales, senior – GSL 2A Wrestler of the Year (seventh at state); Devin Pierce, junior – First Team (third place at state); Alonzo Vargas, senior – First Team (fifth at state); Tyler Conrath, senior – Second Team; Owen Spendlove, senior – Second Team

Freeman

Girls’ basketball – Second at District; Sixth at 1A State; Academic 1A State Champions; Jaycee Goldsmith – First Team All Northeast 1A League; Stephanie Chadduck – All League Second Team; Taylee Phelps – All League Second Team and Defensive Player of the Year

Boys’ basketball – Northeast 1A League, District Champions and 1A State Qualifiers; Boen Phelps – All League First Team and MVP; Gabe Schulhauser – All League First Team; Tanner Goldsmith – All League Second Team

Wrestling – Chase Smith – All League First Team, District and Regional Champion, Third at State; Jonah Orndorff and Hunter Hawk –State Qualifiers

Ridgeline

Boys’ Wrestling – Tyson Ramsey, junior – 3A/4A All-GSL First Team (third at state)

Girls’ Wrestling -- Hailee Argaw, freshman, All-GSL First Team Gymnastics – 3A Academic State

Champions; Bella DeLaRosa, junior, First Team vault, First Team balance beam, Second Team all-around; Julianne Stevenson, sophomore, First Team balance beam

University

Girls’ basketball – Elianna Ramirez, senior – All GSL 3A/4A First Team; Julianna Jeross, junior –All GSL Honorable Mention

Boys basketball – Tyler Nelson, senior – All GSL Second Team; Shane Skidmore, junior – Second Team; Gabe Heimbigner, junior –Honorable Mention

Boys’ Wrestling – Fifth in 3A state competition; Q’veli Quintanilla, senior – All GSL 3A/4A Co-Wrestler of the Year (first at state); Czar Quintanilla, freshman – First Team (first at state); Samuel Thomas, sophomore (second at state) – First Team; Cooley Conrad, junior – First Team; Amadis Sans, sophomore – Second Team (seventh at state); Taylor Daines, junior – Second Team (fifth at state); Xzavier Elgee Sanders, senior – Second Team; Nicholas Alexander, senior – Second Team (seventh at state)

Girls Wrestling – Libby Roberts, sophomore – All GSL 3A/4A Wrestler of the Year (first at state); Olivia Vignere, sophomore – First Team

Gymnastics – Maya Meeks, senior – First Team uneven bars; Isabella Lefler, junior – Second Team vault; Michelle Hess – 3A/4A GSL Assistant Coach of the Year

West Valley

Girls’ basketball – Chloe Deharo, junior – GSL 2A Player of the Year

Boys’ basketball – Second place in 2A GSL, state qualifier; Ben Fried, junior – All GSL 2A First Team; Grady Walker, junior – First Team; Ryan Schroder, senior – Second Team; Jay Humphrey – 2A GSL Coach of the Year

Wrestling – Logan Utecht, junior –All GSL First Team (second at state); Andrew Royston, sophomore – First Team; Logan Leeson, freshman –First Team

Gymnastics – Brenna Vasicek, sophomore – First Team vault (state qualifier)

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Spring gardening programs feature tips, techniques from a Master Gardener

By Abra Cole, public services specialist Spokane County Library District

Interest in home gardening and homesteading skills has increased significantly over the last several years. As you might expect, the library has books, resources, programs, and seed libraries to meet your interest.

While local gardening tradition suggests holding off on planting your warm season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini, until the snow disappears off Mica Peak—typically closer to the end of May, it is never too early to start planning what your spring garden will look like.

So, if you consider yourself garden-curious or a beginning gardener or even if you’ve been gardening for decades, April is the perfect time to drop in at the library

Hike the Saltese Uplands, attend the Doris Morrison Learning Center grand opening

By Jane Baker Spokane County Library District

We’re all about learning at the library and are thrilled to be part of the grand opening of the Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats on Earth Day 2023. This learning center provides a new option for outdoor environmental education and an interpretive center for the community.

Once drained for farming, Spokane County has restored the Saltese Flats back to a healthy and productive wetland. As part of this work, the Doris Morrison Learning Center was built near the wetland to provide a space to learn about this special habitat and its occupants.

The library joins a gathering of community partners in offering activities for all ages at the grand for a gardening program or two.

Master Gardener Steve Nokes is presenting several different gardening programs at various libraries this April and May. At Spokane Valley Library (12004 E Main Rd) on Tuesday, April 4, at 6:30pm, he discusses the basics of successful vegetable gardening, including garden design, soil preparation, planting, watering, and weeding.

At Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave), Steve shares his expertise during the program “Raised Bed Gardening” on Wednesday, April 5, at 6:30pm. He goes over the best materials to use, bed sizes and shapes, soil options, and locations for productive raised beds.

The program “Pruning Your Garden: How, When & Why” is at Otis Orchards Library on Wednesday, April 25, at 6:30pm. You can learn about the importance of pruning, how to prune with triedand-true techniques, and the best timing practices for pruning.

In May, you discover the “Best Plants for Container Gardening” at Spokane Valley on Tuesday, May 2, opening event. There will be live raptor shows, activities for kids including storytime, guided bird walks, and over a dozen free activity booths.

We hope to see you at the Doris Morrison Learning Center (1330 S Henry Rd) on April 22, 10am-2pm. Visit www.spokanecounty.org/ DMLC for more information.

In May, you can hike the Saltese Uplands with the library! We’re offering a two-part program about the Saltese Flats that includes a lecture and hike. Todd Dunfield of the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy will tell the story of Saltese dating back to when Saltese Flats was a lake and the efforts to bring back an oasis for migratory birds and local recreationists. After hearing about its history, we will hike and explore the natural beauty of Saltese Uplands.

The lecture takes place at Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave) on Saturday, May 6, 10:30am–12pm. The hike of the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area is on Saturday, at 6:30pm. Also see how to propagate plants from seeds and cuttings at Otis Orchards Library on Wednesday, May 3, at 6:30pm.

We invite you to share your extra plant starts and pick up something new to try in your garden at the “Plant Starts Swap” at Spokane Valley Library on Saturday, May 13, between 1pm and 4pm. Plus, you may meet other local gardeners there and swap gardening insights.

While you’re at either Spokane Valley or Otis Orchard Library for any of the above programs, you can always swing by and check out our seed library. We welcome you to drop off your extra heirloom seeds for other gardeners and to borrow some seeds to try in your own garden.

Our take-and-give seed libraries depend on local gardeners who donate seeds harvested from their own gardens for others to try growing in their gardens. Our seed library is a great place to find vegetable, flower, and herb varieties that grow well in our area. Talk to library staff to learn more or visit www.scld.org/seedlibrary.

May 13, at 9am. This program is for adults and registration is required for the hike. Hiking participants must register and sign a waiver at www.inlandnwland.org/events.

You can also hike the Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve with the library in April. Todd Dunfield will present another two-part program in April, “Salmonopolis: An Ecological Story of the Little Spokane River.” In the lecture, learn about conservation efforts to bring wild salmon back to the Little Spokane River. Then take a guided hike to explore the river in Dartford.

The lecture takes place at North Spokane Library (44 E Hawthorne Rd) on Friday, April 14, 5–6pm. There are two opportunities to hike the Waikiki Spring Nature Preserve in Dartford on Saturday, April 15, at 9am and 12:30pm. Participants must register to join one of the hikes and sign a waiver at www. inlandnwland.org/events.

For more about these programs, visit www.scld.org.