Washington wrestling champs rounding into form

This week's happenings in the Washington prep sports scene:

1. Defending wrestling champs cruise: University (Spokane) won the Class 4A state wrestling tournament last year. This year, the Titans are competing as a 3A team. In their first stop toward win another title, the Spokane Valley team rolled. University won nine (of the 14) individual titles and doubled up the other Greater Spokane League 3A teams to cruise to the sub-regional title. Regional tournaments are this weekend, the final step before Mat Classic, the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 18-19.

2. Dockery headed to Pullman: Curtis receiver Rahmel Dockery was the last of the state's top football prospects to pick a school. He waited until signing day before announcing he would go to Washington State. Dockery was debating between WSU and Oregon State. Dockery caught 73 passes for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's a dangerous kick returner, returning five for touchdowns as a junior. Few teams kicked to him as a senior.

3. League title streaks continue: Mercer Island dominated the KingCo 3A swim meet, winning with 840 points. Second place had 394. It was their ninth straight league title. South Kitsap (Port Orchard) won eight individual titles at the Narrows League wrestling championships and piled up 392 points. Shelton was second with 240.5. It was the ninth consecutive time SK won the league title.

4. Top-ranked O'Dea falls: Seattle Prep player Mitch Brewe overcame the flu to score 29 points as No. 5 Seattle Prep knocked off No. 1 O'Dea in overtime 76-71. Brewe hit a 3-pointer that forced the game into overtime.

5. Emerald Ridge bowls them over: Emerald Ridge (South Hill) won its third straight Class 4A bowling state title, edging crosstown rivals Rogers, 7,253-6,678. Courtney Couch led the way by winning the individual title with a score of 1,102. Prairie (Brush Prairie) won the Class 3A/2A title with 6,987.

TOP 5 PERFORMERS
* Carys Bailey, Klahowya (Silverdale) bowling: The senior won her second straight Class 3A/2A state title with 1,131 pins, the best score at state regardless of classification.

* Tony Wroten Jr., Garfield boys basketball: The Washington signee scored a season-high 46 points on 14 of 34 shots (5 of 15 3-pointers) with eight rebounds in a 88-80 win over Ballard.

* Derek Jobe, Rogers boys basketball: Jobe scored 42 points, but Rogers was upset by Federal Way 92-87.

* Jay Balmer, Puyallup boys basketball: Balmer hit nine 3-pointers and scored 29 of his 41 points in the first half of a 74-41 win over Graham-Kapowsin.

* Michael Middlebrooks, Rainier Beach boys basketball: The 6-foot-8 center nearly had a triple-double with 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks as No. 2 Rainier Beach beat No. 8 Chief Sealth 55-52.

RECRUITING NEWS
Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma) javelin thrower Quinn Hale signed with Washington. ... Mead (Spokane) runner Baylee Mires will also compete for Washington track and field.

UPCOMING EVENTS
It's a busy week around Washington.

The regional wrestling tournaments are this weekend. District events for swimming and gymnastics are also this weekend. And, for many leagues, the basketball playoffs begin.

NATE'S NOTES
One of my favorite sporting events is this week. The Metro League basketball tournament is one of the best things going.

It always features several of the top teams in the state and it settles who is the best team in the best league in the state. Every year, you can stamp the winner of the Metro as the favorite to win state — unless another Metro team does it.

Nathan Joyce has covered high school sports in Washington for 13 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.