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Fiery Comets clip Grants Pass By Kris Henry Updated: Jan 04, 2023 10:12 PM A A 6 View all photos Crater uses aggressive approach to put Cavemen on their heels It hasn’t exactly been easy being a Crater Comets wrestler this season. Truthfully, it rarely is given how hard Greg Haga’s troops tend to work, but the payoff is always worth the pain. With no gym to work out in, however, until Monday given construction on the Crater High gymnasium, the Comets have had to be extra resourceful during the 2022-23 campaign. “We’ve practiced in a tent in the parking lot until Monday,” said Crater head coach Greg Haga. “I’m not joking, that white tent in front of the stadium was our mat room so to get back in the mat room, it’s been really nice. And to get back and wrestle in our gym (Wednesday night) was very nice.” After dealing with circumstances that have only served to build toughness and character for the Comets, they came out with a fiery aggression from the get-go Wednesday to set the stages for a 45-27 win over visiting Grants Pass. “That was a little bit of our focus,” Haga said of earning early points and getting a jump on as many matches as possible against the Cavemen. “We knew we were down in the count a little bit with a couple forfeits and some guys out hurt. We were under the thumb there a little bit, I was a little worried, but you’ve got to get your points when you can and we had some big wins that helped us out.” Elijah Bayne got things rolling for the Comets by pouncing on Elijah Dara right away in their 112-pound match, using a cradle to earn back points and eventually a pin in 1 minute, 47 seconds. The aggressive tactics and the cradle proved to be a winning combination for Crater as it won five straight matches and scored 26 straight points to put the Comets in good standing. “I think that’s the style that the fans want to see,” said Haga, “and it’s just fun to wrestle that way and wrestle aggressive.” Jaret Hickey clamped in on Reed Rhoades with a tight cradle to win in 1:13 at 120 pounds, then Joey Hutchins followed with a pin at 126 (1:42) and Boston Tazioli used the move to earn back points and set the stage for a 15-0 technical fall win at 132. “We love that cradle,” Haga said with a laugh. “It was kind of contagious that way for us. I like that.” Two of the Comets’ biggest wins soon followed, with freshman Kutter Christensen scoring a hard-fought 3-2 decision over Mark Astry at 138 and then Ty Havniear breaking a stalemate with Owen Hull with his own cradle to net a fall in 2:51 at 152. “We had to have those to put us in the hunt and give us the number of matches that we’ve won to set us up,” said Haga, “and then maybe pick off a couple others along the way.” Ayden Tazioli dominated at 160 to push Crater’s advantage to 36-9 over the Cavemen, and freshman Travis Ege scored a big win in his varsity debut at 182 pounds when he edged Forrest Clark with a late takedown for a 6-5 decision. One match earlier, the energy went from one bench to the other as Isaiah Cowles of Grants Pass and Daemian Deen of Crater traded points in a back-and-forth battle. Deen looked to have earned a fall on the edge of the mat with three points of contact and his feet inbounds when the whistle blew in the third period — setting off a celebration by Comet fans — but that was short-lived as the call was merely for a restart and continuation of the match. Cowles responded with a takedown and pin with nine seconds remaining in the match. “When he called it,” Haga said of the referee’s whistle, “I thought he called the fall so I was jumping up and down a little bit — well, as much as I can — because that’s a pretty big match for our guy and for the dual. But, again, it’s a lesson for us to learn. Our kid, it shook him a little bit that he didn’t get the fall right there. Sometimes that happens and we’re just going to have to wrestle hard and overcome that.” Giovanni Gonzales scored a quick pin for Crater in the final match of the night at 220, with Grants Pass receiving forfeits at 194 and 285. TEAM SCORE: Crater 45, Grants Pass 27. *106 — Nathan Higa, GP, dec. Sienna Caruso, 12-6; 113 — Elijah Bayne, Cra, pinned Elijah Dara, 1:47; 120 — Jaret Hickey, Cra, pinned Reed Rhoades, 1:13; 126 — Joey Hutchins, Cra, pinned Lance Clifton, 1:42; 132 — Boston Tazioli, Cra, tech. fall Michael Martin, 15-0. 138 — Kutter Christensen, Cra, dec. Mark Astry, 3-2; 145 — Tagge Fry, GP, pinned Tyler Fitzgerald, 1:22; 152 — Ty Havniear, Cra, pinned Owen Hull, 2:51; 160 — Ayden Tazioli, Cra, major dec. Ashton Park, 13-4. 170 — Isaiah Cowles, GP, pinned Daemian Deen, 5:51; 182 — Travis Ege, Cra, dec. Forrest Clark, 6-5; 195 — Bladimir Mendez-Chavez, GP, won by forfeit; 220 — Giovanni Gonzales, Cra, pinned Noah Hyatt, 1:24; 285 — Parker Jarvis, GP, won by forfeit. * starting weight Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry Crater's Ayden Tazioli scrambles with Grants Pass' Ashton Park in the matchup of 160-pounders in Central Point Wednesday evening. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Crater's Elijah Bayne, right, gains control of Elijah Dara of Grants Pass during their match at 113 pounds in Central Point Wednesday evening. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Crater's Travis Ege powers Forrest Clark of Grants Pass to the mat during their match at 182 pounds match in Central Point Wednesday evening. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Crater's Boston Tazioli checks the scoreboard during his match against Grants Pass' Michael Martin at 132 pounds in Central Point Wednesday evening. Tazioli wound up earning a 15-0 technical fall. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Crater's Ayden Tazioli cranks in a cradle against Grants Pass wrestler Ashton Park during their match at 160 pounds in Central Point Wednesday evening. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] Crater's Ayden Tazioli takes Grants Pass' Ashton Park to the mat during the 160-pound match in Central Point Wednesday evening. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]