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Comets off to fast start at state PORTLAND -- The Crater Comets got off to a rousing start at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament on Thursday, even though one of their best wrestlers went down with a knee injury. Eleven of the 16 Comets who are entered in the tournament charged into this morning's quarterfinal round, and the Comets took the first-day lead in scoring. Crater has 73 points, followed by Newberg (60), West Linn (59 1/2), Pendleton (45 1/2) and Sprague (38). Grants Pass is in sixth place with 36 points and Eagle Point is ninth with 29 1/2. The Comets suffered one big setback Thursday when 215-pound Cameron Fjarli suffered a severe knee injury in his first match. Fjarli is through for the tournament, Crater coach Greg Haga said. Chad Griffith (112), Morgan Hawkins (119), Justin Godley (135), Shane Webster (152), Matt Lee (160), Tanner Hillyer (171), Mike Whitehead (189(, Scott Toney (189), Anders Vetch (215), Burk Thomas (275) and Austin Etchinson (275) all moved into today's quarterfinal round for the Comets. Webster upset No. 2-seeded and previously unbeaten Reid Stadelman of Glencoe in the second round, 5-3. "We still have 14 guys alive in the tournament -- we only lost two kids today," Haga said. "And several of our losses were close ones." Eagle Point's B.J. McFall (130) and Matt Bray also advanced to the quarterfinal round, as did five Grants Pass wrestlers: Joe Rossknecht (103), Lance Walters (119), Jeremy McLean (125), Levi Fuller (130) and Jeremy Conner (140). The Cavemen suffered one setback, however, when defending state runner-up Jake Leair lost in the second round. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.