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Click Here 36 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 9, 2004 Crater�s Taylor Wilkerson, bottom, didn�t turn out for wrestling until his freshman year. The senior is one of the top wrestlers in the Class 4A ranks this season. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Taylor-made Comet Fired-up heavyweight Taylor Wilkerson has Crater focused on another state-title run By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Taylor Wilkerson remembers the match as it were yesterday. Last February, the Crater High wrestler led Roseburg’s Justin Troxel 1-0 with seven seconds remaining in the 275-pound championship match of the Southern Oregon Conference district tournament. But Troxel wiggled free for an escape to tie the match, then took down Wilkerson in overtime to win it. "Anytime things get tough in the practice room, I just think, ‘Seven seconds,’" Wilkerson says. "What happened last year is what motivates me now." Advertisement Despite the loss to Troxel, Wilkerson advanced to the Class 4A state tournament, where he wound up fourth. This season, Wilkerson has his eyes on the big prize — a state championship. "He should have a goal of winning a state title," Crater coach Greg Haga says. "He’s paid his dues." Indeed he has. Wilkerson attended Rogue Valley Adventist School near Jacksonville through the eighth grade and didn’t turn out for wrestling until he enrolled at Crater as a freshman. "I’ll never forget walking up the stairs to my first practice," Wilkerson says. "I was scared out of my mind." He had reason to be. His training partners would soon become Ben Tibbetts, the 2001 state runner-up at 275 pounds, and Chris Dearmon, the 2002 state champion. "Chris Dearmon was a nice guy away from the mat, but he took no sympathy with anyone in practice, including Taylor," Haga says. "He beat on him pretty hard." Wilkerson stuck with it, however, and one year later he stunned Eagle Point’s Nick Smith in the third-place match at district to earn a trip to state. "I asked coach Haga what I needed to do to beat him (Smith), and he told me I needed to run extra wind sprints every day after practice," Wilkerson says. "And so I did." Wilkerson also ran 400s out on the track, with Haga demanding that he run them in 90 seconds or less — a six-minute mile pace. "He wasn’t running them on time at first, but eventually he did," Haga says. Wilkerson has ratcheted up his workouts even more this season, and the upshot is a 19-3 record and a No. 1 state ranking at 4A. His accomplishments thus far include a title at the prestigious Clovis West Shootout in Fresno, Calif., last month, where he went unbeaten and pinned six of seven opponents. He also owns a victory over No. 2-ranked Rudy Schafforth of Clackamas. Wilkerson plans to wrestle in college next fall and major in fire science. "I’ve wanted to be a fire fighter since the third grade," says Wilkerson, who volunteers at a fire station near Central Point. If you’re ever trapped in a burning house, Wilkerson would be just the guy to get you out — he’s strong, he’s quick and he knows the fireman’s carry. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times