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Phoenix braces for district meet Even without their coach, the Pirates are a heavy favorite to win their seventh straight Skyline crown By DON HUNT Mail Tribune For only the second time in his 33-year coaching career at Phoenix High School, Harry Mondale will not be on the sidelines when his Pirates compete at the Skyline Conference wrestling tournament. Mondale, 73, is suffering from a blot clot in his left leg and an aneurysm in his aorta and has been ordered by his doctor to sit out the district tournament in Lakeview this weekend along with the Class 3A state tournament in Portland the following weekend. Mondale's Pirates are nonetheless a heavy favorite to win their seventh straight Skyline title and their 20th in the last 22 years as the tournament unfolds Friday at 11 a.m. at Lakeview High School. Phoenix, the defending 3A state champion, will waltz eight No. 1 seeds to the mats and seven No. 2 seeds. "Missing the district tournament is going to be hard on Harry - this is his baby," said Phoenix assistant coach Joe Hagler, who has coached alongside Mondale for 24 years. "I know he's missed one other tournament when he had hip replacement surgery nine or 10 years ago but other than that I don't think he's missed anything. "In fact, I can only remember Harry missing two or three practices. He's always been such a hardy guy. It takes a lot to knock him out of there." Mondale became ill last week and was admitted to Rogue Valley Medical Center on Friday, where he spent the night. The team has rallied around their venerable coach. "I've spent four years with Harry and he's done nothing but make me a better wrestler and a better person," said Brian Murphy, a team captain who has a 27-3 record and is the Skyline's top seed at 171 pounds. "Harry's down right now, and I want to bring him another state championship and see if that helps him out. "As far as I'm concerned, this isn't an individual task anymore. I want to win it for Harry." Murphy said the Pirates noticed that Mondale wasn't feeling well the last couple weeks during practice, and worked harder so their mentor "wouldn't have to blow his whistle so much." Mondale, reached at his home Wednesday, said the Pirates are well-prepared for district and that his presence isn't essential for them to succeed. "I feel pretty good about where this team's at," he said. "The hay's in the barn, so to speak." Along with Murphy, other No. 1 seeds for the Pirates are Jesse Mitchell (112), Kevin Cowley (119), Ben Workman (125), Chris Vote (130), George Pearce (140), Ryan Staten (145) and Nick Acord (160). No. 2 seeds include Aaron Broskey (103), Phil Gibson (135), Ricky Farrell (145), Jack King (152), Paul Stierle (160), Greg Brown (189) and Justin Gray (215). Phoenix walloped runner-up Illinois Valley by a 4131/2-283 margin during last year's district meet and the Pirates might be even more dominant this time around. In fact, the most spirited battle will likely be for second place between the Cougars and Mazama. Illinois Valley boasts three top seeds in Brad Jones (135), Mike Pagnotta (152) and Jon Pope (215), along with second seeds Matt Britt (140) and Chris Strand (275). But the Cougars will enter only 15 grapplers, due in part to the suspensions of standout freshmen Matt Miller and Canyon Glenn and a rotator cuff injury to Josh Aria, who was fifth at district last year at 160. "If we had those other kids, then we might have forced Phoenix to look up at the scoreboard a couple times," Illinois Valley coach Jay Miller said. "But now they won't have to." Mazama, meanwhile, brings only one top seed into the tournament - heavyweight Skyler Massey - but the Vikings will lean on superior depth in their quest for second. The championship semifinal round is set for 11 a.m. Saturday with the championship round scheduled for 5 p.m. The top three finishers in each weight class advance to the state tournament Feb. 21-23 at Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Top 4 Skyline District Seeds 103 - 1, Jon Zimmerman, Hidden Valley. 2, Anthony Broskey, Phoenix. 3, Matt Berube, Illinois Valley. 4, David May, Phoenix. 112 - 1, Jesse Mitchell, Phoenix. 2, Chris Deese, Henley. 3, Jason Boatwright, Mazama. 4, Justin Cantrell, Henley. 119 - 1, Kevin Cowley, Phoenix. 2, Dustin Powers, Mazama. 3, Travis Brollier, Henley. 4, Mike Gouette, Henley. 125 - 1, Ben Workman, Phoenix. 2, Jeremiah Lewman, North Valley. 3, Keith Pedrick, Hidden Valley. 4, Lyman Mason, Lakeview. 130 - 1, Chris Vote, Phoenix. 2, Morrison, Lakeview. 3, Tyler Conner, Mazama. 4, Chance Clouse, Lakeview. 135 - 1, Brad Jones, Illinois Valley. 2, Phil Gibson, Phoenix. 3, Tyler Hedrick, Henley. 4, Mike Manring, Phoenix. 140 - 1, George Pearce, Phoenix. 2, Matt Britt, Illinois Valley. 3, Billy Scott, Mazama. 4, Caleb Renno, Illinois Valley. 145 - 1, Ryan Staten, Phoenix. 2, Rickey Farrell, Phoenix. 3, Josh Cutino, North Valley. 4, Natty Krauss, Illinois Valley. 152 - 1, Mike Pagnotta, Illinois Valley. 2, Jack King, Phoenix. 3, Gary Oliver, Henley. 4, Garron Raudebush, Mazama. 160 - 1, Nick Acord, Phoenix. 2, Paul Stierle, Phoenix. 3, Justin Nelson, Mazama. 4, Pedro Torres-Perez, Lakeview. 171 - 1, Brian Murphy, Phoenix. 2, Matt Teeples, Mazama. 3, Steven Keen, North Valley. 4, Dutton, Hidden Valley. 189 - 1, Brendon McLean, North Valley. 2, Greg Brown, Phoenix. 3, Seth Moorehouse, Mazama. 4, Matt Frederick, Rogue River. 215 - 1, Jon Pope, Illinois Valley. 2, Justin Gray, Phoenix. 3, Brandon Rankin, North Valley. 4, J.J. Nichols, Mazama. 275 - 1, Skyler Massey, Mazama. 2, Chris Strand, Illinois Valley. 3, Brian Peterson, Mazama. 4, Travis Wheeler, North Valley. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.