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OVERCAST Temp: 51 °F Wind: WNW at 7 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 5, 2003 Crater dominates at Rogue Valley Classic By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Crater folded two tournaments into one Saturday afternoon at North Medford High. Foremost at stake was the title in the Rogue Valley Classic, which the Comets, ranked No. 5 in the state for tournaments and No. 1 for dual meets, won easily with a 98-point gap between them and Eagle Point, 414½ to 316½ . In the process, Crater pulled off a double victory of sorts, taking bragging rights into Wednesday’s key dual meet with the rival Eagles, who are fourth-ranked for tourneys and No. 2 for duals. The Comets managed a 2-1 edge in head-up championship matches with Eagle Point and had six individual titles to three for the Eagles. Adding insult and injury, Crater scored the biggest upset of the Classic at the Eagles’ expense when JV wrestler Brandon Rauls upset third-ranked Nick Smith, 8-7, in the semifinals at 215 pounds. Smith was forced to default due to a shoulder injury in the third-fourth consolation final. Overall, Crater supplied the Eagles with more than enough to ponder heading into Wednesday’s 7 p.m. tilt in Central Point. "It’s kinda 2-in-1 for us today," said Crater senior Nate Gipson. "It’s not just the Rogue Valley Classic, it’s beating Eagle Point. That’s what it’s all about. We want to keep on top, but in a few days we’ll go at it again. That’s going to be a barnburner on Wednesday." All the drama will have to be left for the dual meet, however, because there certainly was none Saturday in the Classic. Crater dominated in typical Comet fashion, placing a finalist in nine of the 14 weight classes. Saturday’s effort was simply the continuation of a torrid start to the season for Crater, which already has wins over four of the top eight California programs and a six-point loss to that state’s top-ranked school. "The kids did a good job of winning the close ones today," said Crater coach Greg Haga, "and those are the ones that really count. I thought we came out and competed pretty well." Finishing first for Crater were Bryson Gutches (125), Cody Ponder (130), Gipson (135), Chase Maloney (140), Jeremy McLaughlin (145) and Taylor Wilkerson (275. Runners-up were Jeremy Firestone (112), Ron Lee (152) and Rauls (215) Gipson provided the narrowest margin of victory among the Crater champions, scoring a 1-0 victory over seventh-ranked Eagle Point senior Andrew Larsen at 135 pounds. For his efforts, the fourth- ranked Gipson was named outstanding wrestler of the meet for the lower weights (140 and below). McLaughlin was named outstanding wrestler for the upper weights (145 and above) following his 19-7 triumph over Illinois Valley’s Matt Britt. Neither wrestler at 135 was able to manage an inch of freedom in the first period, then Gipson broke the ice with an escape one minute into the second period. The rest of the match proved to be a stalemate, with Larsen working in vain for a match-tying escape throughout the third period. "Me and Andrew have been going back-and-forth for years, since like seventh or eighth grade," said Gipson. "He usually comes out on top, but those close matches are always the most fun." In about 10 matches, Gipson estimates he’s won three. Few of those matches have been settled by more than a takedown, and Gipson said it was evident early that Saturday’s match would feature more of the same. "I thought we were going to be 0-0 going into overtime," he said. "That was my first reaction in the match with the amount of tying up we did early. But then I got that early escape, and that was it the rest of the way." Not that Larsen didn’t make things interesting at the end. "It was just like a never-ending war," Gipson said of the third period. "He’d try to do everything he could to get up, and I did everything I could to break him down." While Larsen was unable to pull out a victory in his championship match, the Eagles were able to post three champions in freshman Jake McCoy, an 8-1 winner over Firestone at 112; senior J.P. Sheile, an 11-3 winner over North Medford junior Sylvan Ulrey (119); and senior Tyson Nelson, an 8-3 winner over Mike Kuenstler of Rogue River (171). Eagles junior Stephen Price finished second to Maloney at 140. Also earning titles were North Medford’s Jimmy Ulrey (152) and Rob Folsom (160) and a trio of Grants Pass wrestlers, Tyler Baker (103), Brian Alves (189) and Andrew Ditty (215). Ulrey’s road to No. 1 proved the most critical to his team’s final standings, with the North senior turning around a 5-3 deficit to Lee with a third-period escape and a takedown with under 15 seconds left in the match for a 6-5 victory. Spurred by Ulrey and Folsom’s championship runs, North edged Grants Pass for third place, 179 to 177½ . South Medford was a distant fifth at 139, followed by Phoenix (137½ ), North Valley (104), Illinois Valley (90), Rogue River (56), Hidden Valley (17) and Ashland (11). "I’m happy with everybody who wrestled today, and I’m sure the coaches are, too," said Ulrey. "Our goal coming in was to get third, and we did that today. With most of our district here, except Roseburg and Klamath Union, it’s definitely a great confidence boost for us to finish third." And while Saturday’s performance wasn’t among Eagle Point’s best this season, Eagles coach Brad McBee said his team’s confidence isn’t shaken. "When you get two quality programs and two quality athletes out there getting after it, you don’t always win them all," said McBee. "The key ones are the ones down in the end. We get to hook it up with (Crater) again on Wednesday, and I feel confident that it can be a heckuva dual meet. We just have to wrestle tough and win the close matches because there are going to be a lot of them. "We’re not too far off. If we can stay focused and keep competing, we’ll be all right. We just need to take it up another notch." Rogue Valley Classic Saturday’s Results TEAM SCORES — Crater 414.5, Eagle Point 316.5, North Medford 179, Grants Pass 177.5, South Medford 139, Phoenix 137.5, North Valley 104, Illinois Valley 90, Rogue River 56, Hidden Valley 17, Ashland 11. CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS 103 — Tyler Baker, GP, dec. Davy May, Pho, 5-3; 112 — Jake McCoy, EP, dec. Jeremy Firestone, Cra, 8-1; 119 — J.P. Sheile, EP, dec. Sylvan Ulrey, NM, 11-3; 125 — Bryson Gutches, Cra, dec. Zack Giesen, NV, 8-3; 130 — Cody Ponder, Cra, dec. Zach Pagnotta, IV, 11-2. 135 — Nate Gipson, Cra, dec. Andrew Larsen, EP, 1-0; 140 — Chase Maloney, Cra, dec. Stephen Price, EP, 11-3; 145 — Jeremy McLaughlin, Cra, major dec. Matt Britt, IV, 19-7; 152 — Jimmy Ulrey, NM, dec. Ron Lee, Cra, 6-5. 160 — Rob Folsom, NM, dec. Mike Pagnotta, IV, 6-4; 171 — Tyson Nelson, EP, dec. Mike Kuenstler, RR, 8-3; 189 — Brian Alves, GP, dec. Paul Stierle, Pho, 14-6; 215 — Andrew Ditty, GP, dec. Brandon Rauls, Cra, 11-4; 275 — Taylor Wilkerson, Cra, pinned Aaron Lindsey, NV, n/t first period. THIRD-FOURTH FINALS 103 — Chris Doran, EP, dec. Tyler Weathers, Cra, 6-3; 112 — Anthony Broskey, Pho, dec. Chris Hotch, GP, 6-3; 119 — Zach Steddum, GP, pinned Chris Helman, SM, :44; 125 — John Bernhardt, Cra, dec. Jon Penney, SM, 9-1; 130 — Kevin Cowley, Pho, dec. Matt Leonardo, EP, 0-0 2OT. 135 — Josh Smith, NM, pinned Brandon Chandler, HV, 3:46; 140 — Chris Platt, NM, pinned Alex Gilmore, SM, 1:13; 145 — Clayton Tankersley, Cra, dec. Phil Gibson, Pho, 8-3; 152 — Robbie Johnston, EP, dec. Jon Rowden, Pho, 12-6. 160 — Kevin Miers, EP, won by inj. default over Christian Mannenbach, EP; 171 — Cody Clark, Cra, pinned Tyler Jackson, Pho, 3:42; 189 — Matt Frederick, RR, won by injury default over Brandon Rankin, NV; 215 — Jacob Cole, Cra, won by injury default over Nick Smith, EP; 275 — Juan Knapp, EP, pinned Joe Ramirez, SM, 2OT. FIFTH-SIXTH FINALS 103 — Jon Ulrey, NM, tech. fall Juan Aguilar, SM, 17-2; 112 — Bryon Kezer, Cra, pinned Richard Alves, GP, :52; 119 — Mike Cortez, SM, pinned Kyle Buth, NV, :59; 125 — Brandon Price, EP, dec. Chris Oetinger, NM, 5-4; 130 — Eric Sedivy, GP, dec. Shane Kell, EP, 6-6 20T. 135 — Evan Norris, SM, dec. Adam Lingren, Cra, 9-4; 140 — Jordan Godley, Cra, pinned Dana Sword, NM, 1:18; 145 — Daniel Rullamas, EP, pinned Dan Swift, SM, 6:53; 152 — Colby Callahan, Cra, pinned E.C. Holden, EP, 4:25. 160 — Colin Brooks, Cra, dec. Chuck Cunningham, Cra, 8-3; 171 — Dennis Orvis, EP, dec. Waylon Munson, NV, 8-3; 189 — Steven Keen, NV, dec. Zane Yarnell, Cra, 4-2; 215 — Nick Slover, GP, pinned Jordan Fisher, SM, 1:40; 275 — Tyler Cam, EP, dec. Ryan Sapp, GP, 5-2. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S