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39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, April 15, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 17, 2005 Eyes on another prize With its upper weights anchoring its 14-member lineup, Crater aims for a third straight state title By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Call them the Murderers’ Row of high school wrestling. Chase Maloney and Ron Lee are defending state champions and ranked No. 1 at 160 and 189 pounds, respectively. Collin Brooks (171), Cody Clark (215) and Charlie Alexander (275) are all ranked No. 2. The fabulous five have racked up more than 150 wins against just 11 losses this season. If the rankings hold true to form, all five will be vying for titles at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament this week. Advertisement The three-day event begins at 8:30 a.m. today at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion in Salem following an eight-year run at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum. The tourney picks up at 8:30 a.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with the championship finals slated for 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Crater coach Greg Haga has never guided a group of upper weights from 160 through 275 that can match his current juggernauts. "We’ve had some great ones at different weights, but not five in a row like we’ve got now," says Haga, noting that all five won titles at the prestigious Reser Tournament of Champions in Hillsboro last month. "There are no easy bargains when you get to our upper weights. They’re all tough kids who know how to compete in big matches." Tough enough that, by themselves, they likely would make the Comets a threat to win the team title. Put them with their nine teammates who also qualified and Crater becomes a solid favorite to win its third straight team crown and sixth in the past eight years. Newberg, Hillsboro, West Linn and Pendleton could make a run for the title if the Comets falter. Newberg and Hillsboro each advanced 14 competitors to the tournament while West Linn and Pendleton qualified 12 each. Maloney, the only unbeaten Comet at 38-0, would like nothing better than to conclude his prep career with a second straight title to go with the runner-up showing he achieved as a sophomore. "When you’re a senior, you realize your days are numbered (in high school), and that just motivates you all the more," says Maloney. Asked if he felt more pressure being a defending champion, Maloney says, "In a way, yeah. But it goes both ways. I think it (being a state champion) can put some fear into your opponents." Haga says he’s witnessed Maloney having more fun this season than ever before. "I think this year he’s really enjoyed the practices, the matches and just being around the other kids," Haga says. "He’s in the right frame of mind." Lee, who’s posted a 37-1 record, also will attempt to repeat as a state champion. "I’ve got some unfinished business, and so does the team," Lee says. "I’m feeling good about the situation because we’ve put in so much work in the (practice) room." The super five aside, Crater figures to get ample production from several others. Jake Vizzini is ranked third at 112, two-time state placer Tyler Weathers is ranked seventh at 119 and Jon Bernhard is seventh at 145. Haga also has high hopes for 112-pound Andrew Van Wey, who finished third at district behind Vizzini and top-ranked Tyler Baker of Grants Pass. Van Wey has a difficult first-round draw — third-seeded Peter Herbert of Benson — but Haga believes Van Wey will win. "I think he (Van Wey) wrestled tougher guys at our district tournament," Haga says. "He’s battle-tested." SOC district runner-up Roseburg qualified eight grapplers to the big dance while Grants Pass has six, Eagle Point and South Medford five each and North Medford four. South Medford’s best hope for an individual title is Juan Aguilar, who’s ranked fourth at 103, but Panthers coach Ken Thompson believes all five of his entrants can win matches. "I know one thing — none of these guys will get intimidated," says Thompson, referring to Augilar, Chris Helman (135), Seth Hernandez (135), Travis Harvey (140) and Dan Swift (152). "They’ve wrestled a ton of matches over the years, and they’ve beaten up on each other at practice. "They’re ready to go." Ditto for North Medford’s Chris Platt, the state’s top-ranked 171-pounder who enters the tournament with a 37-2 record. Josh Smith (152), Ryan Folsom (160) and Tim Endecott (275) also punched their tickets to state for the Black Tornado. Eagle Point’s best hope for a stellar finish is Jake McCoy, the Eagles’ 145-pound district champion who finished fourth at the state meet last season. Randy Pershall (125) and Tyler Cam (275) could also emerge as state placers. Class 4A state meet qualifiers 103 — Juan Aguilar, South Medford; Kerey Crinklaw, Roseburg; Zack Kezer, Crater. 112 — Tyler Baker, Grants Pass; Jake Vizzini, Crater; Andrew Van Wey, Crater. 119 — Trevor Lofstedt, Roseburg; Tyler Weathers, Crater; Ben Sharp, Roseburg. 125 — Tyler Stewart, Grants Pass; Randy Pershall, Eagle Point; Jake Wilton, Roseburg. 130 — Jake Spears, Roseburg; Richard Alves, Grants Pass; Devon Mauch, Crater. 135 — Seth Hernandez, South Medford; Chris Helman, South Medford; Nick Hamilton, Eagle Point. 140 — Eric Sedivy, Grants Pass; Travis Harvey, South Medford; Ricky Fletes, Eagle Point. 145 — Jake McCoy, Eagle Point; Chris Hotch, Grants Pass; Jon Bernhardt, Crater. 152 — Josh Smith, North Medford; Dan Swift, South Medford; Tanner Marvel, Grants Pass. 160 — Chase Maloney, Crater; Ryan Folsom, North Medford; Mike Moberly, Crater. 171 — 1, Chris Platt, North Medford; Collin Brooks, Crater; John Forrester, Roseburg. 189 — Ron Lee, Crater; Chris Robertson, Crater; Eli Peterson, Roseburg. 215 — Cody Clark, Crater; Kyle Eding, Crater; Joe Smith, Roseburg. 275 — Charlie Alexander, Crater; Tim Endecott, North Medford; Tyler Cam, Eagle Point. 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