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CLOUDY Temp: 43 °F Wind: SSW at 4 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 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 December 5, 2002 Crater�s Bryson Gutches wrestles Ryan Stephenson of McNary in the 103-pound final of last year�s Class 4A meet. Gutches became the first freshman wrestler in Crater history to win a state title last season on his way to a 38-6 record. A dogfight in the SOC Crater is the favorite once again to win the SOC, but Roseburg and Eagle Point will also be in the running By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Steve Lander didn’t take long to upset the apple cart in Southern Oregon Conference wrestling. In his first season as the Roseburg High head coach last winter, Lander did what no other coach had done from an SOC school other than Crater and Eagle Point in the past 25 years — he won a district title. Lander’s Indians also claimed the mythical SOC dual meet championship by running the table in that category. A sleeping giant had awoken. "We had a lot of talent and all I really did was give them some direction," says Lander, a 1986 Roseburg High graduate who wrestled collegiately at Oregon State. "We got some big wins early and that created a lot of momentum." Lander knows that Roseburg won’t be sneaking up on anyone this winter, but with four returning state qualifiers and 11 other returning district placers, the Indians won’t be fading into the Douglas County sunset anytime soon, either. Logic suggests the Indians will be in a dogfight with Crater for the 2003 district title, with Eagle Point also in the running. The Comets, leaning on the leadership of veteran coach Greg Haga and a tradition that has helped to produce four state titles and 10 district crowns over the past 14 years, finished as the front-runner in an SOC coaches’ poll. Roseburg claimed the runner-up spot, followed by Eagle Point, Grants Pass, Klamath Union, South Medford, North Medford and Ashland. Six of the eight teams launch their dual seasons tonight, with Crater visiting North Medford, Ashland heading to Grants Pass and Klamath Union journeying to Roseburg. Eagle Point and South Medford squared off Wednesday. "I don’t think anyone’s going to run away with it (the district title)," Lander says. "I think it’ll come down to the championship finals, just like last year, and that always makes for an exciting meet." Crater, the state’s top-ranked dual meet team in the preseason, returns eight of 14 regulars from its varsity lineup, including defending state champion Bryson Gutches at 119 pounds. Gutches, a cousin of former Oregon State star, Olympic placer and freestyle world champion Les Gutches, became the first freshman wrestler in Crater history to win a state title last season on his way to a 38-6 record. "It’s rare for a freshman to win a state title, but Bryson has been on the mat for seven or eight years and he’s a hard-working kid," Haga says. "And the thing that put him over the top last year was the mental part. He learned when to put certain moves on certain kids, when to take a chance, when not to — all those things that allow a kid to beat the best wrestlers in the state." Other returning state placers from Crater include 135-pound senior Nate Gipson (sixth), 145-pound senior Jeremy McLaughlin (fifth) and 160-pound sophomore Ron Lee (sixth). Haga is also high on 112-pound senior Jeremy Firestone, who missed much of last season with an injured hand; 140-pound sophomore Chase Maloney, who finished third at district last winter as a freshman; 189-pound junior Zane Yarnell; and junior heavyweight Taylor Wilkerson, who finished third at district a year ago. Haga’s 2001-02 squad was his youngest since he took over the program 15 years ago, and yet it still came on like a tidal wave, taking fourth at the state meet. "We have a goal every year of coming home from the state meet with a trophy (top four), and when you get into that territory you’re usually in the hunt to win it all," Haga says. "We’re still young — it’s a sophomore and junior dominated team — but our expectations are the same." Along with Gutches, the Comets’ other top gun is Lee, who finished fifth at the Greco Roman nationals last summer and pinned the defending national champion. "He’s wrestling real tough," Haga says of Lee. "He’s a lot bigger and stronger than he was last year. Just having another year of maturity helps." Trevor Lofstedt (103) and Nick Shaffer (160), who both finished sixth at the state meet last spring, will fuel the Indians. Art Maldonado (135), Matt Jacobson (145), Seth Thomas (152) and Justin Troxel (275) also return as state-meet qualifiers. Roseburg should get an added boost from 189-pound Nick Trowbridge, an all-conference football player who missed last season with a shoulder injury. Eagle Point, meanwhile, will be led by returning state champion Tyson Nelson (171) and returning state qualifiers Justin Sheile (119), Andrew Larsen (135) and Dan Rullamas. Other Eagles to keep an eye on include Matt Leonardo (130), Christian Mannenbach (160) and Nick Smith (275). South Medford, powered by a super sophomore class that numbers 14, will look to duplicate last season’s fourth-place showing at district and improve on its 2-5 dual meet mark. Sophomores Jerry DeBoer (112) and Dan Swift (140), junior Jordan Fisher (215) and seniors Kyle O’Shea and Joe Ramirez (275) all return as district placers for the Panthers, who also picked up a talented transfer in sophomore Bobby Lowe (145). North Medford will have as many as eight freshmen in its varsity lineup, but it’s a talented, get-after-it group that could exceed expectations, third-year coach Kacey McNulty says. The Tornado also landed two fine transfers, 140-pound Chris Platt, a cadet national champion from Cordova, Alaska, and 189-pound Tim Endicott from Estacada. Both are freshmen. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, 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