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Gutches, Dearmon in the finals, but Crater may come up short in final tally By KRIS HENRY PORTLAND - Taking the mat at the state wrestling tournament can make even the steadiest of seniors go a little weak in the knees. But when your last name is Gutches, and you wrestle for Crater High, age isn't an issue. Freshman Bryson Gutches proved that point Friday in the second day of action at the Class 4A state tournament, winning his matches in convincing fashion to earn a spot in tonight's state finals at Memorial Coliseum. "I'm happy to be here," said Gutches, showing no affects of the intense spotlight. "I've waited a long time to wrestle at the state tournament." Despite the efforts of Gutches, and heavyweight Chris Dearmon, who also advanced to the finals, Crater will be hard-pressed to continue its run of four straight years in the No. 1 or 2 spot. Newberg advanced five wrestlers to tonight's championship finals to take a strong lead heading into the final rounds of action. The Tigers, who last won the team title in 1997, completed Friday's session with 124.5 points. Thurston stands second at 106.5, with Oregon City and Roseburg tied for third at 96.5. Crater is fifth with 95 points, followed by defending champion Hermiston (93) and Eagle Point (73.5), which placed 171-pounder Tyson Nelson and 189-pounder Jake Phillips in tonight's finals. "We're not out of this," said Dearmon. "We're going to come back and we're going to get one of those (top-4) trophies. That was our goal coming in. We may have less guys but they're going to toughen up. I have faith in my teammates that they'll come through." Few came through for the Comets like Gutches, who slipped by Gilbert Lopez of Woodburn, 5-2, in the quarterfinals and then manhandled Ryan Peterson of St. Helen's with a fall at 1 minute, 24 seconds. "I knew he'd come up and compete well," Crater coach Greg Haga said of his rising star. "I wasn't sure if he was going to be able to compete like he has, though." If Haga needed to be set at ease, all he had to do was have a chat with some of Gutches' freshman peers. To a man, they've all seen it before. In his nine years of wrestling, Gutches has dominated in local youth wrestling and come home with national titles as well. "Even when we go to these national tournaments, he pulls it through every time," said Crater freshman Chase Maloney, who is also a second cousin to Gutches. "The only surprise in this tournament for me would be if Bryson lost." As impressive as that compliment is to the third-ranked wrestler, Gutches, whose cousin is former Olympian and World Champion Les Gutches, has lost before - six times in fact. Once to the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at his weight, and that was 7-3. Only one of those losses has come against an Oregon wrestler, a one-point loss to No. 2-ranked Troy Brugger of Newberg. Gutches has countered those losses with 37 wins, typically in blowout fashion. "He has a fierce will to win and he's really a bright wrestler," said Haga. "You may catch him with something one match, but the next match you're not going to catch him again. "He also does a good job of keeping to the game plan during his matches and doesn't get shaken by anything that goes on." The 15-year-old is also unshaken by his famous name among Rogue Valley wrestling fans. "I've never felt like I have to live up to what he did," Gutches said of his older cousin. "I just don't think about it usually." Keeping his head in check is the grounded foundation provided by his longtime coach and lifelong father, Kent, and his current head coach. It also doesn't hurt that Les Gutches last won a state title in 1991, capping off a run of three state championships at South Medford. "It's been awhile since Les has been in high school," said Haga. "Our guys know who he is, obviously, but Bryson's made his own name by his wrestling over the years." Gutches isn't the only Comet with family ties near-and-dear to the state championships. Fellow freshman Ron Lee, who dropped to the consolation round but is assured of placing, is muddling through the footsteps of brothers Doug, a two-time 4A champ, and Matt, a one-time 4A champ. "I think it's all on how people around you deal with your name or your big brothers," said Haga. "In Gutches' case, he doesn't have to carry the pressure of carrying on his own family's name. He doesn't have to do what Les did. In Ronnie's case, everybody knows his brothers." One seemingly unknown wrestler on the state level, Nelson of Eagle Point, pulled off one of the more remarkable days in Friday's championship bracket. Nelson was one second away from being dispatched to the consolation bracket, only to pull off an improbable two-point reversal for a 7-6 win over Canby's Marc Koch. In the finals, Nelson and No. 1 seed Ross Stadelman of Glencoe tussled back-and-forth and entered the final minute of their match tied 6-6. But in true heart-stopping fashion by the Eagle Point junior, Nelson managed an escape with 21 seconds to go. He then capped off the upset with a takedown inside 10 seconds for a 9-6 win. "It's all about heart and what's inside," said Nelson. "Your body can stand so much more than your mind can." In judging Nelson's reaction following both wins, it's hard to imagine his body and mind taking another day like Friday. Still, Nelson is heading into tonight's championship feeling like he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. "I haven't been here before and nobody knows about me," he said. "I'm just a kid from Eagle Point for most of these guys. But when an opportunity comes, you've got to take it." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.