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Crater should again contend for mat crown in '18 Logan Meek, top. a Crater junior, will go for his third straight state championship next year. [ANGIE WALTERS/FOR THE MAIL TRIBUNE] Monday Feb 27, 2017 at 8:20 PM Feb 27, 2017 at 8:24 PM Kris Henry Mail Tribune @Kris_Henry If history has shown anything in Oregon high school wrestling, it’s that more often than not, one championship run begets another. One glance at the list of past team champions throughout all levels in Oregon proves this is the case, with the same schools popping up from one year to the next. That bodes well for those in the Crater wrestling program who already know a thing or two about consecutive championships. The Comets finished runner-up following their first title under head coach Greg Haga (1993) and then won three straight titles from 1998-2000 before placing second in 2001. Another surge of four straight titles from 2003-06 followed, while hard work and good fortune will be needed, it’s not a stretch to consider the Comets may be primed for another run at the 5A level after tying for second in 2016 and winning it all on Saturday. “I’m going to enjoy this one for about a week and a half and then we go to work for next year,” said Haga after his team snapped an 11-year title drought. “I’ve got kids that will work, I know that. My sophomore crew this year, seven or eight of them never missed a day last spring and all of them ended up at the state tournament for me and did a good job for us here. We’ll get another good crew going because I know I’ve got some good kids coming.” Four of Crater’s state placers from this past weekend are expected to return, including two-time champion Logan Meek (junior 145 pounds), three-time state placer Zeth Brower (junior 106) and fourth-place finishers Hunter Hiatt (sophomore 120) and Dallas Howard (junior 132). For Meek, next year will provide a chance to lock up his status as one of the elite wrestlers in school history with three state titles, while the top-ranked Brower will continue his state title quest after finishing second twice and third this past weekend. “Logan’s going to have to get used to people probably not being as aggressive when they wrestle him, and wisely,” added Haga, who has won nine state titles in his 24 years. “It’s going to help him get out of his comfort zone a little bit, too.” The Comets also expect to return state qualifiers Angel Diaz (106), Tanner Ulrey (113), Isaiah Griffith (126), Nathan Santoni (138), Trever Davis (152), Cameron Savage (160), Logan Lowder (170), Tony Flores (182), Daniel Flores (220) and Beau Crawford (220). All but two wrestlers in that group scored at least one point in the 5A tournament, with seven returners overall looking to defend Midwestern League championships. “In the offseason I always try to make wrestling as fun as possible,” said Haga. “We’re going to travel and go to water parks and play, but when you step on the mat, it’s competition time. The kids don’t get tired of having fun.” They also don’t get tired of winning, and that’s well within their grasp in 2018. STREAK SNAPPED: Eagle Point has also enjoyed its fair share of wrestling state championships over the years, but this past weekend saw an impressive piece of history come to a close. Eagle Point had its 50-year streak of registering at least one state placer come to an end when only senior Chance McMullen advanced to Day 2 but lost his first match of the day to finish just outside the placing rounds in the Class 5A state tournament. “I think it’s probably the longest streak in Oregon but I don’t know, that data isn’t kept,” said EP head coach Kacey McNulty. “It’s over now.” The fact that the Eagles had a state placer in 1967 and every year since until Saturday is a nod to the program’s consistent approach under the likes of McNulty, Bob Bergen, Chris Lucas, Brad McBee et al. “We’ve definitely had a string of good coaches and accomplished wrestlers,” said McNulty. Four of the Eagles’ six state qualifiers were either freshmen or sophomores this season, and the team was minus a handful of regulars due to injuries and whatnot who expect to give the squad a boost next season. “There’s some potential there, but they’re going to have to work,” said McNulty. “Hopefully we can turn some things around. We have a lot of sophomores and young guys in the room and they just need to get in and do some extra work and they can be there.” Eagle Point has earned four team titles, the last coming back-to-back in 1988 and ‘89, and the Eagles have finished as runner-up five times. MEDFORD MOVEMENT: North Medford’s chances of earning a third straight 6A state trophy, and fourth overall, were hampered by injuries and inexperience this season, but the Black Tornado could be in line for good things in 2018, along with heightened expectations across town at South Medford. Nine of North Medford’s state qualifiers were freshmen or sophomores, including freshman Cole Zoller, who advanced to the semifinals at 113 and placed fourth. All but two of those wrestlers scored at least one point. At South Medford, five of its six state qualifiers are eligible to return as seniors, led by Michael Cormier, who placed sixth at 220. All but one of those returners scored a point in their state tournament debuts, giving rise to bigger and better things for the Panthers next season under head coach David Bage, who wasn’t hired until October prior to the season and had no offseason opportunities with the wrestlers and assistant coaches Noah Berman and Dave Alonzo. “We’ve made leaps and bounds as a staff and we’re excited about next year,” said Bage. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry