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Same story, different year Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Crater's Jeremy McLaughlin, shown at left in a match with Phoenix's George Pearce at the Phoenix Invitational, is one of seven state qualifiers returning for the Comets. Crater's stronghold on the SOC district title may be weakening, but the Comets are far from ready to step aside By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune The names may change, but the perception is still the same in sizing up wrestling in the Southern Oregon Conference. Crater, Eagle Point, Roseburg and Grants Pass on top; North Medford, Klamath Union, South Medford and Ashland bringing up the rear. It's been that way for a decade, and not much is expected to change this time around. The aforementioned order is exactly how the SOC coaches predict this season will shape up, with the Comets expected to earn their sixth straight district title and 11th in 13 years. "It doesn't change much, does it?" says fourth-year Klamath Union coach Lew Stork. "The top four teams are the upper echelon every year, and everyone else is just trying to break in." Crater returns seven state qualifiers, including four state placers, from a team that placed second at state last year - breaking a streak of three straight state championships. That team was supposedly too young and inexperienced to accomplish such feats. This year's squad is even younger, with about 75 percent either freshmen or sophomores, but the rest of the conference isn't falling for that excuse twice. "Crater always pulls kids out of a hat," says first-year Roseburg coach Steve Lander. "Every year they just reload. You keep thinking they're going to be down, and they show up with 10 or 12 at state and are right in the hunt every year. But that's good. I like a challenge." State placers Rudy Ramirez, Jeremy McLaughlin, Nate Gipson and Chris Dearmon carry the brunt of expectations for Crater, but not all. What has made the Comets into one of the state's elite programs isn't their hopeful state champions, it's how close the rest of the team is to that potential. "We count on our depth a lot," says Dearmon, who as a junior heavyweight placed eighth at state last year. "Champions are not going to win it for you. It's a team sport for us. The ultimate goal for our team is not about individuals. We'd rather win as a team than win individually." Then again, there's nothing that says you can't do both. Ramirez, a senior, placed fifth at state last season at 145 pounds and will be counted on to finish high this year at 152. McLaughlin, a junior, was sixth at state last year at 135, while Gipson took eighth at 112 last year as a sophomore. Other key wrestlers returning from that second-place team for Crater are sophomores Cody Ponder (112), Kyle Marci (125) and Jordan Godley (145) and seniors Jason Licato (135), Josh King (152), Clancy Finchum (119) and Cody Engbrecht (215). Incoming freshmen Bryson Gutches (103), Chase Maloney (135) and Ron Lee (171) only add to a mix at Crater that is seemingly two deep throughout its lineup. Not that the Comets will be taking anything for granted this season. "We know we're going to have to wrestle tough to accomplish what we want to accomplish," says Dearmon. "We're the ones to knock off, and we're not taking that lightly. We're going to go out and bust our butts every day." That dedication, however, isn't exclusive to the Comets. Eagle Point has narrowed the gap on Crater the past few years with hard work of its own and is primed to overtake the Comets after years of nipping at their heels. "People aren't looking at Eagle Point, but they have a lot of kids that were district placers or JV kids that are really tough," says second-year North Medford coach Kacey McNulty. "There's a lot of talent there in Eagle Point." In fact, the Eagles have exactly as many returning state qualifiers as Crater, led by state placers Joe Lewis and Jake Phillips. Lewis took third at 112 last year and Phillips was sixth at 189. "It's going to come down to whose No. 2 guys come through at district because I think it's going to be pretty even across the board as far as varsity guys are concerned," third-year Eagle Point coach Brad McBee says of his team's matchup with Crater. Narrowing the gap are returning state qualifiers Andrew Larsen (125) and Justin Sheile (112) - who are both juniors - and seniors Morgan Edenstrom (145), Jason Adams (152) and Victor Shelton (160). The Eagles also feature the return of junior Juan Knapp at 215, as well as the introduction of sophomore Nick Smith, a heavyweight transfer from North Medford. Roseburg is another team eager to show that it has what it takes to knock Crater off its perch. The Indians return four state qualifiers, led by senior 189-pounder Levi Thomas, and a starting lineup that won't be a pushover for any SOC opponent. "I feel pretty fortunate to get the reins with this much talent coming back," says Lander, who was an assistant at Roseburg last year after guiding Dallas the previous eight years. Grants Pass will pin its hopes on senior returners Joey Rossknecht (140), Trevor Knight (145) and Jarrod Miller (152). Senior Tom Martin (160) also returns stronger than ever from a year layoff following a knee injury. At North, Jimmy Ulrey (140), Rob Folsom (160) and Jon Penney (125) hope to help the Black Tornado build toward the future. North has twice as many athletes in the wrestling room this year (30) in McNulty's second season. Klamath Union could offer a surprise or two in returning state qualifier Dean Cornelison (112) and teammates Robert Kincaid (189), Steve Bitzer (145) and Joe Brandness (103). South Medford's fortunes took a dip when it lost Rob Swearingen, second at 160 in last year's district meet, for the season due to an injury. Under former North coach Ken Thompson the Panthers will look to contend with seniors Ian Rasmussen (125), Matt McCoy (140), Kevin O'Shea (171) and Ben Vandagrift (215) and sophomore Evan Norris (119). Ashland coach Aaron Sturdevant is in his second season of building a foundation for the Grizzlies, who boast senior James MacCormack (215) but only 17 wrestlers overall. Of those 17, seven of whom are freshmen, only five weigh more than 150 pounds. 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.