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Rogue Valley Classic to feature top local teams By Don Hunt State wrestling powers Crater and Eagle Point will renew their rivalry along with eight other teams when the Rogue Valley Classic gets under way today at South Medford High. The tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. Crater has won the event four straight years but will be hard pressed to overtake Eagle Point this time around. Led by state contenders Chet McBee (145), James Mannenbach (171) and Blake Cam (275), the Eagles have soared to an 11-0 record in dual meets and have fared well in big tournaments, including a third-place finish at the South Coast Classic in North Bend and a second-place showing at the Reno, Nev., Invitational. Mannenbach has registered a 19-0 record, Cam is 18-0 and McBee 18-1. "We�d like to win this tournament and see our younger kids make some big strides," says Eagle Point coach Brad McBee, whose team is No. 1 in the state dual-meet rankings and No. 6 in the tournament rankings. Chet McBee�s only loss this season came to Brandon Sousa of Phoenix. The two could meet again today. "That loss was the best thing that could have happened to Chet," says Brad McBee, who is Chet�s father. "He was kind of going through the motions at that time, but he�s been very focused ever since." Coach McBee is also encouraged by the improvement of 189-pound junior Jake Phillips, who finished fourth at the Reno tournament, and 140-pound senior John Gallo, who finished ninth. Other teams in the tournament are South Medford, North Medford, Grants Pass, Phoenix, Hidden Valley, North Valley, Rogue River and Illinois Valley. Crater enters the tourney with an 8-3-1 dual record. Coach Greg Haga admits the three-time defending state champion Comets are down a bit this year, but he�s anxious to see them matched up against Eagle Point and Phoenix, the No. 1-ranked Class 3A squad. "This will let us know how far we�ve come," says Haga, whose team dropped a 37-18 dual meet decision to Eagle Point on Dec. 6. "I think we�ve got some kids ready to take the next step." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.