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Tibbetts gives Comets a boost By Kris Henry PORTLAND � If Crater is to claim its fourth straight Class 4A state wrestling title, the Comets will need to pick up right where heavyweight Ben Tibbetts left off Friday night at Memorial Coliseum. The Crater senior had all eyes on his semifinal match with James Messenger of St. Helens and came through when it mattered most. With all other Class 4A, 3A and 2A-1A matches complete, Tibbetts and Messenger took center stage as their dual went into overtime and then into a sudden-death second overtime. Needing an escape from the down position within the allotted 30-second time limit, Tibbetts mustered up the resolve the Comets have become known for and slipped away from Messenger�s grasp with 13 seconds to spare for a 2-1 win. "Ben�s been in a lot of close matches all year and been able to pull them out. That�s what happens when you work out hard," said Crater coach Greg Haga. Tibbetts� unwillingness to give in allowed Crater to place two wrestlers in tonight�s championship finals � with Shane Webster advancing at 171 � but it might have meant more for the six other Comets still in contention in the consolation bracket. Crater enters today�s final rounds of action trailing only Hermiston for the team title, 126-120. Eagle Point is third at 116.5, followed by Newberg (110), Canby (107) and West Linn (99.5). Hermiston provides the biggest threat to Crater�s crown after advancing the most wrestlers into tonight�s finals with four and with two others in the consolation bracket. Eagle Point boasts three finalists in Chet McBee (145), James Mannenbach (171) and Blake Cam (275), with Joe Lewis falling 19-8 in his 112-pound semifinal against defending champ Eric Stevenson of Newberg. John Gallo (140) and Jake Phillips (189) also remain in contention for the Eagles in the consolation bracket. West Linn is the only other school with three finalists, while Newberg has eight wrestlers still in contention and six remain alive for Canby, Crook County and Oregon City. Despite the unenviable position, Tibbetts said he has faith the Comets can reclaim their crown. After all, a year ago Tibbetts played a big role in helping the Comets turn a 16-point deficit into a 21�-point edge on first place thanks to a 56-point consolation round. "My Crater determination says don�t count us out until the fat lady sings," said the heavyweight, who placed fourth last year. "I love being in a dogfight. I was in it last year and we came back to win it. It can happen again." Having been in this situation before, Haga remained unfazed by the closeness of the 4A race. "I�m a little leery, but if we wrestle well, we can be there," said the Southern Oregon Conference coach of the year. "We�re going to have to have a good round (today) in the consolation bracket. You can�t force the guys in the finals to do the job so our consolation guys are going to have to pick up some points for us." Crater�s Bob Pool suffered a pin 38 seconds into his 140-pound semifinal with No. 1 seed Orlando Perez of Hermiston and will join forces with Nate Gipson (112), Jeremy McLaughlin (135), Rudy Ramirez (145), Justin Samples (189) and Chris Dearmon (275) in the consolation bracket. The lone Medford wrestler to make it into Day 2 will not see action the third day, however, as Norris Bier had his run through the consolation bracket cut one victory short of the placing rounds. Bier lost a 7-0 decision to West Linn�s Chase Sramek. In good position to thwart Crater�s run is Southern Oregon Conference nemesis Eagle Point, who will also be looking to turn the tide in today�s morning rounds. "We�ve got to get as many champions as we can, but the big points are going to be with our three on the back side," said Eagle Point coach Brad McBee. "We�ve got to get them as deep as we can and we�ve got to get them where we match up with teams around us. "We knew coming in that if our three No. 1 seeds did what they were supposed to do, and they have to this point getting into the finals, then it was going to be up to the other guys to mix it up and do it for us." Mixing it up in the finals will be a replay of the SOC district championships as Webster and Mannenbach will face off at 171 and Cam and Tibbetts are set to do battle at 275. Only Chet McBee will have a fresh face in his 145-pound final as he is set to do battle for the first time ever with Sprague�s Chris Mortenson. "I like my chances," said the younger McBee. "I�ve just got to get after it. When my back�s against the wall, I usually perform." Webster has scored two technical fall victories over Mannenbach this season. "In a way, that would be nice to see someone else, but it�s also good to be wrestling the No. 1 guy," Mannenbach said. "That�s great competition. I know it was freestyle, but I�ve beaten him once, and every day is always a new match. I need to keep my feet moving and not get run over." Despite the lopsided losses this season, the senior Eagle said he will be able to put all of that behind him heading into tonight. He�ll catch Webster at his highest boiling point of the season. The senior Comets� well-publicized domination of the high school ranks suffered a slight blow � at least in Webster�s eyes � Friday when Elias Soto of Churchill scored the first takedown on Webster in 30 matches. The Comet still went on to earn a 26-11 technical fall, but was none to pleased following the victory. "It was one of my goals this year to not be taken down the whole year," said Webster. "It�s happened three or four times this year, so I have to look at other goals now like winning my third straight title. I�ll push myself for that." 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.