Kris Henry Mail Tribune @Kris_Henry

Ever since tying for second place in last years Class 5A state tournament, there has been a focused determination for the wrestlers at Crater High.

With a host of returning talent, the Comets set out to put themselves in the best possible position to earn the programs first team championship since a large-school title in 2006 capped a run of four straight crowns.

Crater accomplished that two weeks ago during a dominant display at the Midwestern League district championships that saw the Comets crown 10 champions and qualify 21 wrestlers for this years state tournament, set Friday and Saturday at Portlands Memorial Coliseum.

Now the wait is up for the Comets, and the state tourney cant come fast enough for the hungry contingent.

I think the kids are just antsy, maybe to just get away from me, but theyre just kind of antsy and wanting to get up there and get started and get it going, said Crater head coach Greg Haga, whose team last year earned the programs first trophy since placing third at the 6A level in 2012. At this time of year thats kind of how I feel and I think the kids are the same way. Weve kind of pointed our workouts to the regionals and state and Im hoping this is when theyll be at their best.

Competing for state championships has been a fixture of the Comet program under Haga, who registered his first team title in 1993 and saw his team place second the following season before a span of three straight titles from 1998-2000. Crater was second in 2001 before starting another run of four straight titles from 2003-06, and also finished second in 2009 when assistant coach Denny Walters stepped in midseason for Haga.

Our goal has always been to be in the running even on the years when were not as strong and the years were really strong then make the big strides, said Haga. Where we are right now, were going to go up and wrestle hard and kind of put it all on the line and if we win, great, and if we dont and get second, third or whatever, we can know we did everything we could to make it happen when we look in the mirror.

Standing in the way for Crater is a loaded Dallas team that placed second only to Roseburg at the prestigious Resers Tournament of Champions, as well as four-time defending 5A champion Hermiston and Sandy. Hermiston has won nine of the 10 championships since the 5A classification began in the 2006-07 school year.

All three of those teams have the numbers and the depth to get it done, said Haga. To me, Hermiston is the champions until someone dethrones them. You never count out the champion until someone knocks them off and that cant happen until Saturday night.

No one is going to step up and say, Here, have it, added the coach, youre going to have to take it.

Crater expects to be led by defending 145-pound state champion Logan Meek, two-time 106-pound state runner-up Zeth Brower and Jace Godley, who placed third at 152 last year and enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed at that weight.

I think all three of them definitely have a legitimate shot to be in the finals, said Haga. Our other guys know that theres no free rides, everybody has to do their part and earn a point or two. It doesnt matter if you take more people to state than everyone else if they dont score. Everyones goal is to be a scorer first and work from there.

Besides the aforementioned trio, district champions Hunter Grant (113), Hunter Hiatt (120), Dallas Howard (132), Nathan Santoni (138), Logan Lowder (170), Tony Flores (182) and Javon Gill (285) expect to be in contention on Day 2 for Crater.

The next group of MWL runners-up boast just as much potential for the deep Comets in Angel Diaz (106), Tanner Ulrey (113), Isaiah Griffith (126), Bryce Cwiklinski (138), Cameron Savage (160), Markus Bennett (170), Wally Pendleton (195), Beau Crawford (220) and Cameron Sweet (285).

For good measure, Leonardo Gutierrez placed third at 182 and Daniel Flores was fourth at 220 to also qualify for the Comets.

Were not going to have 21 kids in the finals or 21 champions, said Haga, but if everybody together does their job and wrestles hard and fights and scratches to be in there every match, we have a chance to be champion as a team and everybody gets credit for that opportunity.

Of the 21 Crater qualifiers, the only seniors in the group are Grant, Cwiklinski, Godley, Bennett, Gutierrez, Pendleton, Gill and Sweet.

Traditionally good for at least one state placer and a top-10 showing, Eagle Point will face a stiff test this time around given the relative youth and inexperience at this level. The Eagles qualified six wrestlers for the state tournament, with senior Chance McMullen leading the charge after finishing second in the district.

McMullen will take a No. 7 seed into the tournament, meaning an opening-round win likely sets him up against No. 2 seed Jacob Curry of Redmond in the quarterfinals.

The Eagles didnt get many good draws for head coach Kacey McNulty, with sophomores Josh Sitzer (132) and Brian De La Cruz (138) opening with the top seed, senior Noah Sitzer (145) getting the No. 3 seed to start and No. 4 seeds waiting for junior Jacob Hukill and freshman Freddy Barajas (106).

Ashland qualified five wrestlers this year and will look for a better showing after seeing all four qualifiers go 0-2 in last years tournament. Zach Adler was poised to claim a district title at 182 before things got away from him early in the third period, and the junior will look to use that motivation when he enters the tourney as a No. 8 seed.

Also qualifying for the Grizzlies are seniors Jerrod Reichert (126), Jeremiah Sherrynewby (152) and Cedar Barnes (10) and sophomore Trevor Fulton (160). All four Ashland wrestlers face a seeded wrestler in the first round.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@mailtribune.com, http://www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or http://www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry

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Comets aim high at state - Mail Tribune