Ashland's David Jacobsen-Fried works on the neck of Eagle Point's Robbie Johnston during Thursday's 145-pound matchup, which Johnston won. Ashland Daily Tidings/AMY ALONZO

Eagles rout young Grizz grapplers

By Bobby Heiken

Ashland Daily Tidings

The Ashland High wrestling team found out Thursday night just how good a program Eagle Point has as the Grizz fell 69-6 to an Eagle lineup composed of mostly junior varsity wrestlers.

"They've got guys on their JV team that could place in the top five at districts," Grizz head coach Aaron Sturdevant said. "Just because they are on JV at Eagle Point doesn't mean they couldn't start on varsity elsewhere."

The Grizzlies did have a pair of bright spots on the night.

Junior Adam Khosroabadi showed off some impressive moves against Eagle Point's Farley Holden. The 112-pounder used a pair of takedowns in each of the first two rounds to take an 8-3 lead. In the final round he had a major decision in hand at 14-5, but let Farley slip away for an escape to make the final score 14-6.

Khosroabadi is a newcomer to the team this year after missing out on the 2000-01 campaign.

"I'm pleased with how he's coming back," Sturdevant said. "Last week he won at South when he didn't make weight and had to wrestle at 125. Hopefully he can place somewhere at districts and set himself up for next year."

The lone other Grizz victory came at 215 with senior James MacCormack.

The Grizz football standout wore down Eagle Point's Juan Knapp and had a 4-0 lead after two rounds before adding a reversal in the final round for a 6-0 victory.

"James is slowly getting back after some injuries from football," Sturdevant said. "This was his first match back and it showed. He was a little gassed at the end."

After those two victories, there wasn't much mat time for the Grizzlies.

Of Eagle Point's 12 victories, eight came by pin and three were by forfeit. Of those eight pins, three happened in under a minute.

"A lot of those quick pins happened to guys who are in their first year of wrestling, so we have some growing to do," Sturdevant said. "Tonight six of our wrestlers were either freshmen or sophomores."

Ashland Swimming

At Ashland, the Grizzlies swept to a pair of victories over Eagle Point and South Medford at the Southern Oregon University pool Thursday afternoon.

Ashland's Brad Scoles and Jim Freeman each won a pair of events on the boys side as Ashland came away with 91 points to easily outdistance Eagle Point (41) and South Medford (34).

On the girls side, Michelle Smith had a pair of victories to help Ashland score 77 team points to knock off the Panthers (53) and the Eagles (41).

Scoles came away with victories in the 20-yard individual medley (2:11.22) and the 100 freestyle (49.21).

Freeman's two victories came in the 200 freestyle (2:25.75) and the 500 freestyle (6:19.09).

The other victory by the Grizz boys was claimed by sophomore Arron Nelson (50 freestyle).

Smith cruised to a girls victory in the 50 freestyle (26.67) and 100 freestyle (59.29).

Lena Freeman (200 individual medley) and Lila Little (500 freestyle) each had Grizz victories.

Ashland travels to North Medford Wednesday.

Ashland Boys Basketball

At Anderson, Calif., the Grizz boys improved to 2-2 on the year with a 68-50 victory over the host Anderson Cubs in the first round of the eight-team tourney.

With the Grizzlies leading 34-22 at the half, Ashland busted out the big guns to jump on the Cubs in the third quarter.

Grizz junior Bryan Clevenger buried four 3-pointers in four straight possessions to open up the Grizz lead.

Senior Issac Wright and junior Chris Presicci each had 3-pointers in the first half to jump start the long range attack.

Clevenger finished with 21 points and five 3-pointers. Senior point guard Lance Streng added 16 points, seven assists and three steals.

The Grizzlies will face McClatchey High of Sacramento tonight.

Ashland Cross Country

At Lincoln, Neb., Ashland High freshman Andy Wright showed he is one of the top cross country runners in the nation with a 10th place finish Saturday at the National Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships.

Wright won the regional event back in November and showed it was no fluke as his time of 13:51 was the fastest of anyone from the Northwest in the Youth Division.