Early Monday morning, shortly after Doug Lee rose out of bed, he had a vision.
The Oregon senior wrestler pictured himself standing atop the podium later that night at McArthur Court and accepting the award for the Pacific-10 Conference championship.
But he knew there was plenty of work to be done before any such celebration could occur.
Portland State junior Jeremy Wilson, ranked third in the league in the 184-pound class, stood in the way of Lee capturing his third consecutive conference title.
So Lee remained focused throughout the day and into the night. He eagerly awaited his match, and had a look of pure determination while he kept loose on the proverbial on-deck circle.
As Oregon State’s Nathan Coy stirred up the decent-sized crowd with his pin against Cal Poly’s Steve Strange in the 174-pound duel, Lee kept shaking out his legs and rolling his head around in circles.
And then, when it was finally Lee’s turn, he did what any No. 1 ranked wrestler in the league is expected to do: He won.
But he didn’t do so in the overpowering kind of match that garnered the repeated replays from the Fox Sports Net crew on hand. Instead, Lee won the title by using a methodical and somewhat conservative approach that seemed fitting given his modest and quiet demeanor.
In his previous victories at the Pac-10 Championships this weekend at Mac Court, Lee showed off his strength in slamming his opponents hard to the ground. This time, he simply scored an escape point and two two-point takedowns en route to an early 5-1 lead.
Wilson attempted to make it close, but Lee held on for the 6-4 victory and the ensuing adoration from his home crowd.
“Three is nice,” said Lee, when asked about his third straight Pac-10 title. “I’ve worked all my career to do something like that, and I love it. I think the greatest thing is doing it at home.”
Lee became only the fourth Oregon wrestler to ever accomplish the feat of winning three straight Pac-10 championships and provided a bright spot for the injury-riddled Ducks, who finished fourth overall at the tournament.
“Doug Lee … I’m saddened by the thought that we’re going to have a match here next year and he’s not going to be here,” Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. “He’s been one of Oregon’s great wrestlers.”
Lee’s track record surely backs up Kearney’s statement, as Lee finished fourth last season at the NCAA Tournament while earning All-American status. He also qualified for the NCAAs during his first two years in the program.
Despite having his fourth straight NCAA appearance looming in only three weeks, Lee recognized how special Monday night’s feat was. He ended his Pac-10 career on the ultimate high note and was able to do so in front of his parents, Art and Dawn, his grandparents, his brother, his aunt and uncle and even many of his former coaches that he’s grown up with.
And, of course, he made his earlier vision a reality. While his teammate Chael Sonnen frustratingly left the court following his 12-6 defeat, Lee stepped up to the top spot on the podium and received his award.
As the theme song from “Superman” played in the background, the senior from Central Point gave a wave to the crowd and even cracked a slight smile.
“That’s what I envisioned,” Lee said.