There is no love lost between these two teams.
In the oldest wrestling rivalry in the state, the Oregon and Oregon State wrestling teams get down to business at 7 p.m. today at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.
“The Civil War is always intense,” Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. “This is our time of focus and preparation, but we’re always going to get up for Oregon State.”
The No. 17 ranked Ducks (7-7 overall, 4-3 Pacific-10 Conference) look to make a season sweep of the No. 15 Beavers (10-7, 6-2) for the first time since 1996 and only the eighth time in 47 years.
Oregon defeated the favored Beavers 22-16 on Dec. 13 for the first time since 1997.
“We’re looking forward to the rematch,” Oregon State coach Joe Wells said. “It’s the last dual meet of the year, and it’s only fitting to get out and try to take it to these guys.”
Much has changed, however, since earlier in the season. The Ducks are the losers of their last four matches and have dropped from No. 10 to No. 17 in the national polls.
Oregon State had dropped to No. 18 in the polls but is back up to 15th following wins over Cal State-Bakersfield and Fullerton State.
Every match is crucial, as was proved in the earlier Civil War. Junior Shaun Williams has three decisions this season over Oregon State’s No. 9 Nathan Navarro at 125 pounds, as does sophomore Eric Webb over Beaver heavyweight Jason Cooley. Webb’s match-opening pin of Cooley in the earlier dual proved to be the deciding match, as Oregon prevailed by six points.
Oregon State is “tough because their style of wrestling is to keep it close and pull it off in the end,” Webb said. “It’s exciting though.”
The Beavers are also strong at 141, 157, 174 and 184 pounds. Fortunately for Oregon, the Ducks, too, are competitive at those classes. Senior Doug Lee defeated No. 16 Isaac Weber in the earlier dual at 184 pounds. The Beavers’ Shane Cunanan, Eric Jorgensen and Nathan Coy are undefeated this season against Oregon wrestlers.
Both coaches agree that the winner will be decided by whoever earns the extra points.
“There are several opportunities for us,” Wells said. “Opportunities to score some bonus points and some additional points that we let slip through our fingers the last time we wrestled them.”
Senior Chael Sonnen, ranked No. 5 at 197 pounds, will face rookie Jason Lovell in a key match for Oregon. Sophomore Brian Watson, No. 7 at 133 pounds, will face 4-5 Michael Delaney.
Sophomore Casey Hunt will sit out the Oregon State match because of a knee injury. Junior Kenny Cox will fill in at 141 pounds. Cox is 0-4 this season and 8-15 in his collegiate career.
The match will be the last regular-season appearance for Oregon before it hosts the Pac-10 Championships Feb. 25-26. It will also be the last dual match for Oregon seniors Lee and Sonnen.