Oregon wrestlers are starting a new season with high hopes of success and contention for a national championship in their sights. They look to improve on a mediocre 2004-05 season with top finishes in the Pacific-10 Conference and country.
Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney looks to share a memorable season with his strongest team yet.
“The University of Oregon has presented me with a unique challenge and exciting opportunity,” Kearney said. “Every coach’s goal is to build a strong, solid program. It has taken some time, but the foundation is now where I envisioned it to be when I started. As a program, we try to recruit not only talented wrestlers, but good individuals who succeed on and off the mat.”
The Oregon native has recruited classes ranked in the top 25 in the country seven of the last 12 seasons, including one that was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally. During his tenure as an assistant and head coach at Oregon the Ducks have seen success. With an overall record of 110-83-4 (.570), Oregon has finished lower than fourth place in the Pac-10 only three times and has reached as high as No. 14 nationally. In 2002-03, Kearney guided the Ducks to a second-place finish at the Pac-10 Championships, helped qualify eight of his wrestlers for the NCAA Championships and led the team to a 24th-place national finish. Last year the Ducks went 6-10 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-10.
The Ducks only lost two athletes, Scott Barker, who went 32-7, and Luke Larwin, returning 17 wrestlers with the potential to compete.
“We are capable of top-fours in every weight class in the conference.” Kearney says.
Shane Webster, senior in the 184-pound weight class, was a freshman when the Ducks had their most successful season. Now he will be leading the Ducks into a season where hopes are bigger and more achievable. Webster will look to cap his Duck wrestling career with a national championship. The three-time NCAA qualifier and All-American is a team leader and is known as a force in his weight class.
Joey Bracamonte will also provide senior leadership. The 165-pound weight class features Bracamonte, who looks to return to the national tournament, and come away with a strong performance.
“Joey can be as good as anyone in the country if he stays focused and works hard,” Kearney said.
The two senior standouts must pilot the ship if the Ducks want to contend.
“Our goal is to always be among the top 10 schools in the country and to be in a position to contend for a national title,” Kearney said. “Obviously, sacrifices and a unified team effort must be made to reach this goal, but I believe in our student-athletes and feel honored to be associated with them.”
The possibility of any wrestler scoring points for the Ducks is an attractive outlook for the team.
“If we can get everyone beating their man, we could have some people who aren’t ‘supposed’ to be competing for championships doing just that,” Kearney said.
The coach looks forward to great success from everyone this season. Why not, after the Ducks return their deepest team, they feel that they can win individually and as a program.
This weekend Oregon marches into the opening of its season, and an expectation of winning. The Ducks spend the month of November at three different tournaments. After this weekend’s Cowboy Open, the Ducks will head to Medford, Ore., for the Best of the West Tournament. Closing out their November slate the Ducks have a trip east to Lock Haven, Pa., for the Mat Town Classic.
The Cowboy Open is hosted by the University of Wyoming. Teams participating include host Wyoming, Oregon, Air Force, Adams State, Boise State, Chadron State, Colby Community College, Colorado School of Mines, Dickenson State, Northern Colorado, Jamestown College, Lassen College, Nebraska-Kearney, North Idaho College, Northwest Community College, Fort Hays State, Utah Valley State, Western State and Montana State-Northern.
Expectations are high for Oregon fans to remember this season and the increased exposure might bring future prestige.