Oregon senior Eugene Harris was named the team’s Outstanding Wrestler at the annual banquet Sunday, and four other wrestlers earned individual honors.
Freshman Shane Webster was named Outstanding Newcomer, Jason Harless earned the John Miller Award, Tony Overstake was given the David Abraham Award and Casey Hunt was touted as the most improved wrestler.
Harris finished the season 33-5 en route to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Tournament to become an All-American for the first time in his career. Harris’ ranking soared to as high as fourth during the season, and with just three losses heading into the national tournament, he earned a seven seed in the 165-pound bracket.
Webster, who also advanced to the NCAA Tournament after finishing third at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships, finished his first collegiate season 17-11, including a 13-4 major decision win over Boise State’s Pat Owens at the conference championships.
The Dr. John Miller Award is given to a wrestler who gives 100 percent in both wrestling and academics. Harless earned a wild-card bid to the NCAA Tournament and concluded his season with a 17-9 overall record, including eight wins with bonus points. Harless currently has a 3.73 grade point average.
Overstake, who battled through injuries a year ago, returned healthy in 2002 and was the Pac-10 champion at 157 pounds and finished 1-2 at the national tournament. The Dave Abraham Award honors a student athlete that demonstrates a true passion for the sport of wrestling.
Hunt, who had not qualified for the national tournament in his first two seasons at Oregon, earned an automatic bid with a fourth-place finish at the Pac-10 tournament. He finished the season 12-12 in the 149 pound weight class and won by fall in five of his matches.
Oregon women’s
basketball gives team MVP
The WNIT champion Oregon women’s basketball team honored five players at its annual postseason banquet Saturday at the Eugene Hilton, while naming the entire team as the MVP.
Teammates voted sophomore forward Cathrine Kraayeveld as the Ducks’ Most Improved Player. Departing senior Edniesha Curry garnered Oregon’s Best Defensive Player honor. Freshman post player Andrea Bills was tabbed as the Ducks’ Most Valuable Newcomer while junior guard Alissa Edwards was the team’s Most Inspirational. For the second consecutive season, junior guard Kourtney Shreve earned the Harry Ritchie Scholar-Athlete Award.
Kraayeveld, who one year ago averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds as a freshman, led the team with 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots along with 10.2 points per game this year. A 6-foot-3 forward, she led Oregon with a 51 percent mark from the floor and also shot 37 percent from 3-point range and 74 percent from the foul line. She recorded 11 double-doubles, including the final five WNIT games.
Meanwhile, Curry was a relentless one-on-one defender who led Oregon with 1.9 steals per game. She also finished third on the team with 9.8 points and dished out 3.3 assists per game en route to Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 recognition.
Bills, a 6-foot-3 center, led the Oregon freshmen with averages of 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, which was second on the squad. She also shot 50 percent from the field — second on the Ducks — and was third with 25 blocked shots. For her efforts, she was chosen to the Pac-10’s Honorable Mention All-Freshman team.
— from staff and wire reports
