It’s been slow for the Oregon wrestling team lately, but that doesn’t mean that the Ducks have had it easy. Oregon last wrestled Feb.1 at Arizona State and will resume play when the Ducks host Oregon State on Sunday.
Oregon is entering what it calls its second season. It has only two regular-season matches left — against the Beavers and against Portland State — followed by the Pacific-10 Conference Championships in Tempe, Ariz., and the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
“That’s when we get our final grades,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “All the things that have happened up until the end of the year are things you can learn from (and apply to post-season).”
First up, however, is the always unpredictable rivalry match.
“Records go out the window,” Kearney said. “It’s a pride contest. The majority of their wrestlers and our wrestlers are from Oregon, and it makes it a more passionate event.”
Although several wrestlers for Oregon State were also high school teammates with current Duck wrestlers, there is no love lost.
“These programs have completely different philosophies, and different kinds of kids, character and personalities,” Kearney said. “And these differences make for an intense battle.”

All work and no play
The two-week break Oregon is going through before Sunday’s match pales in comparison to the waiting that Oregon’s redshirt wrestlers have had to endure.
Martin Mitchell, who started in the 125-pound weight class last year, is redshirting this year with plans to take over the 133-pound weight class next year when senior Jason Harless leaves.
“Right now I’m weighing about 145-150 pounds,” Mitchell said. “But I’m not trying to get too big. I am concentrating on getting big in the weight room, so next year I can step in as one of the biggest 133-pounders in the nation.
“It’s really frustrating not wrestling. It’s hard to prepare in practice like you are going out there to compete as a starter. I don’t want to lose a step compared to everyone else.”
The redshirts participate with the team but don’t get the chance to show off their skills to the public. It works that way for Mitchell and other Ducks who wake for the team’s 7 a.m. spring sessions three times a week. The work is there, the payoff isn’t.
At least not until next year when Mitchell and other redshirts will finally be able to compete again.
The Ducks are redshirting key wrestlers in order to stock up for next season.
“Everyone is excited,” Mitchell said. “I’m not letting any doubts come into my mind that we aren’t going to be one of the top teams in the nation next year.”