Ducks search for Pac-10 championship success
It has come down to this for the Oregon wrestling team.
All the practices, hard work, frustrating losses, cutting weight, and injuries are about to come to a climax.
The Ducks enter the 2004 version of the Pacific-10 Conference tournament, and not a moment too soon.
Oregon will be competing with its conference rivals for a shot at the NCAA Tournament on March 18-20 in St. Louis.
While it is unlikely the team will qualify for an NCAA bid, individuals representing the Ducks have a shot at making the field and continuing their season.
“I’d say if we don’t qualify five guys, then it will be disappointing,” Chet McBee said.
It has been a frustrating season for the Ducks, but unlike other sports, the season will depend on how the team and its individuals participate in this tournament alone. Past failures and successes mean nothing now.
In fact, one could make an argument that the season was one big practice before this weekend.
“We want wrestlers to look at the most important match of the year as the one in front of them,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “And have everything they have worked for, not just this season, but your lifetime to come to fruition.”
Oregon is coming off its only Pac-10 victory of the season after beating Portland State a week ago.
“(In that match) some guys hadn’t opened up all of their technique and haven’t put it all together, up to that point,” McBee said. “So, it was important we got that win.”
“Whenever you win you feel better,” Kearney said. “You wrestle better in practice. Hopefully it gives them a shot of confidence going into the tournament.”
Each wrestler competes in four matches with the top four finishers from each weight class earning a bid to the NCAA tournament in St. Louis.
Oregon finished fifth a year ago, qualifying three wrestlers for the tournament, including senior Jason Harless.
But despite a down year, Oregon wants and expects a little something special in the Pac-10 tournament.
“(The wrestlers) have grown up being involved in big tournaments their whole life,” Kearney said. “The challenge is to get yourself up each time.”
“If there is a guy (on the team) that doesn’t have aspirations to be a National Champion, or an All-American, they are in the wrong place. We are going to go hard, and let the chips fall where they may.”
The tournament runs Sunday and Monday beginning at 11 a.m. in Tempe, Ariz.

– Scott Archer