It’s back to the road.
Again.
The Ducks hit the road today for a matchup with Boise State (5-3, 2-2), followed by a match against No. 19 Arizona State (7-5, 3-0) on Sunday.
Oregon is currently 1-7 overall and 0-3 in Pacific-10 Conference play, remaining in search of its first league victory.
The Ducks are hoping to improve on some impressive individual performances from a week ago and to turn those into something positive as a team this weekend.
“The guys are frustrated,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “(The past two matches) we could have won if we won the 125 and 157-pound weight classes.”
That’s been the mantra all season long.
Oregon has finished several matches with results split at 5-5 ties. However, the points earned by the opponent in those matches have catapulted them above the Ducks.
It is those close matches that have stalled the Ducks. Oregon has yet to have all wrestlers compete to the best of their abilities on the same day.
Oregon must also balance preparations for the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
“(It’s getting close) to the Pac-10 and National Tournaments,” Kearney said. “And those deserve attention.”
The Ducks are also facing a short week during which they won’t make any practice schedule adjustments, Kearney said. The team wrestled Cal State-Bakersfield on Sunday and returned to the practice mat Monday in preparation for this weekend’s matches.
Boise State features one nationally ranked wrestler in 197-pound sophomore K.C. Walsh, who is ranked 13th overall. Walsh boasts a team-best record of 20-6. He has four major decision victories and two pins on the year.
After today’s match the Ducks will head south to face No. 19 Arizona State, against whom the Ducks are 3-17 all-time. The Sun Devils have earned successive wins over Stanford, Oregon State and Cal State-Fullerton.
Arizona State has eight nationally ranked wrestlers. No. 11 Christian Staylor (125-pound class), is followed by No. 9 Mike Simpson (133 pounds), No. 13 Patrick Williams (149 pounds), No. 17 Brian Stith (157 pounds), No. 20 Ron Renzi (174 pounds), No. 6 Nick Frost (184 pounds), No. 3 Ryan Bader (197 pounds) and No.7 heavyweight Cain Velasquez.
Following this weekend, the road-weary Ducks will have a chance to relax from competition for a while. Oregon has had a match every weekend since the beginning of the term and even had a busy winter break.
Oregon will return home Feb. 15 to challenge Oregon State in its last home match of the season.