It finally happened.
Heading into its final Pacific-10 Conference match on the season, Oregon needed a win to avoid its worst season ever.
Oregon won 34-13 Wednesday against Portland State, giving the Ducks their first, and because its the end of the regular season, Pac-10 victory..
The Ducks double their win total with their triumph Wednesday, and finish the regular season at 2-12 overall and 1-7 Pac-10.
Oregon won seven of its 10 matches, including the team’s first match on the night when senior Jake Leair beat his opponent and started the Ducks off on the right foot.
“It’s a good way to end the dual meet season and to head into the Pac-10 tournament with positive momentum,” said head coach Chuck Kearney. “We wrestled tough tonight and that made the difference in tonight’s win.”
Oregon also received victories from Cody Parker and Jason Harless. However, the most memorable feat of the night came when Oregon pinned four of its opponents in a row.
Joey Bracamonte, at the 157-pound class, Luke Leair (165-pound class), Chet McBee (174-pound class), and Dustin Fisher (184-pound class) all pinned their opponents to finish the match and the season on a more memorable note.
It also marked the first time the team was on the same page on the same night.
It can only be bittersweet for three Oregon wrestlers who were competing in their last regular-season meet. Harless, Fisher, and Leair all ended their regular season with a victory in impressive fashion.
More importantly, it gives the Ducks something to build on as they prepare themselves for post-season matches.
Oregon will have nearly two weeks off before heading to the Pac-10 Conference Championships on Feb. 29 and March 1. There the Ducks will try to qualify wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, held later in March.
Oregon finished the conference tournament in fifth place a year ago while sending three of its wrestlers on to nationals.