Oregon’s final two wrestlers finished their seasons, and the program’s final year as a varsity sport at the University during the NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis.
Junior Ryan Dunn finished with one win and two losses (good for a top-24 finish in the 133-pound weight class) in his NCAA matches and ended the season with a 23-9 overall record.
Dunn won his first match with a 12-11 win against Lock Haven’s Billy Ashnaut. He then lost his later match 6-1 against Oklahoma State’s returning NCAA runner-up Coleman Scott and 2008’s champion, whom Dunn had beaten five weeks earlier in Eugene when Scott was ranked No. 1. In his final match, Dunn was bounced from the tournament by Wisconsin’s Zach Tenelli by a score of 13-4 in the consolation bracket.
“When I look back this year, there were a lot of high points, not just in matches, but also the practices and the typical weathering of ups and downs. Those experiences and memories are worth more than any trophies or awards,” Dunn said in a media release.
Oregon heavyweight redshirt freshman Charlie Alexander also competed in the championships and lost both his matches, 3-0 to Virginia Military Institute’s Joshua Wine and 2-1 to Columbia’s Ryan Flores in overtime.
“Coming into the season, one of the few specific goals I had was to make it to nationals,” Alexander said. “I’ve had a good season but there’s also a lot of room for improvement. Wine was a tough wrestler on top, and I took a few a shots against him but just couldn’t finish them. Flores was good, but I should have been able to beat him. That’s a part of wrestling, coming back and being immediately ready to go again.”
Alexander finished his season with a 23-12 record.
“The coaches told me to go out and just wrestle and not let the atmosphere intimidate me,” Alexander said. “I wanted to win at least a few matches here. Regardless, I have to remember that it’s been a big transition from a year ago.”
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