With the Pacific-10 Conference championships looming five weeks away, conference wrestling teams now enter their home stretch of matches. A crucial match that may decide the regular-season title takes place today at McArthur Court.
No. 12 Oregon and No. 11 Boise State face off in a battle of undefeated Pac-10 teams. The Ducks and Broncos match up well and have met twice this season already in tournaments.
At the Cliff Keen Invitational, Oregon edged the Broncos by four points in the team scoring. Three weeks later at the Reno Tournament of Champions, Boise State prevailed in the scoring column, 103.5-77.5.
Some of the key matchups take place between some of the highest-ranked wrestlers on each team. No. 8 Shaun Williams has gotten the best of Boise State’s No. 19 Ben Vombaur twice this season, both times by decision.
The 184-pound match will be a battle of senior All-Americans. No. 7 Doug Lee will face No. 8 Cash Edwards for the second time this season. Lee edged Edwards 4-3 at the Las Vegas Invitational.
A toss-up match will be at 197 pounds, where the Ducks’ Chael Sonnen and Boise State’s Rusty Cook have split two matches this season. Sonnen prevailed 5-3 at the Southern Oregon Open, while Cook won the second meeting 6-4 at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Other key matches include the Broncos’ No. 3 Kirk White versus No. 19 Eugene Harris at 157 pounds, and No. 8 Eric Webb versus Boise State’s No. 19 Bart Johnson at heavyweight.
Last season, the Broncos upended Oregon 24-11 en route to their first Pac-10 championship ever. Whoever wins this match will most likely be the favorite coming into the conference championships in March at McArthur court.