With a biting loss still fresh in their heads, the Duck wrestlers look to get back on track with a road trip to California.
Last Friday, No. 16 Oregon absorbed its first Pacific-10 Conference loss of the season, to No. 11 Boise State.
“I hope that [the loss] will inspire us,” Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Pac-10 Championships.”
“A loss like that stays in the back of your head,” sophomore heavyweight Eric Webb said. “But at the same time, you’ve got to put it behind you, move on.”
The Ducks make their last trip outside Oregon until the NCAA Championships take place in March with a swing through Fresno and San Luis Obispo, Calif. Oregon takes on Fresno State today and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo on Sunday.
“[Fresno State and Cal Poly] have very good squads that we’re going to need to look out for,” Kearney said.
Fresno State is ranked No. 22 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and features three top-25 wrestlers.
Stephen Abas is a unanimous pick for No. 1 wrestler at 125 pounds. Abas won the 1999 NCAA crown at 125 pounds before competing at the 2000 Olympic Trials.
Webb will have his hands full against No. 2 Billy Blunt at heavyweight. Nathan Vasquez is ranked No. 15 at 157 pounds and will face No. 19 junior Eugene Harris.
The Bulldogs are 3-3 on the season and will face UC-Davis at noon today before taking on the Ducks at 7 p.m.
The Ducks will be looking for revenge against Fresno State, which upended the Ducks at home last season, 25-12.
Cal Poly (1-6, 0-4 Pac-10) is unranked but received nine votes by the NWCA. Cedric Hayman leads the Mustangs with a No. 11 ranking at 149 pounds. Cal Poly’s Steven Strange is ranked No. 17 at 174 pounds.
Senior All-American Doug Lee (20-7) looks to win his sixth straight match against the Mustangs’ Charles Sandlin (13-7). Sophomore Tony Overstake has also won his last five matches at 149 pounds and will take on Hayman. Webb (21-4) will be looking for his 11th dual match victory in 12 tries against Dan Leahy.
Oregon defeated Cal Poly last season at the Oregon Classic Duals, 29-15.
Following this weekend’s matches, the Ducks are at home for matches against No. 17 Arizona State and No. 11 Oregon State, and to host the Pac-10 Championships.