Oregon wrestling takes a break from conference action this week, traveling to Oklahoma for duals against two of the nation’s top wrestling programs Saturday against the No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The Sooners have an overall dual record of 7-3 and were on a three-dual win streak before dropping their first round match at last weekend’s Cliff Keen National Duals to No. 7 Central Michigan 21-15. Oklahoma State goes into its Friday dual meet versus No. 5 Iowa with a 9-3 mark in duals this season and a fourth-place finish in the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Both programs are loaded with blue-chip wrestling talent, boasting six nationally-ranked wrestlers each.
Oklahoma’s six include the nation’s No. 1 125-pounder, senior Sam Hazewinkel, and the No. 2 149-pounder, senior Matt Storniolo.
Oklahoma State has the country’s No. 1 wrestler at 165 pounds in senior Johny Hendricks and the No. 4 141-pounder, junior Nathan Morgan.
“To be a program that gives kids the opportunity to compete for national titles we need to see these people,” said coach Chuck Kearney. “The first step in the process is competing against them. The second step in the process, for the individual, is beating them.
“If we can get a couple of our young guys to take that second step and actually beat a guy from Oklahoma, it kind of opens up a whole new realm of existence for them.”
Oregon is a young team, starting anywhere from four to six freshmen, and trips like this are not only exciting for young wrestlers but crucial to their development, Kearney said.
“Eighty percent of our team is freshmen and sophomores, and they’re going to get a chance to go out there and see what big-time wrestling is all about,” he said. “We get to go in there with an ‘everything to gain’ attitude and have fun with it.”
The Ducks have fared well against the Sooners, going 5-5 at Oklahoma the last three years.
Senior Justin Pearch, Oregon’s top 133-pounder, has yet to return to practice and is not likely to wrestle in either of Saturday’s matches. Kearney described Pearch’s knee injury, suffered in Oregon’s loss to Cal State Fullerton last weekend, as an MCL sprain. No timetable has been set for his return to the lineup, Kearney said.
The Ducks return to McArthur Court for duals Jan. 27 against Boise State and Jan. 28 against Arizona State.