Take a quick glance at the Oregon wrestling team, and the first word that comes to mind is “wow.”
Then you think that the Ducks are probably going to overmatch California-Davis in the Pacific-10 Conference opener tonight.
UC Davis and Oregon square off at Crater High School in Central Point in a match that the Ducks have traditionally won. Oregon is 6-0 against the Aggies in six meetings. Last season, the Ducks won handily, 24-11, at Davis, Calif.
Last year’s result is important, because both squads have mostly the same lineups this year. Davis returns nine starters, while the Ducks also return nine letter winners.
The most important returning Oregon wrestler is All-American Doug Lee. The Central Point native is a two-time Pac-10 champion and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships last season. His 36 victories are third all-time at Oregon.
“Doug is better now than he was last year,” Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said.
Another important returner didn’t play against UC Davis last season because he was redshirting. Senior Chael Sonnen was an All-American back in 1998, but took 1999 off to train for the Olympics.
Lee, in the 184-pound weight class, and Sonnen, in the 197-pound weight class, should easily take their matches tonight against freshmen Burak Pekin and Brandon Arsenault, respectively.
Many will be watching the 157-pound match to see NCAA-qualifier Eugene Harris, a former transfer from Lassen Junior College in Nevada. The junior finished the season with a 24-11 overall record but also boasted an even more impressive 13-4 dual match record. Harris faces senior Burt Pierson today.
Two newcomers making their debuts in an Oregon singlet will be junior Sean Williams and freshman Luke Larwin.
Williams recently transferred from Northern Idaho College, where he was a two-time junior college champion. Williams competed on the 1996 South African national team and will wrestle at 125 pounds.
Larwin, a freshman from Bend, will switch positions with junior Leif Williams at 165 and 174 pounds.
“Luke is very tough and very talented,” Kearney said. “His ability to make the transition and adjustment to the college level will determine a lot, but he’s somebody that we are looking to wrestle this season.”
Other projected starters include four sophomores. Brian Watson will wrestle at 133 pounds, Casey Hunt at 141 pounds, Tony Overstake at 149 pounds and Eric Webb at heavyweight.
The match will be played in the hometown of Doug Lee and Overstake, where a large home contingent will be on hand.
Oregon returns to the Medford area next week for the Southern Oregon Open in Ashland.