Veterans and newcomers alike got a head start on the 2000-01 wrestling season Friday.
The Oregon wrestling team (1-0) was victorious in its Pacific-10 Conference and season opener with a 31-9 win against California-Davis.
The match was played at Crater High School in Central Point, Ore., the former home of three Duck wrestlers.
“For our opening match we wrestled well,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “UC Davis had already wrestled in a match this season and that made a difference, but I thought our kids competed well.”
Senior Chael Sonnen came up with a big pin in his first collegiate match in more than a year. The All-American took the 1999-00 season off to train with the U.S. Olympic team. Sonnen pinned UC Davis’ Brandon Arsenault at the 197-pound level to clinch the dual match for Oregon.
Sophomore Eric Webb also won, icing the victory for the Ducks. The Eugene native pinned the Aggies’ Mike Maben in one minute, 16 seconds at the heavyweight slot.
All-American and defending Pac-10 champion Doug Lee sat out the match due to injury. Oregon forfeited the 184-pound weight class to the Aggies’ Burak Pekin.
Newcomers Sean Williams and Luke Larwin were successful in their collegiate debuts. Williams, a junior transfer from North Idaho College, scored a 17-9 major decision against Tommy Schurkamp at 125 pounds to give the Ducks an early 4-0 lead.
“Shaun wrestled extremely well,” Kearney said. “He went out and scored eight takedowns and showed signs of what he’s going to be capable of.”
Larwin, a freshman from Bend, also won by decision, outscoring the Aggies’ Jeremiah Jarvis.
Sophomores Brian Watson (133) and Casey Hunt (141), and juniors Tony Overstake (149) and Eugene Harris (157) all won by decision to pad Oregon’s lead.
UC Davis earned its only victory at 165 pounds. The Aggies’ Adrian Garcia defeated junior Leif Williams, 6-2. Williams was wrestling up one weight class from 157 pounds.
“We need to open up and be more opportunistic, but that will come as the season goes along,” Kearney said.
The Ducks return to the Medford area this weekend for the Southern Oregon Open, a four-team individual tournament in Ashland, Ore.