After two weeks off, the Oregon wrestling team continues its homestand Friday with a double-header against Pacific-10 Conference foes Cal State Fullerton and Stanford. The Ducks are riding a three-dual winning streak following their dramatic 25-23 win over Boise State on Dec. 14.
Oregon junior Shane Webster (174 pounds) said the Ducks are recovering
well from injury and have more confidence at practice.
“We feel confident going into this
weekend,” Webster said. “We’re almost at 100 percent and should do well.”
Webster also said Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney should keep a consistent
roster for both duals Friday, pending weigh-in results.
Action starts for Oregon (4-5 overall,
1-3 Pac-10) at 2 p.m., when the
Ducks wrestle a talented Cal State Fullerton (9-3, 2-1) squad. The Titans enter the match reeling in the wake of a 31-14 loss at
the hands of No. 18 Arizona State last week. The Sun Devils dominated the dual by
winning seven of 10 bouts to remain
undefeated in conference matches.
Leading Cal State Fullerton into
Friday’s dual is ninth-ranked senior Landon Seefeldt, who finished fourth at last season’s NCAAs. Seefeldt has two Pac-10 titles under his belt as well, and faces senior Scott
Barker (197) of Oregon in one of the most anticipated matches of the season. Barker slightly injured his ankle this week in
practice but will definitely wrestle Seefeldt, Webster said.
Oregon sophomore Joey Lucas (125) will also wrestle a former Pac-10 champion as
he squares off against No. 18 Jesse
Miramontes. Miramontes has been a
standout this season for the Titans as a key contributor in all of their wins.
Friday’s action continues for Oregon as it takes the mat against Stanford (4-4, 0-2) at 7 p.m. Like Oregon, the Cardinal has been hampered with injuries this year and has struggled early in conference duals. Stanford lost earlier in the season to Cal State
Fullerton and dropped a dual last Sunday to Cal State Bakersfield in a 29-12 rout. The Ducks also lost to Cal State Bakersfield,
26-29, in an early January match-up in
Bakersfield, Calif.
Although Stanford and Oregon have had similar seasons thus far, the edge in the dual goes to the Ducks, who feature two nationally ranked wrestlers, a possible four-dual winning streak and the home crowd at McArthur Court to boot. Webster said Stanford should not be taken lightly, however.
“They are a tough team every year,” he said. “They got a bunch of tough guys that do their thing and take care of business.”
Webster will most likely wrestle junior Imad Kharbush of Stanford, who qualified for last season’s NCAAs and took home a Pac-10 title in the 174-pound weight class.
The Ducks continue their season Sunday when they face Arizona State (5-4-1, 2-0) at Mac Court at 2 p.m. The Sun Devils have had an impressive season so far and have been a menace for other Pac-10 teams.
Scott J. Adams is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald
