In the final dual meet of the year, Oregon defeated Portland State 38-7 in front of 469 fans at McArthur Court on Wednesday night.
The Ducks improved their record to 9-7 overall and 5-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference, while the Vikings dipped to 9-13 (3-6 Pac-10).
“We competed well,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “With this competition, we want our guys to understand that regardless of who you are wresting, whether it is the best team in the country or a middle team or whatever, that you go out with the same attitude and dominance.”
The Oregon team next competes at the Pac-10 Tournament, where they will hope to maintain the momentum that has developed with Wednesday night’s win and an 18-14 victory over Oregon State on Feb. 13.
“We’re concerned with getting ourselves ready for the conference tournament,” Kearney said. “Things that worked tonight will work against guys at Arizona State, Oregon State and Boise State. We want to have that attitude when we go into the conference tournament.”
Before the match, seniors Shaun Williams (125 pounds) and Eugene Harris (165 pounds) were honored in their final home match, and both were able to come away with wins for the Ducks. In Harris’s case, his final Mac Court win was not what he may have dreamed.
Portland State forfeited the 165-pound match, so Harris was able to pick up six team points for the Ducks to raise his total team points on the season to 94, which leads the squad. Although he did not get to actually wrestle for his last home win, Harris remained in his typically amiable attitude as he lifted his hand in victory for the last time at Mac Court.
In the 125-pound match Williams, ranked No. 10 in the country, won by a score of 10-7, improving his record to 9-4.
Of Oregon’s eight wins in the meet, six wrestlers earned bonus points for the team. Brian Watson and Casey Hunt both pinned their opponents and Eric Webb and Jason Harless scored technical falls by winning by a margin of 15 points.
Kearney was pleased with the way many of his wrestlers competed, including Jake Leair, who was one of two Ducks to lose his match.
“Jake Leair, even in the loss, did a good job of controlling the tempo of the match,” Kearney said. “He needs to wrestle from start to finish. He eased up a little bit and gave up a takedown.”
Oregon led from the start, winning the first four matches. Hunt (149 pounds) was ahead by a score of 19-8 when, with 36 seconds remaining, he pinned his opponent Casey Banks. He said he is excited about the way Oregon is competing heading into the conference tournament.
“A team like Portland State gave our guys a chance to open up and get big wins for us,” Hunt said. “Any time you can come off a big win going into Pac-10s, that’s great.”
In the 133-pound match, Harless, a sophomore, improved his record to 14-5 with a 20-5 victory.
“My main intent going out there was to be intense and control the action, and for the most part I thought I did that,” Harless said.
The Pac-10 Tournament will be held in Corvallis on March 2 and 3.