The Oregon wrestling team’s meet against No. 4 Michigan at 7:30 p.m. today marks what could be considered the midway point in the season for the Ducks.
After nine competitions, eight of which were away from Eugene, head coach Chuck Kearney’s squad returns to the cozy confines of McArthur Court with a 3-3 dual meet record. The meet against the Wolverines starts a run of 10 duals, eight of which are at home.
Kearney said his team’s return will be a tough test, as the Wolverine lineup features a ranked competitor at every weight class. Michigan has also won its last 11 dual meets.
Michigan “is solid from top to bottom — a very good team,” Kearney said.
Its top two wrestlers, No. 2 Otto Olson (174 pounds) and senior captain No. 3 Andy Hrovat (184 pounds) were both selected to the 36th annual 2002 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic, a meet that hosts the best wrestlers in the country. This is the third straight year that Olson has been invited to the All-Star Classic. A sixth year senior, he recently notched his 150th career victory.
Other standouts for Michigan include No. 5 Matt Brink (heavyweight), No. 5 Ryan Bertin (157), No. 7 Kyle Smith (197) and No. 8 Mike Kulcyzcki (149).
To pull an upset, the Ducks must take advantage of opportunities at 141, 165 and heavyweight classes.
Junior Brian Watson, who is 13-6, has been wrestling well and has earned 27 points for the Ducks so far this season, a number second only to stand-out senior Eugene Harris’s 53. Watson will battle Michigan’s sophomore Clark Forward, who is ranked 12th in the country.
In the 165-pound slot, No. 6 Harris (17-2) will face No. 13 Charles Martelli. Off to a 6-4 start in his senior season, Martelli last lost to No. 5 Chris Vitale of Lehigh on Jan. 4. Harris’ only two losses came at the hands of Cal-Davis’ Burt Pierson, 2-1, and No. 2 Tyrone Lewis of Oklahoma State. Harris has won by major decision seven times this season.
Oregon heavyweight wrestler Eric Webb is ranked No. 17 and will face No. 5 Brink, who has not competed since Nov. 30. Before then, he won individual titles at both the Eastern Michigan Open and the Michigan State Open. Webb may be able to take advantage of the fact that this is Brink’s first dual meet action of the season.
No. 9 Shaun Williams is scheduled to return from an ankle sprain that kept him out of Oregon’s last two dual meets, but the injury may still be a factor. Tony Overstake, whose knee is almost healed, Jason Harless and Shane Webster will have to sit out of the Michigan meet because of injuries.
Oregon should be at full strength by Jan. 25 when it has two dual meets against Pacific and Central Washington.