The Beavers are going Duck-hunting Sunday.
While the basketball teams play their Civil War on Saturday, the wrestling squad looks to Sunday in Corvallis as its opportunity to sweep the Beavers on the mat this season.
Sophomore Shane Webster, No. 11 in the nation at 174, leads the Ducks with a 24-4 record. Webster is the only Oregon wrestler to compete at 174 this season, as well as the only Duck ranked in Intermat’s poll.
Seniors Tony Overstake and Casey Hunt will wrestle in their last Civil War. Overstake, wrestling at 149 this season, has an 18-7 overall record. Hunt, at 141, is 12-9 on the season. Both Overstake and Hunt dropped down a weight class this season.
Three other Ducks have joined the three leaders in their possible quest for a place in the NCAA Championships. Redshirt junior Jason Harless, redshirt sophomore Luke Larwin and sophomore Martin Mitchell have all shown improvement recently.
Mitchell, with eight pins this season, has the second-highest total pins at his weight class.
Harless, although he missed the California trip with a knee injury, is 14-11 on the season.
Larwin has won three straight matches to move his season record to 18-16. All 16 of his losses, though, have come by decision. A loss by decision means the wrestler lost by eight points or less.
Oregon and Oregon State opened the dual meet season in December at McArthur Court. The Beavers started out strong — winning the 157 and 165 weight classes to take a 6-0 lead.
Webster earned Oregon’s first points of the match with a decision.
Oregon State kept rolling, however, taking three-straight matches — 184, 197 and heavyweight. All three matches were lost by decision, giving the Beavers a dominating 15-3 lead.
Mitchell controlled his opponent early, and held Brett Phillips, earning the pin at two minutes and 28 seconds into the 125 match. Mitchell’s pin gave the Ducks six points, making the score 15-9, Oregon State.
Harless followed at 133, earning a decision with a 10-6 win.
At 141, Hunt fought for a 6-3 decision. Hunt’s victory tied the match at 15 with one weight class still to wrestle.
Overstake and Oregon State freshman Tony Hook matched up at 149. Hook took control early, but Overstake came back quickly and dominated. He won the 149 match 9-3, and the Ducks won the dual 18-15.
The meet against the Beavers (9-8, 7-2) and Wednesday’s dual against Portland State (4-12, 0-7) are the only things remaining between Oregon and the March Pac-10 Tournament.
For now, the Ducks (7-10 overall, 5-3 Pac-10) must contend with the evenly matched Beavers.
Oregon State is listed in the “other teams” section of Intermat’s most recent rankings — a place Oregon has spent much of the season. Heavyweight Andy Bowlby is No. 10 in the nation. Three Beavers — Matt Ellis at 165, Jake Huffman at 174 and Jed Pennell at 184 — are in the “wrestlers to watch” for their weight classes.
Oregon, for the first time this season, is not listed in the top 25 or in “other teams.” Webster is No. 11 at 174. Mitchell at 125, Harless at 133 and Overstake at 149 are all listed as “wrestlers to watch.”
The Beavers will close their season by honoring former Oregon State wrestling coach Dale Thomas. At halftime, a banner will be unveiled for his 616 dual wins as Beaver head coach.
The Ducks and Beavers take to the mat at 2 p.m. Sunday.