When visiting the No. 7 team in the country, an unranked team realizes it needs to put up a fight to keep the meet close, let alone win.
Oregon just didn’t want to lose as badly as they did.
Giving up two falls, two major decisions and one forfeit, the Oregon wrestling squad lost 35-6 at No. 7 Michigan on Saturday.
The falls, major decisions and forfeit gave Michigan 26 of its 35 points. The other nine were earned on one-point and two-point decisions.
Oregon earned its six points on two decisions. Senior Tony Overstake earned an 8-7 victory over Jeremiah Tobias at 149. Overstake was ranked No. 20 in the 149 weight class going into Saturday’s meet.
Tobias took the early lead in the matchup with a quick takedown in the first period. Overstake responded with an escape and a takedown to take a one-point advantage heading into the second period.
During the second frame, Tobias had a takedown and a two-point fall, but Overstake matched him with a reversal and takedown, keeping the one-point lead. A scoreless third period kept the match at 8-7.
Sophomore Shane Webster, ranked No. 10 in his weight class, earned Oregon’s other decision. Webster defeated R.J. Boudro, 7-3.
Webster jumped ahead early, with two takedowns in the first period. Adding another in the third, Webster allowed Boudro only three points on three escapes.
“We have to eliminate mistakes,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “We made fundamental mistakes in close matches that cost us. We’re hoping we learn something from this.”
Oregon’s forfeit came at the 125 weight class, giving the Wolverines a 6-0 lead right off the top.
In the 133 class, redshirt junior Jason Harless and opponent Foley Dowd were tied at seven going into the third period. Harless had a quick escape to go up by one, but with 30 seconds left, Dowd scored a takedown and held on — winning the match 9-8.
Senior Casey Hunt went behind early, with Clark Forward taking an early 5-0 lead in the 141 match. Hunt came back with four points, cutting Forward’s lead to one after the first period. In the second, Forward held Hunt to the mat for the full period. Hunt tied the score with a takedown in the third, but allowed Forward the escape. Hunt was unable to score again, and Forward won 9-7, earning a point for riding time.
Wolverine Rob Sulaver pinned redshirt freshman Chet McBee 2:04 into the 157 match. McBee started off with a takedown, but fell behind when Sulaver earned a takedown and three-point near fall before pinning McBee.
Redshirt sophomore Luke Larwin took the first lead of the 165 matchup, with a takedown near the end of the first period. Pat Owen tied the score with a reversal with three seconds left in the period. Both wrestlers had escapes to keep the score tied, and Owen earned a takedown with 30 seconds left to win the match 5-3.
The Wolverines’ other pin came in the 197 matchup. Kyle Smith pinned redshirt junior Jason Leair at the 3:23 mark. Smith led 9-2 before the pin.
Michigan’s two major decisions came at 184 and heavyweight. Willie Breyer earned a 12-2 win over freshman Tony Roland in the 184 class. Greg Wagner kept redshirt freshman Neil Phillips scoreless, winning the heavyweight matchup 9-0.
Oregon will compete against Pacific, Central Michigan and Wisconsin on Friday in the Oregon Classic.