One month after starting the dual meet season at home, the Oregon wrestling squad competes again at McArthur Court in two dual meets today.
The Ducks host Stanford at 3 p.m., and battle California-Davis at 7 p.m.
“We’re at a point where we need to start putting things together,” head coach Chuck Kearney said.
Oregon, with a 3-4 overall dual meet record and 2-0 record in the Pacific-10 Conference, will face both conference opponents for the first time this season.
“We want to be wrestling smart, strategic, tough matches,” Kearney said.
Three guys who are wrestling consistently well are seniors Casey Hunt and Tony Overstake, and sophomore Shane Webster.
Hunt, who wrestles in the 141 class this season, finished fourth at 149 in the Pac-10 last year. He has continued the strong finish into this season, recently winning three of four matches during Friday’s Oregon Classic. Hunt is ranked No. 20 by The Wrestling Mall in the latest 141 class poll.
“141 will be a weight class where he will make a run for the Pac-10 title,” Kearney said.
Another wrestler who dropped down one weight class, Overstake won the Pac-10 title at 157 last season. This year, he has improved upon his success, winning six of his last eight meets. The two losses have been to ranked opponents. Overstake is currently ranked No. 19 in the latest 149 class poll by Amateur Wrestling News.
“He’s coming off a Pac-10 Championship,” Kearney said. “He’s setting his sights at not just achieving at that level, but achieving at the national level.”
Webster won all four of his matches in the Oregon Classic, putting him at 16-2 on the season at 174. Between three wrestling polls, Webster is ranked No. 12, No. 13 and No. 14 in his weight class. Webster is 5-2 against ranked
opponents this season with the two losses coming by decision. Five of his 16 wins have come from two falls, two technical falls and a major decision.
“Last year as a true freshman, Shane had a very good season,” Kearney said. “I think this is going to be a breakthrough year for Shane.”
Friday, the Ducks wrestled in the Redmond-hosted Oregon Classic. The Ducks went 2-2 in their four matches, including a win over Pac-10 opponent California State-Fullerton. In Oregon’s first home matches this season, it beat Oregon State in come-from-behind style to win 18-15 on Jan. 13, then followed with a 30-3 loss to Nebraska the next day.
The big loss to Nebraska came from a lot of little mistakes.
“We just have to step up as a team,” Kearney said.
The team, however, lost one of their top wrestlers Monday. Senior Eric Webb, who finished third in the Pac-10 at heavyweight last year, suffered his fourth concussion in less than two years at the first tournament of the season. After sitting out since, with freshman Neil Phillips filling in, he announced he was not going to continue competing with the team.
The rest of the Ducks take on the Cardinals and the Aggies today when they resume Pac-10 dual meets.