The Oregon wrestling team kept busy during winter break, competing in two team duals and two tournaments.
Senior Scott Barker took fifth place Wednesday in the 197-pound weight class at the 42nd-annual Midlands Tournament.
Barker leads the Ducks in pins this season with 11, and he improved his record to 18-5 at the tournament held at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill. As a fifth seed, Barker rallied his way into the fifth-place finals after losing his opening two matches. Barker started the tournament with a loss to top-seeded Jon Trenge of Lehigh by a 2-1 decision.
Barker then advanced to the consolation semifinals, which pitted him against third-seeded Sean
Stender of Northern Iowa. Stender walked away victorious with a 6-2 decision, sending Barker to a final match against sixth-seeded Tyrone Boyd of Illinois. Barker won by forfeit for fifth place. The forfeit came as a reward for Barker, who wrestled well despite his two losses.
“Scott has wrestled tough all season, and he continued to do that
today,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “He faced two of the top wrestlers in the nation and was
in both of those matches. I’m pleased with the way he was able to come back.”
On Dec. 19, the Ducks competed in the 19-team Reno Tournament of Champions where they took fourth. Barker took second place individually. Barker’s tournament record was 4-1, with all of his wins coming by way of pin. Juniors Joey Bracamonte and Martin Mitchell both placed third in the 165- and 133-pound weight classes, respectively.
Bracamonte closed out the tournament by winning his final six matches. Sophomore Cody Parker also placed, taking fifth in the heavyweight division. Kearney was pleased with Parker’s outing.
“He had a very good day and is close to becoming the wrestler he is capable of being,” Kearney said.
Oregon saw action Dec. 11 as the team faced No. 4 Nebraska in a much-anticipated dual at McArthur Court. The Duck faithful were in full force that evening but could not lift Oregon past the Cornhuskers, who took a 39-10 victory. Once again, the Ducks were crippled by injuries — Shane Webster and Bracamonte were not able to wrestle.
Mitchell and Barker were the only Ducks to record victories in the dual. Barker tallied a major decision over B.J. Patton, and Mitchell pinned Dominick Moyer midway through the first period.
Parker showed great effort in his match against Mitch Manstedt but could not muster an escape or takedown late in the third period. Manstedt held on for a 6-3 win by decision.
Though the Ducks lost the dual, much was gained in their favor: Duals against top-ranked teams such as Nebraska should help Oregon prepare for post-season matches.
“As a team, it is crucial we wrestle matches of this caliber,” Kearney said. “It keeps the team honest and motivated and will help us in the long run.”
The day before the Nebraska dual, the Ducks were in Corvallis in the first of two Civil War duals against Oregon State. Much like most of Oregon’s duals this season, the Ducks kept the score close and wrestled well but lost by a close margin. The Beavers won by a score of 22-13 in front of 1,214 fans at the Gill Coliseum.
The 157-pound match that started the dual pitted true sophomore Cyle Hartzell against Joel Gibson. Hartzell’s performance was anything but sophomoric as he defeated Gibson 10-4 to improve his season record to an impressive 7-1.
The dual swayed back and forth, featuring many lead changes. The final match came with the 149-pound weight division as true freshman Nick Cautrell began his Duck career on the right foot with a 6-3 decision over Orlando Perez.
“I was really pleased with Nick (Cautrell) and Cyle (Hartzell),” Kearney said. “Both of those guys are going to have excellent careers here at Oregon.”

Scott J. Adams is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald