Bracamonte, Webster, Barker All Win Titles, Ducks Finish Third
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. ? The University of Oregon wrestling team capped off the 43rd annual Pacific-10 Conference Championships with three individual title winners and a third place team finish. Juniors Joey Bracamonte (165-pounds) and Shane Webster (184) and senior Scott Barker (197) all won individual titles, while the team had its best Pac-10 showing since 2002.
"We wrestled great in three out of the four sessions," Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. "We slipped a bit this morning but we dominated each finals match. Our three champs did an excellent job managing each match. With everyone but Barker returning from our tournament squad next season, this experience is going to help us."
Bracamonte got things started with a 6-5 decision over Oregon State’s Matt Ellis to claim the 165 crown. Bracamonte finished third last season at 157 and is now 27-3 on the season. The Albuquerque, N.M. native will be making his second consecutive trip the NCAA Championships.
Webster followed with a masterful major decision victory over Arizona State’s C.B. Hollaway, 15-5, at 184. Webster will be making his second appearance at the NCAA’s after finishing sixth in 2003. The Sams Valley native improves to 21-3.
Barker completed the trifecta for the Ducks, defeating two-time defending Pac-10 champ Ryan Bader of Arizona State, 3-0.The St. Louis, Mo. native will be making his third appearance at the NCAA’s (two at Missouri). Barker becomes the first Oregon 190/197-pounder* since Ryan Kelly in 1981, to win a Pac-10 title. *In 1998 the NCAA moved each weight class up seven pounds.
Earlier in the day in the consolation draw, junior Martin Mitchell (133) and sophomore Cody Parker (hwt.) picked up fifth place finishes.
30 wrestlers from the tournament received automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, including Bracamonte, Webster and Barker. After the tournament concluded, the coaches selected ten at-large bids. Of those selected was Parker (hwt.) who will be making his first postseason appearance.
Oregon’s third place finish is its best since 2002 when the Ducks finished second. Arizona State won its 15th Pac-10 title and third in five years.
For the seventh time in school history, Oregon won at least three conference individual titles. The last was 2002 when Shaun Williams (125), Eugene Harris (165) and current volunteer coach Tony Overstake (157) all won titles.
The NCAA Championships will be held at the Saavis Center in St. Louis, Mo., March 17-19.
Final Standings
1. Arizona State ? 108
2. Boise State ? 93
3. Oregon ? 88
4. UC Davis ? 82
5. Cal Poly ? 81
6. Oregon State ? 74
7. Bakersfield ? 67
8. Fullerton ? 52.5
9. Stanford ? 48.5
10. Portland State ? 26
Pac-10 Championships
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Feb. 28
(#) seed
Finals
165 ? (1) Joey Bracamonte (UO) dec. over (2) Matt Ellis (OSU) 6-5
184 ? (1) Shane Wesbter (UO) major dec. over (2) C.B. Hollaway (ASU) 15-5
197 ? (1) Scott Barker (UO) dec. over (2) Ryan Bader (ASU) 3-0
Consolation Semfinals
133 ? (4) Jeremy Mendoza (CP) pins (6) Martin Mitchell (UO) :16
141 ? (3) Tim Norman (OSU) dec. over (5) Skyler Woods (UO) 5-3
174 ? (3) Imad Kharbush (SU) dec. over (5) Chet McBee (UO) 5-3
Hwt. ? (2) Ty Watterson (UO) dec. over (5) Cody Parker (UO) 6-1
5th Place Matches
133 ? (6) Martin Mitchell (UO) dec. over John Espinoza (ASU) 5-3
141 ? (4) Roberto Vargas (CSB) dec. over (5) Skyler Woods (UO) 6-3
174 ? (6) Rick Renzi (ASU) dec. over (5) Chet McBee (UO) 5-3
Hwt. ? (5) Cody Parker (UO) pins (4) Eric Parker (CSB) 1:16
