Ducks Pillage Vikings at the Capital, 28-12
SALEM -- Oregon's wrestling team got back on the winning track heading into the Pac-10 tournament, as they defeated the Portland State Vikings, 28-12 in a Pac-10 dual match held at the fairgrounds in Salem, Oregon.
Seniors Chris Dearmon and Justin Pearch led the way for the Ducks (7-12, 2-8), with Dearmon recording a pin in 1:31 over Zack Smith in the heavyweight match and Pearch securing the 18-6 major decision over Wesley Moniz.
"I was pleased with how the guys wrestled tonight," head coach Chuck Kearney said. "They were able to get themselves up for the match on a short week of rest and many of them are wrestling well heading into the Pac-10 tournament, which bodes well for us."
The Ducks gained significant advantages at the lower weight classes with Ryan Dunn and Joey Lucas winning their matches convincingly. At 125 lbs., Dunn got the technical fall with a dominating 28-13 performance, while at 133 lbs. Lucas picked up the major decision in a 14-1 victory.
The Ducks captured the first five matches of the night and jumped out to a 19-0 lead as Jeremy McLaughlin and Zach Frazier also picked up wins in addition to Dunn, Lucas and Pearch. Both won by decision, with McLaughlin getting the 10-8 victory at 149 lbs. over Joe Vanaman and Frazier taking the 5-4 decison over Steven Dailey.
The Vikings were able to cut the score to 19-9, as Jake McCoy fell to PSU's top wrestler, Dale Seley, at 165 lbs. and the Ducks were forced to forfeit the 174 lbs. weight class. Brysen French would stop the PSU run as the Vikings would get no closer. The freshman picked up his first victory in eight matches, defeating Brian Lemmon, 7-3, at the 184 lbs. weight class.
The Ducks hope to have their 174 lbs. stalwart Ronnie Lee back from injury before they head to postseason play.
Oregon heads to the Pac-10 tournament on Feb. 24-25 in Bakersfield, Calif. The matches will be broadcast live on http://www.pac-10.org.
Oregon 28, PSU 12 (Feb. 14)
125 lbs.: Dunn (UO) tech. fall over Brad Caldwell (PSU), 28-13
133 lbs.: Lucas (UO) major dec. over Wesley Moniz (PSU), 14-1
141 lbs.: Pearch (UO) major dec. over Greg Einerson (PSU), 18-6
149 lbs.: McLaughlin (UO) dec. over Vanaman (PSU), 10-8
157 lbs.: Frazier (UO) dec. over Dailey (PSU), 5-4
165 lbs.: Seley (PSU) dec. over McCoy (UO), 4-2
174 lbs.: C.J. Grandjean (PSU) wins by forfeit
184 lbs.: French (UO) dec. over Lemmon(PSU), 7-3
197 lbs.: Jake Schneider (PSU) dec. over Chris Robertson (UO), 5-2
Hwt.: Dearmon (UO) fall over Smith (PSU), 1:31
