Spring Break
After a rough start and a long wait, a timely comeback
Eric Stevenson, a 125-pound senior, spent much of the season injured, but he recovered in time to do damage at Pac-10s and qualify for NCAA Championship
Sean McLean
Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Sports
With about a month to go before the Pac-10 Championships, Stevenson finally stepped back onto the mat against Cory Fish of Boise State. With the Beavers up big in the team scores, Stevenson concluded the dual meet with a convincing 6-0 decision. It would be the start of a dominating stretch for the senior. He would win the remainder of his regular dual meets, and would enter the Pac-10 tournament with an 8-2 record and three pins.
He would also encounter other challenges when he came back from his injury. With other injuries in the varsity lineup to Bobby Pfennigs at 133 pounds and Kyle Larson at 141 pounds, Stevenson stepped out of his usual weight at 125 pounds and wrestled up one and even two weight classes. Helping the team when it was down in a few weight classes, Stevenson would win two matches at 133 pounds against Oregon and North Dakota State. He also earned a surprising pin over Matt Kim of Stanford at 141 pounds.
"It was a challenge It doesn't happen much, but I knew I could do it," Stevenson said. "It helped in the team points for sure, and it is definitely a big step for any college wrestler. To get a win when you are wrestling out of place is also an accomplishment."
The coaching staff was also impressed with his ability to step out of his typical weight class and succeed.
"Stevenson wrestling up for us was big against Stanford and North Dakota State," coach Jim Zalesky said. "He is wrestling really well for us, and I wanted him to wrestle back at 125 pounds for the Pac-10 Championships."
Wrestling as if never injured, Stevenson replaced sophomore Jake Gonzales at 125 pounds for the Pac-10 Championships. Ranked second in the conference, he pinned Brad Caldwell of Portland State in the preliminary round and defeated Cal Poly's Josh Obregon (4-0) and Arizona State's John Espinoza (4-2) to earn a trip to the first finals match of his career.
And despite falling to top seeded Tanner Gardner of Stanford in the finals, Stevenson would qualify for the NCAA Championships and be a big factor in the Beavers winning their first Pac-10 title since 1994.
"The team unity this year is what I will always remember," Stevenson said. "Helping each other out and getting that Pac-10 title was a great feeling for me and the team."
For Stevenson and the five others that qualified for the NCAA Championships, the Beavers can add to this memorable season by finishing with a strong performance. Individually, standing on the podium and earning All-American honors are on his mind when he enters the mat in Detroit next week. And although he has overcome many odds already this season, he does not care if one more stands in his way.
"Being All-American, getting that top eight finish - it is what I want," Stevenson said. "I don't care if they don't know my name or know who I am. I just want to be an All-American."
He would also encounter other challenges when he came back from his injury. With other injuries in the varsity lineup to Bobby Pfennigs at 133 pounds and Kyle Larson at 141 pounds, Stevenson stepped out of his usual weight at 125 pounds and wrestled up one and even two weight classes. Helping the team when it was down in a few weight classes, Stevenson would win two matches at 133 pounds against Oregon and North Dakota State. He also earned a surprising pin over Matt Kim of Stanford at 141 pounds.
"It was a challenge It doesn't happen much, but I knew I could do it," Stevenson said. "It helped in the team points for sure, and it is definitely a big step for any college wrestler. To get a win when you are wrestling out of place is also an accomplishment."
The coaching staff was also impressed with his ability to step out of his typical weight class and succeed.
"Stevenson wrestling up for us was big against Stanford and North Dakota State," coach Jim Zalesky said. "He is wrestling really well for us, and I wanted him to wrestle back at 125 pounds for the Pac-10 Championships."
Wrestling as if never injured, Stevenson replaced sophomore Jake Gonzales at 125 pounds for the Pac-10 Championships. Ranked second in the conference, he pinned Brad Caldwell of Portland State in the preliminary round and defeated Cal Poly's Josh Obregon (4-0) and Arizona State's John Espinoza (4-2) to earn a trip to the first finals match of his career.
And despite falling to top seeded Tanner Gardner of Stanford in the finals, Stevenson would qualify for the NCAA Championships and be a big factor in the Beavers winning their first Pac-10 title since 1994.
"The team unity this year is what I will always remember," Stevenson said. "Helping each other out and getting that Pac-10 title was a great feeling for me and the team."
For Stevenson and the five others that qualified for the NCAA Championships, the Beavers can add to this memorable season by finishing with a strong performance. Individually, standing on the podium and earning All-American honors are on his mind when he enters the mat in Detroit next week. And although he has overcome many odds already this season, he does not care if one more stands in his way.
"Being All-American, getting that top eight finish - it is what I want," Stevenson said. "I don't care if they don't know my name or know who I am. I just want to be an All-American."
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John Owen
posted 3/07/07 @ 2:48 PM PST
Way to go Eric! You're already an All-American as far as we're concerned. Go finish the job.
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