Beavers, Ducks to meet for last time
Oregon's plan to dismantle wrestling program means this weekend's match is final Civil War
Noah Tinker
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
Oregon State and Oregon will come together in the last meeting between the two schools at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon in Gill Coliseum.
The 135th Civil War match-up, the third longest rivalry in NCAA wrestling, will feature plenty of fireworks on both sides as the two teams seek to outdo each other for the last time, as the University of Oregon decided to make this the final year of competition for its wrestling program.
According to Oregon State coach Jim Zalesky, "There's going to be a lot of emotions that night, especially on Oregon's part."
The Ducks (9-12 overall, 0-8 Pac-10) are still looking for their first victory in Pac-10 competition and would like nothing better than to have it come against the Beavers (9-8 overall, 6-3 Pac-10). The Beavers beat Oregon 23-14 in Eugene on Dec. 7 to increase their lead in the all-time series to 106-24-4.
Not only will Sunday be the final meet between the two teams, but it will also be the final meet of the Pac-10 season for the Beavers. Seniors Neal Beaudry, Louie Camarillo, Kyle Larson and Travis Gardner, who will be wrestling for the final time in Gill, will be honored before the start of the match as part of ceremonies for Senior Day.
During a 10-minute halftime intermission, wrestlers of both past and present from both Oregon State and Oregon will pay tribute to the legacy of their rivalry and to each other.
"I'm sure they're going to come out hard and try to beat us," said Gardner. "After all, we are still the defending Pac-10 champions, so that usually provides people with enough motivation."
Zalesky said he and his team will mourn the loss of the rivalry. "It's just something you don't want to see end because it provided such a great level of competition on both sides, which is what rivalries do and it's sad to see that going away."
Oregon has struggled to find something positive to rally around while facing its team's demise and is currently suffering through a nine-match losing streak including seven Pac-10 losses.
The 135th Civil War match-up, the third longest rivalry in NCAA wrestling, will feature plenty of fireworks on both sides as the two teams seek to outdo each other for the last time, as the University of Oregon decided to make this the final year of competition for its wrestling program.
According to Oregon State coach Jim Zalesky, "There's going to be a lot of emotions that night, especially on Oregon's part."
The Ducks (9-12 overall, 0-8 Pac-10) are still looking for their first victory in Pac-10 competition and would like nothing better than to have it come against the Beavers (9-8 overall, 6-3 Pac-10). The Beavers beat Oregon 23-14 in Eugene on Dec. 7 to increase their lead in the all-time series to 106-24-4.
Not only will Sunday be the final meet between the two teams, but it will also be the final meet of the Pac-10 season for the Beavers. Seniors Neal Beaudry, Louie Camarillo, Kyle Larson and Travis Gardner, who will be wrestling for the final time in Gill, will be honored before the start of the match as part of ceremonies for Senior Day.
During a 10-minute halftime intermission, wrestlers of both past and present from both Oregon State and Oregon will pay tribute to the legacy of their rivalry and to each other.
"I'm sure they're going to come out hard and try to beat us," said Gardner. "After all, we are still the defending Pac-10 champions, so that usually provides people with enough motivation."
Zalesky said he and his team will mourn the loss of the rivalry. "It's just something you don't want to see end because it provided such a great level of competition on both sides, which is what rivalries do and it's sad to see that going away."
Oregon has struggled to find something positive to rally around while facing its team's demise and is currently suffering through a nine-match losing streak including seven Pac-10 losses.
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