Spring Break
Oregon State wrestlers return home to meet Arizona State
OSU wrestler Heinrich Barnes is ranked No. 15 in the nation having won his last 10 matches, collecting eight technical falls
Sol Allen
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Sports
Coming back from a four-meet road trip, on which Oregon State picked up three wins, the Beavers look to Sunday's home meet at Legendary Gill Coliseum against the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-5, 3-1 Pac-10).
"Coming out of last weekend winning three out of four gives us confidence," 184 pound sophomore Brice Arand said. "A little boost going into Arizona State and Boise State."
Finishing the season off here in Corvallis, the Beavers will look to finish the Pac-10 playing strong with wins against Arizona State and, next weekend, against Boise State. Having only lost one conference meet, the Sun Devils come to town after facing Stanford today in California. With Oregon State claiming victories in the last two meetings between the teams, the Sun Devils hold an all-time record of 17-13 against OSU.
"Anytime you're home at this time of year, it's a good thing," head coach Jim Zalesky said. "You're training at home, sleeping in your own bed, and it gives you a chance to peak before the Pac-10 tournament."
With two wrestlers ranked in the top 20 for Arizona State, the Beavers are going to have their work cut out for them. At 141-pounds, redshirt freshman Garrett Drucker has his work cut out for him as he takes on No. 6 Chris Drouin. Also facing a top ranked opponent is 125 pound senior Jake Gonzales who will take the mat against No. 12 Anthony Robles of Arizona State.
"They have a couple tough guys, like [Robles]," Gonzales said. "They have only wrestled four Pac-10 duals, so I think we have the advantage."
The NCAA recently released the first wrestling coaches' panel rankings, with two more coming. Claiming five wrestlers in the top 33 in each of their respective weight classes, Oregon State proves to be producing top talent in the country. At 133-pounds redshirt freshman Kelly Kubec is ranked No. 33, and tied for No. 27 at heavyweight, redshirt freshman Clayton Jack has secured his spot on the rankings.
Three wrestlers were able to break the top 25. At No. 24, senior Kyle Bressler is undefeated, with an 8-0 record at his weight class of 174-pounds. Junior Keegan Davis took the No. 20 spot at 165-pounds, having an impressive 25-11 record on the season. Taking the top Beaver ranking is 149 pound senior Heinrich Barnes at No. 15. Barnes has won his last 10 matches and collected eight technical falls on the season.
With the Pac-10 tournament soon approaching, the end of the conference schedule becomes even more important for Oregon State. With a 5-2 Pac-10 record, the Beavers look to have a solid seed at the Pac-10 tournament with hope for wins in the last two meets of the season.
"Last Friday was a good experience, wrestling two duals in the morning and one at night," Zalesky said. "It's good experience, because that is what's going to happen at the Pac-10 tournament: wrestling three times in one day."
Coming into the dual against a Sun Devil team that has lost three of its last four meets, Oregon State is looking to increase its own streak, having won five of the last six meets. Sunday's dual meet should be a competitive one, pairing two of the top Pac-10 opponents against each other.
Sol Allen, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
"Coming out of last weekend winning three out of four gives us confidence," 184 pound sophomore Brice Arand said. "A little boost going into Arizona State and Boise State."
Finishing the season off here in Corvallis, the Beavers will look to finish the Pac-10 playing strong with wins against Arizona State and, next weekend, against Boise State. Having only lost one conference meet, the Sun Devils come to town after facing Stanford today in California. With Oregon State claiming victories in the last two meetings between the teams, the Sun Devils hold an all-time record of 17-13 against OSU.
"Anytime you're home at this time of year, it's a good thing," head coach Jim Zalesky said. "You're training at home, sleeping in your own bed, and it gives you a chance to peak before the Pac-10 tournament."
With two wrestlers ranked in the top 20 for Arizona State, the Beavers are going to have their work cut out for them. At 141-pounds, redshirt freshman Garrett Drucker has his work cut out for him as he takes on No. 6 Chris Drouin. Also facing a top ranked opponent is 125 pound senior Jake Gonzales who will take the mat against No. 12 Anthony Robles of Arizona State.
"They have a couple tough guys, like [Robles]," Gonzales said. "They have only wrestled four Pac-10 duals, so I think we have the advantage."
The NCAA recently released the first wrestling coaches' panel rankings, with two more coming. Claiming five wrestlers in the top 33 in each of their respective weight classes, Oregon State proves to be producing top talent in the country. At 133-pounds redshirt freshman Kelly Kubec is ranked No. 33, and tied for No. 27 at heavyweight, redshirt freshman Clayton Jack has secured his spot on the rankings.
Three wrestlers were able to break the top 25. At No. 24, senior Kyle Bressler is undefeated, with an 8-0 record at his weight class of 174-pounds. Junior Keegan Davis took the No. 20 spot at 165-pounds, having an impressive 25-11 record on the season. Taking the top Beaver ranking is 149 pound senior Heinrich Barnes at No. 15. Barnes has won his last 10 matches and collected eight technical falls on the season.
With the Pac-10 tournament soon approaching, the end of the conference schedule becomes even more important for Oregon State. With a 5-2 Pac-10 record, the Beavers look to have a solid seed at the Pac-10 tournament with hope for wins in the last two meets of the season.
"Last Friday was a good experience, wrestling two duals in the morning and one at night," Zalesky said. "It's good experience, because that is what's going to happen at the Pac-10 tournament: wrestling three times in one day."
Coming into the dual against a Sun Devil team that has lost three of its last four meets, Oregon State is looking to increase its own streak, having won five of the last six meets. Sunday's dual meet should be a competitive one, pairing two of the top Pac-10 opponents against each other.
Sol Allen, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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