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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1975)
Oregon tabbed team to beat at Pacific-8 championships It’s merely a natural progres sion for Ron Finley and the Oregon wrestling program over the last five years. The first two seasons, the Ducks were fourth at the Padfic-8 tournament under Finley, in 1973 third, in 1974 second, and this year? The Ducks, simple and smooth, are in line for the title. While Oregon State and Washington might put up a fight, the Ducks are the definitely the team to beat at the 1975 pac-8 championships today and tomor row at Corvallis' Gill Coliseum. Even Dr. Dale would be forced to admit it. Oregon returns eight of 10 placewinners to the tourney, and Finley’s goal is to place all 10 at each weight. Barring an injury or an overweight wrestler, that could very well happen. Washington, the defending champion, lost the depth of last year, and at best is the spoiler. Oregon State, primed for an upset with a healthy lineup, lacks the depth in every weight. Unless the Ducks completely fall apart, they'll win their first wrestling champion ship ever in 22 years of competi tion, and better yet, it’ll happen in the Beaver backyard. Oregon will send its strongest lineup it could possibly assemble with Susumu Hagihara at 118, Joe Sade at 126, Shuichi Shoji at 134, Dean Dixon at 142, John Scott at 150, Kevin Kramer at 158, Duane Stutzman at 167, Buck Davis at 177, Wes Hines at 190 and Greg Gibson at heavyweight. By CARL STEWARD Of the Emerald Of those, Dixon, Stutzman and Hines, all seniors have the best opportunities to gamer champ ionships. Stutzman, who won the 167-pound title two years ago, is nearly a sure bet. The meet will begin Friday at 1 p.m. with the first round, then again at 7 p.m. with semifinals. On Saturday, the semifinals will be held at 1:30 with the finals scheduled for 7:30. “It should be an exciting meet,’ John Scott - surprise at 150? said Finley, who predicts that if his dub wrestles well it should win. “Washington could have five champions and we expect good matches.’’ Should they materialize, the top Oregon matches would pit Hines against Washington’s Rich Calde ron, Shoji against Washington’s Brad Jacot, Dixon against Cal’s Brent Jacinto, Kramer against Washington's Mike Miller and, as always, Gibson against Oregon State’s outstanding Larry Bielen berg, probably the only unde feated wrestler in the tournament save Miller, who has seen limited action this season. UCLA and California will play an integral part in determining just how easily the Ducks could win. It is more likely that the Bruins and Bears will decide second place between OSU and the Huskies. “They can help us, but I don’t think they could hurt us.” said Fin ley, who sits in the favorable posi tion of having every other team playing a diminishing game of rouiette while the Ducks them selves steadily roll up points. Under the current point system, Oregon’s depth really should show its colors. Contrary to the old system, which awarded on a scale of 10-8-6-4-2, the new system adopted a year ago gives 16 for a first, 12 for second, 8 for third and so on. As long as you keep from being eliminated altogether, each placing adds up, whereas before, a faulty weight wouldn’t hurt that much. The new point rules ena bled Oregon to finish second last season where they would have finished third under the old. It will affect the tournament in the same light this season. The change was made to give more emphasis to overall strength, where before a team could win with a few champ ions and a couple of placers. One of Oregon’s many keys to taking the title will be how well 118-pounder Hagihara and 134-pound Shoji have absorbed their recent layoffs due to injury. Shoji, in particular, has been out of action nearly three weeks with pul led cartilage in his ribs, but is heal thy now. It has been Finley's plan all along to keep Shoji out until the big tourneys, namely the Pacrfic 8s and NCAA’s. Friday will be the first test, as the Japanese wrestler is entered in perhaps the toughest weight class in the tournament. Anything But Read ! DIRECT FROM ALASKA! ! Genuine N3-B Snorkel Parka, r U.S.A.F. ◄Genuine Wolf Fur on Hood From $25-40 ◄Heavy Duty Concealed Zipper ◄100% Wool Inner Lining N3-B Farka de- r signed for service- *» men in Arctic Areas. Warmest jacket there is! ACTION SURPLUS 4251 Franklin Blvd. Glenwood Area 746-1301 Photos by Gooff Partes All-American heavies tangle again The Weights 1 § 118 — There is no dear-cut champion at this weigfit. UCLA's Matt Mendoza could be the favorite, but he wit get com petition torm Oregon’s Hagihara and Washington s Dave McClain, as well as OSU s Pat Ptourd. who is probably the darkhorse 128 — Toshi Oonishi of Washington rates the favorite role, after moving down from 134. Oregon State's Joe Kittef and Oregon's Sade also stand as challengers, however, to the title which again could be a wide-open affair 134 — The No. 1 seed will definitely be the Huskies' Brad JaooL who has just one loss this season. Then comes Shoji, if he's able enough after the three-week layoff Ron Boucher of Oregon State and Juan Pichardo of Cal are also strong contenders, in a division where anything may go and some very fine wrestlers being eammated 142 — Brent Jacinto of Calfomia is the defendng champion, but Oregon’s Dean Dixon is a comparable challenger. He s been wresting at his best of late. Ken Krebs of Stanford and Andy Kacmardk of Washington also could be factors. ISO — Doug Ziebart having a great year in the shadow of standout Bielen berg, is the best at this weight. Stanford's Chris Horpei and Cal’s Steve Whedbee, will challenge. Oregon's John Scott, who had a fine match against Ziebart de spite losing last weak, could be a surprise. 158 — Undefeated Mike Miller wil be looking to avenge for lost time. Last year Miller was eliminated when he did not make weight at 150, but this year he s back and has the favorite role Oregon's Kramer rates a dose second, while OSU's Mark Evenhus, Cal's Brad Druktenis and UCLA's Craig Keane all could provide up sets in this very interesting weight dass. 167 — Duane Stutzman, it he wrestles like he can, should regain his title. Not much competition, save Fred Nix of Washington State and Joel Cotten of OSU. alhough Stutzman has defeated both twice 177 — Brady Hal of UCLA has just one loss this season and is the likely choice tor No 1 Mike Dilenburg of OSU and Buck Davis of Oregon rate as dose contenders,' while Ricky Hale of Cal adds to the bal ance of power at this weight. 190 — Hines and Calderon will more than likely battle for the top spot at this weight. Hines defeated Calderon last year tor second last season, and the Oregon standout was also second the year be fore. Calderon, however, a sophomore, has defeated Hines once this season and the two tied last time out OSU's Ron Habertach could possibly be in line for a top placing, but the former are the class of the weight HEAVYWEIGHT — Need it be said? Larry Bielenberg. 20-0, 11 pins, vs. Greg Gibson, who has lost only to Bielenberg. and defeateed everyone else in the league Two outstanding All-Americans going at it in the Inals with the nod going to the OSU wrestler TEAM FMISH — Oregon, Washington, Oegon State. Caifomia, UCLA. Stw tord, Washington State. MANAGEMENT TRAINEE GRADUATES Two year intensive sales training program leading to manager responibilities in well established Dynamic Na tional Organization. Five figure income. Minimum 2 years college. Prefer individuals who have background in Business, Education, Coaching or related areas. Complete career guidance program. Expanding markets in Eugene, Corvallis and Boise. Twelve week paid vacation. Salary and bonus available. For more information and personal interview, send letter or resume to P.O. Box 851, Medford, Oregon 97501.
