WREST
PAC-10 WRESTLING PROGRAM
1992 Pac-10
Championships at
McArthur Court
Feb. 28-29
EUGENE. OREGON
FEBRUARY 27, 1992
One journalist’s adventure against Dan Vidlak
j Almost George Plimptonish. one
writer learns firsthand the Oregon
star's best techniques and gets
thrashed
By Enck Studenicka
Emerald Contributor
At the first Oregon wrestling meet I went to. I saw
u kid who appeared to he in eighth grade setting up
some water coolers. I thought it was great that Kurt
Einlev. the Oregon wrestling coal h. was letting some
local kids net as waterboys and hang around with the
"big guys.”
About 10 minutes later, I was .surprised to see the
"watorboy” take off bis sweats, walk to the renter of
the mat. and then precede to thrash his opponent by
scoring a technical fall.
Since then. I've boon able to rerogru/e Dan Vidlak
Vidlak. a two-lime All-American, enters the 1‘aeif
ic-10 Conference Championships Friday enjoying
perhaps his finest season He is undefeated in dual
meets and is ranked second in the country at I 1H
pounds. Oregon State coach Mark Johnson is ready
to concede the conference title to Vidlak. saving that
the senior probably won’t even be tested at this
meet.
So. the question is. how did Vidlak who looks
like your average supermarket cheek out hoy he
come the best wrestler west of the Mississippi •' kVh.it
abilities have separated him from hundri ds o' other
collegiate wrestlers and allowed hint to lie nine so
dominant?
figuring no amount of investigative journalism
would distinctly answer those questions, I reasoned
the only solution would he to turn to participative
journalism and experience firsthand what it feels
like to square off with an All-Arnun< an I would
have to vv resile Vidl.ik
feeling iike u modern day (ieorgr I’limptuu, I en
tered the wrestling locker room at the appointed
time
I found Dan in the locker room sauna He had al
ready practiced for two flours and was soaked in
sweat He told me to enter the sauna, saving."It's a
good wav to warm up."
After afxiut two minutes in the 115-degree heat. I
told him 1 was warmed up enough
We then entered the wrestling room 1 he wn ■■tling
mom has an odd odor to it. sort of like how your I' f.
lin ker smells after you left a sweaty T-shirt in there
lor a week
Also, no fresh air is allowed in the wrestling room
The air is hot and heavy, it’s as if you've entered a
tropical climate There doesn't seem to Ire mm h oxv
gen in the air, probably because it's only been ex
haled four or five titties before you get lu breathe it
Vidlak explained that the padded walls were in
Oregon's Dan Vidlnk wears his opponents down using a potent arsenal of moires Vidlak signs autographs lor
some young Ians IbelowI
bounds. but ! forgot to ii-.k how umov points .1 wail
toss vs .is worth
Uo tN-giin I»v explaining his vv n stling si vie insti . i
ol reiving on strength, ho counts on superior <jtoi h
ness and ti;< hnitpie tu il 'lciil his opponents Hr ad
niittnl shill muss nl hr. opponents arr stronger, rvi
drtiif iu-ing shill lie li.iH uuIs mu urtlrd two pins in
more Ih.in loti cullrgi.iir matches
Vnll.ik thru gave llir .1 split k lesson iri his spt t ial
IV llir .tikrtiuvvn His luvorilr is ihr single leg,"
where ho quickly gratis his opponents .inklr and
causes him lt> lusr his h.il,mi r
Hr tluiiiixisSnili d thi! takedown tin uir ,i lew lnnrs.
It., king nil It) li.V .mklr ill mutil Ihr Siimr way ,1
sm.ill ling might I iiskri! if llirrr was arty t nunter In
this iitani'tivi'r. Hr saiti others h id tritI prayer
I ! rn il was rnv turn tu try ihr takedown 1 made a
dive for his loft km r and at ta.dly had a good hold ol
his Irg for about two seconds before In: made a rrvrr
-.1 nil tirg.in ruling on my shoulders kiml of like
the way Yoda rude on Lake's hat k in Ihr L.tnpirr
Sirikrs h'ui k
TumtoVIDLAK Harp. -SH
ASU, OSU favored as Pac-10 tourney hits Mac Court
jOregon wrestlers could do
well in several weight class
es but aren't expected to
challenge for team title
By Erick Studemcka
Emerald Contributor
Tlit' Arizona Statu wrestling team,
owners of one of the longest winning
streaks in Pacific-10 Conference tourna
ment history, will plane its title and sev
en-year streak on the line as the 1992
tournament championship descends on
NSi Arthur Court tins wn send
Arizona Stale has not lost a conference
title sinc e litit-!. when Oregon Stat' nar
rowly beat the' Sun Devils by four points.
O:•, in playing host to the tournament
tor (hi? first tirin' sim i- 1‘17't, hus not wmi
the title since IMHii
The tournament, which will t»- divid
ed into four sessions, will begin with
first-round action at noon on iridav I he
semifinals v\ 111 begin 7 p m Friday. with
< hamplonshlp finals si heduted for 7 HI
Saturday evening
The top three individuals in each
weight (lass will advance to the NCAA
finals at Oklahoma March 10 - 1 The tol
lowing is a brief ov erv lew of eat ti team
ARIZONA SI AM With five A
Americans and three returning l‘.u SO
(hampions. Arizona state is favored to
win its eighth straight tournament title
The Sun Devils are a hit of a mV'S rv
team, however, as the\ went through
their entire season without meeting a
‘ASU is definitely the
team to beat, but if we
have a good tournament,
we can upset them.’
Mark Johnson.
On'; State fu/.r! ■
h.m* t onuiilnd ii losing tiu.il mi l ! M'.r.ii'i
r<!< oril
U I >' .: : ..
Hu .its." At ./.or.-i Stall .siM.mt u • m.;'
(tw( h Turn Oft lit said lift .HIM til the
type of Irani vw have, with Mrtmj; wn-s
menis
Orli/. s.tid Aii/iiim Si./- . !.■ -i . .i
meel !-*( oni w,i■■■ p.irll.iiiv due In .> iilli
i all schedule, w hi< h m< luiii -i i-.p '.1
teams lovv.i. low-i Si iti .mil K-in ..is
Top wrestlers !i-r lln- Sim Hevds vs oh
(heir national r.ir.ktr.;. m p-irrht.'.esi
iru lude Sh-iwn (Tiutli l> . o
pounds. Shin . s.iii he/ 1 . \ t i
U ! v ne Mi Mum ; i. :<-!v V. ;
! 1 r-H .mil M. k- 1 ’-! ■ i! !
weij;hf S.ii.i !.-•/ Mil!- ;'el M M ■
.,;i lormcr f*.s: lot h.iinpmns
()11r kids clei.I: lie!V h.ive the pr- .1
, . [!'.■?: ' ();■./ ... I;! > ,■ v t .... • ;
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