By Denny Burnett
Seven can be a lucky number ” it’s the number of notes in the musical scale, it’s the number of continents on Earth and it’s the number of Oregon State wrestlers heading to the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., March 16-18.
The Beavers (13-2-1 overall, 8-1 Pac-10 duals) are coming off a fourth place finish at the Pac-10 championships a few weeks ago and are looking for more at this year’s national championship.
Making the trip to the Ford Center to represent OSU is: Tony Hook (157 pounds), heavyweight Ty Watterson, Jeremy Larson (174), Dan Pitsch (197), Kyle Larson (141), Eric Stevenson (125) and Bobby Pfennigs (133).
“We’ve met most of the competition, so we know what we’re getting into,” said OSU head coach Joe Wells. “That’s the biggest thing apprehension about ‘what this guy’s like or what that guy’s like.’ We know what everybody’s like. We’ve had a fortunate schedule that has given us an opportunity to see the competition, now, it’s about performance.”
OSU boasts an impressive squad this year, as it’s sending the most wrestlers to the NCAA Championships since 2001.
Hook, ranked 16th in country at 157-pounds, is making his fourth trip to the NCAA Championships. He has gone 1-6 in his first three trips, but looks to finally break out in his final championship. He heads to the sooner state with a 23-8 record, five pins this season and he placed third in the Pac-10 Championships.
“I’ve learned over years that you can’t take anybody for granted, they’re all tough,” Hook said. “Basically, you have to be ready to go and you’re not going to get any free lunches there, you’ve got to go out and wrestle.”
Watterson is the 12th ranked heavyweight in country and is making his second trip to the NCAA Championships. The junior has amassed a 29-8 record with 10 pins this season. Watterson is coming off a loss in the heavyweight final at the Pac-10 championships.
Making his second appearance in as many years at 174-pounds is junior Jeremy Larson. He’s ranked 17th nationally and he has an impressive 27-9 record with one pin this season. Larson ended a 15-match winning streak in the finals at the Pac-10 championships.
“Coming out of the Pac-10’s second was not where I wanted to finish. I wanted to come home with the championship,” Larson said. “So, I’m going into the NCAA’s with more motivation to get after it and beat some guys I’m not supposed to. Not getting the Pac-10 title has made me that much more hungry.”
He’s not trying to think about it, but it will be senior Dan Pitsch’s last collegiate tournament. At 197 pounds, he is making his second trip after not qualifying last season. Pitsch is coming off a fourth place finish at the Pac-10s and is 17-11 this season, with two pins.
“I’m looking forward to having the best tournament of my life,” Pitsch said. “I want to wrestle hard, like I know I can, and stay focused and just take it one match at a time.”
Sophomore Kyle Larson will make his first appearance at the NCAA Championships after placing third in the Pac-10 Championships. He’s posted a 26-5 record this season, with four pins.
At 125-pounds, Stevenson will make his first trip to the NCAA championship after earning a wild card for his fourth place finish at the Pac-10 championships. He’s 29-9, with five pins this season and has won 13 of his last 16 matches.
Also, making his first appearance is Pfennigs, who was given a wild card to the tournament after his fifth-place finish at the Pac-10 tournament. The junior is 16-5 with five pins this season and is 11-2 since returning from an injury in late January.
“We’ve some experience to help the younger guys through it,” Hook said. “Hopefully, we can get the ball rolling right off the bat and feed off each other.”
Last year in St. Louis, Mo., the Beavers tied for 39th place, with all four OSU wrestlers earning at least one victory a piece.
Oklahoma City has played host to the event five times, with the last time coming in 1992, when OSU finished 17th. The Beavers highest finish in recent years was second to Iowa in the 1995 championship. The Beavers have placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships 18 times.
It’s been 10 years since OSU assistant coach Les Gutches won the last individual national title for the Beavers (1995-177 pounds and 1996-177 pounds). Eight Beavers have claimed 12 individual titles over the years, beginning with Don Conway in 1961 at 167 pounds.
Three of the six sessions will be broadcast live on either ESPN or ESPNU.. ESPNU will air session three of the championships at 8 a.m. March 17. Session four will air at 4 p.m. March 17 on either ESPNU or ESPN.
“We’re healthy, we’re ready to go,” Wells said. “We’ve done the right things throughout the season. We just need to go out and wrestle our matches, one match at a time.”
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