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--> --> Nov. 8: Raider vets open up wrestling season with a win over rookies Ashland Daily Tidings The Southern Oregon University wrestling team raised the 2001 NAIA championship banner onto the McNeal Pavilion wall and then got after it as the veteran-laden Black team won the 32nd annual Red and Black intrasquad dual, 44-28, Wednesday night. The night started with head coach Mike Ritchey, SOU president Elisabeth Zinser and SOU athletic director Phil Pifer unveiling the newest wrestling championship banner. Then the Black team had to get work as the newcomers jumped out to an 18-3 lead after pins from freshmen Jeff Farnes (141-pounds) and Jordan Ottow (141). But hopes for the first-ever Red team - comprised of newcomers to the program - victory were dashed as the Black squad rattled off five consecutive victories highlighted by a Coleman Nelson pin over Justin Godley at 165 that transformed a 25-18 deficit into a 38-25 lead. All-Americans Nolan Harris (125), Colin Murphy (141), Brian Wilson (165), Abe Haddon (174), Devin Parks (184) and Wesley Balensifer (285) each came away with victories. "We had some surprises at the lower weights, but a lot of those matches were toss-ups going in," Ritchey said. "I thought our overall conditioning is where it needs to be at this time of year, but we still have a lot to work on as a team." The fourth-ranked Raiders open the dual-meet season Nov. 16 when they face 12th-ranked Menlo College. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing