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SOU grapplers' last home meet should be a good one By Rich Rosenthal For The Tidings Having already extended the school's consecutive winning season streak to 33 and bagged conference and regional championships, the Southern Oregon University wrestling team hopes to cap the 2002-03 regular season schedule by exacting some revenge Saturday night at McNeal Pavilion. Just about everything has gone according to plan lately for the third-ranked Raiders (6-3), and they hope the list grows by avenging a 23-9 season-opening loss at Menlo College when the fifth-ranked Oaks (3-8) step into the SOU mat lamp limelight. The dual-meet features 13 nationally ranked competitors (seven for Menlo, six for SOU), three top-ranked wrestlers and seven of the 10 NAIA Western Regional champions crowned last weekend in Forest Grove. The event will be the final intercollegiate action for senior 125-pounder Marc Harris as well as the final McNeal Pavilion appearance for six other seniors, including All-Americans Jordan Ottow and Nolan Harris. Southern Oregon won four weight classes, had 13 competitors place in the top-four, and outdistanced five other squads to capture the school's 17th NAIA regional championship since 1971 and fourth consecutive Northwest Wrestling Conference crown last weekend. True freshman David O'Brien (184) and junior Wes Balensifer (285) each sprang upsets on ranked opponents en route to weight class titles, while Brian Wilson and Chris Huntley became repeat conference champions by sharing 165-pound gold. *** Freshman David O'Brien continued his late-season heroics by upsetting Embry-Riddle's second-ranked Nathaniel Auguston 11-7 in the semifinals and outlasting Menlo's Jeff Dahl 2-1 in the 184-pound regional finals. Nicknamed "Who" by head coach Mike Ritchey, the two-time Alaska state champion from Kodiak emerged from relative obscurity in the Raider wrestling room as recently as two weeks ago to winning a regional crown and earning a spot on SOU's national tournament team. *** Another Saturday upset based on national rankings came in the 285 conference and regional finals where fifth-ranked Balensifer used an early third-period takedown for the winning margin in a 3-2 victory over top-ranked teammate Mike Whitehead. The bout was the first outside the Raider wrestling room between Balensifer, the 2001 NAIA runner-up at 197, and Whitehead, the 2002 third-place heavyweight. Based on their combined 36-6 overall record and a 7-0 mark against NAIA foes, the duo could meet again at the national tourney. *** In just its second season as an intercollegiate wrestling program, Menlo College is an NAIA team on the rise. Seven losses to NCAA Div. I programs wreaked havoc on its season record, but the Oaks won seven bouts in a 23-9 victory over SOU in Atherton on Nov. 15 and finished a close second behind the Raiders at last weekend's regional meet. Three Menlo competitors staked regional crowns: Fourth-ranked Isaac Purmarojo (125), seventh-ranked Jose Sanchez (133) and top-ranked Saul Lucatero (149). Martinez (157), Trevor Blackwelder (8th at 197) and Ben Flores (8th at 285) are the other ranked Oaks. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -