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CLEAR Temp: 48 °F Wind: SSW at 5 mph Wednesday, February 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 31, 2003 For SOU, there is no place like home No. 3 Raiders play host to Portland State on Saturday tt By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Homecoming games are typically saved for the football season, but you couldn’t blame the Southern Oregon wrestling team if it wanted to hype Saturday night’s dual match with Portland State as such. The third-ranked Raiders have spent the past two months away from their cozy confines in McNeal Pavilion, traveling about 5,000 miles in competitions ranging from Reno, Nev., to Tacoma, Wash. Saturday’s match begins at 7:30 p.m. "It’s going to be nice to get back in front of that Raider crowd," says eighth-year SOU coach Mike Ritchey. In Portland State, the Raiders (4-2) face a Division I team that has struggled in dual meets this season but still poses a challenge. The Vikings (2-10), who became members of the Pacific-10 Conference in wrestling in 1998, are winless in their past five outings. They’ve also lost nine of the past 10 meetings with SOU. "Portland State is still a Division I program, and the wrestlers who start for them are quality wrestlers," says Ritchey. "It’s always a challenge going against them." Last year’s matchup came down to the last match, with SOU earning a pin to seal the victory, 21-15, in Portland. "It’s always close," says Ritchey. "We’ve just kind of been fortunate in the past. I’m hoping this time the McNeal crowd will help pull us through, because from what I see on paper, it looks pretty even." The Vikings are led by senior Eric Arbogast, junior Casey Kotter and senior Quinn Collett. Arbogast has notched a 5-1 mark in Pac-10 duals at 157 pounds, while Kotter has won three straight at 125 and Collett (174) is a former NCAA qualifier. "There’s going to be some great matches," says Ritchey. "I think the matchups are going to be solid." Brian Wilson, a junior from Dayton, will get the call for SOU to square off against Arbogast at 165 pounds, while redshirt freshman James Mannenbach of Eagle Point will face Collett at 174 and senior Marc Harris from West Linn will take on Kotter. Another highlight for Raider fans will be the return to the mat of senior 133-pounder Jordan Ottow, who sat out a semester to maintain his eligibility for the national tournament. Ottow, runner-up at last year’s NAIA Championships, entered the 2002-03 season with only one semester of eligibility remaining. Also scheduled to compete are Colin Murphy (141), Waylon Alsbury (149), Ryan Presta (157), Abe Ewing (184), Grant Thompson (197) and Mike Whitehead (285). Portland State will be the first in a four-dual homestand for SOU, with the Raiders needing to win at least two of those dual meets to extend their consecutive winning season streak to 33. "This would be a real crucial one for that," says Ritchey. "I’d rather have to win one of three than have to win two of three after Saturday." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S