Corvallis, Ore. - Oregon State wrestling head coach Jim Zalesky, senior 157-pounder Keegan Davis (Salem, Ore.) and sophomore transfer Ryan Smith (Prineville, Ore.) met up for media day.
The Beavers went 10-8 in dual meets during the 2008-09 campaign, finishing second at the Pac-10 Championships with a pair of NCAA automatic qualifiers. Oregon State sent four to the NCAA Championships. Heinrich Barnes garnered the best finish for the team, earning All-America status with an eighth place finish at 149 pounds. He earned the 81st honor for Oregon State.
The Beavers return 12 of 17 letterwinners from last season, including NCAA qualifiers Davis and sophomores Kelly Kubec (Lake Stevens, Wash.) at 133 pounds and Clayton Jack (Vacaville, Calif.) at heavyweight. The team welcomes 13 newcomers, including transfer Smith, also an NCAA qualifier last season at 165 pounds for Oklahoma, and freshman RJ Pena (Salem, Ore.), the No. 5 overall recruit in the country and No. 1 at 152 pounds in 2009. Pena is anticipated to most likely wrestle immediately, not utilizing a redshirt his true freshman season. Junior transfer Colby Covington (Springfield, Ore.) is also projected to wrestle immediately at 174 pounds.
Other letterwinners returning include brothers senior Dan Brascetta (Aurora, Colo.) at 149 pounds and junior Dan Brascetta (Aurora, Colo.) at 157 pounds, junior Brice Arand (Springfield, Ore.) at 184 pounds, sophomores Chad Hanke (Dayton, Ore.) at 197 pounds and Garrett Drucker (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 141 pounds.
The Beavers have five wrestlers currently ranked in the NWCA Preseason Top 20 at their respective weight classes. Leading the way and competing in his first collegiate matches is redshirt freshman Mike Mangrum (Auburn, Wash.), who is ranked 14th at 141 pounds. Kubec and Jack are both ranked 18th at 133 pounds and heavyweight. Davis is 19th at 157 pounds. And Smith is 20th at 165 pounds.
Oregon State will kick off the season at home by hosting No. 9 Boise State and No. 11 Wisconsin in the Endowment Fund Meet on Sunday, Nov. 22. Tickets are $10 for the meet with 100 percent of the admission cost being contributed to the endowment. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Also taking place during the meet, a banner displaying all of Oregon State's National Champion wrestlers will be unveiled before the Wisconsin dual. And before the Boise State match up, the induction of Robin Reed and Les Gutches into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will be celebrated.
The Beavers open their 2009-10 campaign at the Best of the West Tournament in Ashland, Ore. The two-day tournament begins Friday, Nov. 13.
