OSU: The Ocho - 1/11/18 Edition

Oregon State Wrestling (2-3, 0-0) dropped a pair of BIG-12 duals last weekend falling to South Dakota State 13-30 and Iowa State 16-24. #8 Ronnie Bresser and #12 Amar Dhesi shined despite the team loss going 2-0 over the weekend, leading to a recent skyrocketing up in the individual polls, now both ranked in the top-12. Unfortunately, no other Beaver was able to come out on top against South Dakota State, and only #16 Corey Griego and Billy Bigelow, alongside Bresser and Dhesi, were able to pull out a victory against Iowa State.

( USA Wrestling )

Griego finished the weekend after, what can best be described as, a disappointing month that started with him a favorite at the Midlands, only to be eliminated after two matches. Corey’s first match back in NCAA play paired him up with #6 Nate Rotert of South Dakota State where he came away on the wrong side of the decision. Corey was however, able to put it together and finish the weekend with a 7-1 victory at Iowa State. Oregon State will need Corey to continue to gain momentum moving forward, paired with the success of Bresser and Dhesi, if the Beavers hope to become a threat in the PAC-12.

The good guys will finally come home after a long trip to the Midwest as they will host their second #1 ranked wrestler in as many weeks with #1 Bryce Maredith (141) brings in a handful of top-20 wresters to Corvallis as the Beavers will host #22 Wyoming (5-2, 1-1) January 14^th. While Oregon State will come into the matchup losing its last three duals, the stars align with the Beavers as Wyoming will be coming off their second dual of the weekend, hosting Cal State Bakersfield just two days prior, and Bresser, Greigo, and Dhesi all finding themselves in promising positions.

Projected Lineup:

125 – Ronnie Bresser (RJr. / Klamath Falls, Ore. / 13-3)
133 – Devan Turner (RFr. / Dixon, Calif. / 6-10)
141 – Jack Hathaway (RSr. / Iowa City, Iowa / 15-10)
149 – Kurt Mode (So. / Prineville, Ore. / 6-11)
157 – Hunter Willits (Fr. / Pueblo, Colo. / 12-11)
165 – Billy Bigelow (RSo. / Las Vegas, Nev. / 4-9)
174 – Myles Terry (Fr. / St. Helens, Ore. / 4-11)
184 – Seth McLeod (RSo. / Post Falls, Idaho / 9-6)
197 – Corey Griego (RJr. / Apple Valley, Calif. / 12-5)
285 – Amar Dhesi (RSr. / Surrey, B.C., Canada / 11-3)

The Oregon State Gymnastics squad will travel to Pittsburgh to start out their 2018 campaign. The Beavers come into the season as the PAC-12 runner-ups from a years ago and an 11^th ranked finish to end the season. Despite graduation four All-Americans, one being 2017 PAC-12 Gymnast of the Year Kaytianna McMillian, Oregon State comes into the season falling only one spot from their 2017 final rankings, to 12^th nationally.

After winning the East Atlantic Gymnastics League in 2016, Pittsburgh fell off a cliff and finished fifth in the conference the following season. Projected to finish fourth in the conference this season, the Panthers come into the meet far outside the top-25, receiving enough votes to warrant the 41^st rank.

( David Nishitani )

The Beaver to watch this weekend will be the lone returning All-American Dani Dessaints. Dessaints, I am sure you all know, spoiled Utah’s clean sweep of the PAC-12 championship tournament last by sharing the conference title in the vault with a score of 9.95.

The first 50 fans in attendance at the Osborn Aquatic Center this Friday will receive a limited edition mermaid-tail blanket

On a side note, Oregon State Women’s Swimming will also be there hosting their first dual of the season as UCLA (4-3, 1-2) travels to Corvallis. The Beavers (0-4, 0-2) are currently winless in duals this season, but will face off against a Bruins’ team that has not seen competitive action in a month and is currently riding a two meet losing streak of their own.

( Oregon State University )

But again, the mermaid-tail blankets, don’t miss out!

Disclosure: I am not positive these mermaid-tail blankets are limited edition or have any reference to Oregon State.