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    Zalesky to make Oregon State coaching debut

    CORVALLIS, Ore. -– Oregon State will open Jim Zalesky's first season as head wrestling coach when the Beavers greet Portland State for a Pacific-10 dual meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Gill Coliseum. Zalesky – whose teams won three national titles at Iowa – takes the reins of an OSU program that ranks third nationally in all-time dual meet wins, as OSU carries an 895-286-26 record into the season.

    The Beavers finished the 2005-06 season with a seven-meet winning streak, their longest since winning seven straight over the 2001 and 2002 seasons; OSU hasn't won eight in a row since putting together a 13-meet streak over the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

    OSU set its lineup after its annual Intrasquad Meet last week in Newberg, Ore. For the dual against Portland State and then the trip to the Jack Hancock Invitational at Colorado School of Mines, OSU will go with sophomore Jake Gonzales at 125 pounds, senior Bobby Pfennigs at 133 pounds, junior Kyle Larson at 141 pounds, senior Derek Kipperberg at 149 pounds, sophomore Andy Hall at 157 pounds, sophomore Brett Arand at 165 pounds, senior Jeremy Larson at 174 pounds, sophomore Kyle Bressler at 184 pounds, junior Travis Gardner at 197 pounds and senior Ty Watterson at heavyweight.

    There are five returning starters in that lineup – Pfennigs, Kyle Larson, Jeremy Larson, Bressler and Watterson. In the preseason national rankings, Watterson is ranked No. 7 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and No. 8 by Amateur Wrestling News; Jeremy Larson is ranked No. 20 by the NWCA and No. 12 by AN; and Kyle Larson is ranked No. 20 by AWN.

    The Vikings (0-2, 0-1) began their season Sunday evening at the Arizona State Duals. PSU fell to Embry-Riddle 35-6 and was beaten by 23rd-ranked Arizona State 38-12.

    Portland State is in its first season under new head coach Mike Haluska, a PSU alum who spent the past seven years as head coach at Clackamas Community College. The Vikings return two starters – senior heavyweight Steve Fittinger and junior 184-pounder Jake Schneider.

    OSU's all-time series with Portland State dates back to 1948, and Oregon State owns a 76-11-4 advantage. The Beavers have a 10-meet winning streak and a 12-meet unbeaten streak going against the Vikings. The teams last met in 2005, with OSU taking a 33-12 win at the Oregon Wrestling Classic Duals in Redmond, Ore.

    For OSU's home meets in 2006-07, tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 2-18) and seniors (age 60 and over). Season tickets for admission to all seven of the Beavers' home meets are $30 for adults and $18 for youth and seniors. All seating will be general admission.

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