The Portland State Vikings will wrestle a doubleheader this Saturday, hosting the Wyoming University Cowboys and then visiting the Pacific University Boxers. The same day home and away match is unusual for the Vikings, who have seven more dual matches on the schedule this year than last year.
The Vikings are probably going to have to start out in a hole with a forfeit at 149 pounds in both the Wyoming and Pacific duals. Portland State’s loss of the wrestler in that weight gives the Cowboys and Boxers an automatic six points for the unfilled weight class.
The Vikings will host the 3-8 Cowboys at 2 p.m. at the Peter Stott Center. Although Wyoming’s record might look abysmal, four of their losses came from schools ranked in the top 25. Those include fifth-ranked Oklahoma State and ninth-ranked Missouri. Wyoming will wrestle 25th-ranked Boise State Friday night before coming to Portland on Saturday afternoon.
“On paper we match up with Wyoming,” head coach Marlin Grahn said.
The Vikings look to go 5-5 with Wyoming, with close matches throughout.
“We should have a lot of close matches and we need to pull those close matches out,” Grahn said.
Pacific University is a solid Division III school, coming into Saturday ranked 11th in the NAIA and 18th in the NCAA for D-III schools. The Boxers have lost all five meets against Division I schools this year, dropping their overall record to 9-8. The Vikings defeated the Boxers last season 35-7 and lead the all-time series 19-7. The Boxers pose a good match-up for Portland State, explained Grahn, with more close matches. The Vikings will face off against the Cowboys at 7 p.m. at Pacific University.