Cliff Kirkpatrick

The Oregon State wrestling team heads to the NCAA tournament Thursday-Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Here’s a look at the six competitors that ran in Monday’s GT. Here are some leftover comments that didn’t make the story.

Coach Jim Zalesky on the draw for his guys:
“When you get to the national tournament what you are seeded doesn’t matter. It’s your attitude, and it’s one match at a time. Sometimes you get caught looking ahead in the brackets, but our main focus is that first match.”

As the coach, do you look ahead to prepare them?
“As a coach we can afford to look ahead. We scout a guy, and we prepare guys for the next match even though they don’t know it.”

Beyond Covington, who is seeded No. 8, who do you expect to do well?
“Keegan (Davis), (Jason) Lara, (Kelly) Kubec and (Clayton) Jack have been ranked in the top-10. They are one round from being an All-American. You have to step it up and stay in the championship round past quarters to be an All-American, and then be a national champion if they get that opportunity.”

Is everyone healthy this year?
“Everybody is healthy and feeling good. We had a good week of training. Now it’s mentally getting ready to compete.

Covington on the team aspect of the tournament:
“We want to bring home a team trophy. A top-six finish would be ideal for us. We can do it. It’s not like no one has brought it home with six guys before. We are going to wrestle hard and not take a back seat to anybody. Just because we are Oregon State they might take us lightly, but they will know who we are after this tournament.”

You are always confident. Is that you talking or does everyone feel the same way?
“Kelly was there last year, and he told me he was just happy to be there. Being an NCAA qualifier was a big deal to him. Mike (Mangrum) and Kelly want to win that tournament. (Kubec) watched the winter Olympics and he wants to step on the podium. As hard as we train, we don’t train for second place. We don’t care what we are ranked. It’s like the Miracle on Ice. It’s not like underdogs never win.”

Kubec on what he learned last year:
“I learned what not to do. I didn’t have the right frame of mind. I was satisfied with my season. I have to have more of a fight. Pac-10, I didn’t wrestle with a lot of fight and heart. If I did that, I would have been walking out as Pac-10 champ. That’s one thing I can control.”

What about the team?
“If we have every guy perform to their potential – which hasn’t happened yet – if that happens we’ll walk away with the team trophy. I honestly believe that. It’s just a matter of putting it together. And I think we’ve had a good training phase and everybody is coming into it.”

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Oregon State football coach Mike Riley met up with the beat writers Tuesday to go over all things football related going into spring football.

Plenty of info came out of that, and now I have to condense it for public consumption. I’ll start with the spring depth chart. Be sure to read my comments for insight. Here’s my football notebook with tons of stuff that runs in Wednesday’s GT.

OFFENSE
Quarterback
Ryan Katz (He gets first snaps.)
Peter Lalich (There’s open competition for the starter role.)
Cody Vaz
Jack Lomax

Tailback
Jacquizz Rodgers
Jovan Stevenson
Ryan McCants
Jordan Jenkins

Fullback
Will Darkins
Clayton York
Dylan Parsons

Split end
Darrell Catchings
Markus Wheaton (This is a position change from flanker. And there’s open competition here. The loser doubles as the backup flanker).
Geno Munoz
Obum Gwacham

Slot
Jordan Bishop
Aaron Nichols
Kevan Walker
Mitch Singler

Flanker
James Rodgers
Micah Hatfield (Healthy from broken leg in bowl practice.)
Garett Hall
Kevin Cummings

Tight end
Brady Camp
Colby Prince

H-back
Joe Halahuni
John Reese

Left tackle
Michael Philipp
Timi Oshinowo
Wilder McAndrews (Testing if he can still play due long-term wrist injury.)

Left guard
Grant Johnson (Out of spring with shoulder injury)
Ryan Pohl
Michael Lamb
Tyler Thomas
Rory Ross (Out of spring with knee injury)

Center
Alex Linnenkohl
Josh Andrews
Aaron Magnunson (This is new spot for him.)

Right guard
Burke Ellis (Wide open competition here.)
Colin Kelly (Moved from tackle to guard.)
Colin Lyons

Right tackle
Mike Remmers
Geoff Garner
Grant Enger

DEFENSE
Left end
Gabe Miller
Andrew Seumalo
Devon Kell
Mana Rosa (Out of spring with shoulder injury)

Left tackle
Stephen Paea
Casto Masaniai
Evan Hull
Ben Motter (Moved from offense to defense.)

Right tackle
Brennan Olander
Kevin Frahm (Moved from DE.)
Tonu Tuimalealiifano
Nate Hannah (Moved from offense to defense.)

Right end
Matt LaGrone
Taylor Henry
John Braun (Moved from offensive line.)
Mitchel Hunt (Out of spring with knee injury.)

Sam Linebacker
Keith Pankey (Out of spring with Achilles’ tendon injury, but expects to be back in fall.)
Devin Unga
Keo Camat
Paul Jones

Middle linebacker
Tony Wilson
Rueben Robinson
Kevin Unga
Walker Vave

Will linebacker
Dwight Roberson
Zane Norris
Michael Doctor

Left corner
James Dockery
Jordan Poyer (Moved from safety.)
Brian Watkins
Sean Martin (Out of spring with shoulder injury.)

Safety
Lance Mitchell
Josh LaGrone
Dax Dilbeck
Zeke Sanders

Safety
Cameron Collins
Suaesi Tuimaunei
Anthony Watkins
Levi Levasa

Right corner
Brandon Hardin
Keynan Parker
Rashaad Reynolds
Kaua Olds

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The Oregon State football team’s nonconference road game against Boise State will be broadcast by ESPN or ESPN2 on Sept. 25, a Saturday. Kickoff will be determined later.

That means there’s no need to move around any games into the middle of the week. This is also the first game of the season to be picked up for TV.

And one more from the ipod.

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