Oregon's Pearch and Lee to Face High Seeds in NCAA Tourney

Lee (18-16), must face No. 2 seeded Kevin Gavin of Pittsburgh.

Ronnie Lee (left) and Justin Pearch (right) head to the NCAA tournament looking for a national title. Photo: goducks.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Senior Justin Pearch and redshirt freshman Ronnie Lee have a tough road if they want to capture Oregon's next national championship as both will face highly seeded opponents in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, beginning Thursday at the Palace in Auburn Hills.

Pearch, the Oregon City, Ore. native, will open the tournament facing Iowa's Alex Tsirtis, seeded No. 6 and also currently ranked as the No. 6 wrestler in the 141 lbs. weight class.

Oregon's 141 pounder was the lone Duck to earn an automatic bid to the tournament after he finished 2nd at the Pac-10 tournament, coming off of a season in which he went 27-9.

Tsirtis, an All-American last year, placed seventh at last year's NCAA Tournament and has compiled a 25-8 record this year.

Lee (18-16), a late addition to the tournament bracket as an alternate at 179 lbs., must face No. 2 seeded Kevin Gavin of Pittsburgh on Thursday in the second round.

Gavin, a redshirt junior from Factoryville, Pa., has a 24-3 record on the year and is currently ranked second in the NWCA/Intermat polls.

The NCAA Championships are scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. E

SPN will air Saturday's finals live at 7:00 Pm.

ESPNU will carry both of Friday's sessions and the Saturday morning session live with air times of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM Friday and 9:00 AM on Saturday.

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