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OUTLOOK: Sophomore Dominique Bradley saw time in Missouri's lineup last season at heavyweight and bested some of the top grapplers in the nation. After a successful freestyle season, Bradley is expected to go head-to-head with teammate Mark Ellis for the start at heavyweight. "Dom had a really successful year last year, both during the collegiate season and while he competed in freestyle," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "He lost a close match to the eventual bronze medalist at the senior trials and showed that he is one of the premier wrestlers in the country. We fully expect him to win a national title." 2008-09: Ranked periodically among the top-25 heavyweights in the nation, Bradley stepped into Missouri's lineup in its season opener against Lock Haven, Nov. 15, collecting his first career dual victory, 8-6, over Gabe Murtorff. Throughout his redshirt freshman campaign, Bradley managed a 9-0 record in duals, scoring two wins by fall and one by major decision. Bradley competed in one Big 12 dual and held off Nebraska's 16th-ranked Tucker Lane, 3-2, in the evening's opening match. Wrestling in tournaments, Bradley took third at the Missouri Open and fourth at the Midlands Championships. While at the Midlands, Bradley topped then-No. 2 David Zabriskie of Iowa State, 3-2, in a tiebreaker, as well as then-No. 5 John Wise of Illinois, 7-4. The Tiger heavyweight finished his first competitive year with a 17-3 record that included four wins over top-20 ranked grapplers and two against 2009 All-Americans. During the summer of 2009, Bradley showcased his mat skills, claiming the Junior Freestyle World Championship title, Aug. 9, in Ankara, Turkey. Bradley had a solid freestyle season, finishing third at the Senior World Team Trials and fourth at the U.S. Senior Nationals. Additionally, Bradley claimed the FILA Junior Team Trials and FILA Junior Nationals titles. 2007-08: Bradley opened his redshirt freshman campaign by claiming his first collegiate win by fall over Matthew McClaughlin of Rend Lake College Oct. 27, at the Lindenwood Open. Finishing the all-day event with a 4-0 record, Bradley collected his first of two tournament titles at heavyweight, the second coming Jan. 18 at the Roger Denker Open. Bradley went on to place among the top six finishers at five tournaments including a runner-up showing at the Missouri Valley College Open. Bradley owned a nine-match and seven-match win streak in his first season with the Tigers and recorded four wins by fall, the fastest clocked at 45 seconds, Nov. 11, against Bobbie DeLeon of Missouri Valley College. HIGH SCHOOL: A three-time heavyweight Missouri State Champion at Blue Springs High School (2005, 2006, 2007), Bradley was ranked No. 1 in the nation in his weight class throughout the course of his senior campaign. Coached by Mike Hagerty, Bradley's Wildcat team finished third in 2005 and 2006 and took fourth during his senior campaign (2007). For his work on the mat, Bradley was named to the Asics First Team Dream Team as well as earning Blue Springs and The Examiner Wrestler of the Year honors. In addition, Bradley received four letters in wrestling and two letters as a member of the Blue Springs varsity football team. Bradley was also a member of the Wildcat track and field program. Prior to joining Missouri's squad in August, Bradley competed in the Junior Pan American Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, earning the gold medal in Greco and silver in Freestyle competition. Bradley also earned top honors at the Federation Internationale des Luttes Associees (FILA) Junior Championships in April, automatically qualifying for Junior Worlds. Competing as a member of the Mo-West Club Team, under Head Coach Jason Heslop, Bradley was a three-time Missouri State Freestyle/Greco Champion and earned 275 pound national champion honors in Fargo, N.D., in 2006 and 2007. As a freshman, Bradley won the Brute/Adidas National Champion title at 215 pounds, following with a similar title at 275 pounds, his junior year. Wrestling at 215 pounds in 2005, Bradley finished fourth in the freestyle tournament and second in the Greco competition in Fargo, N.D. PERSONAL: Dominique was born March 10, 1989, to Art Bradley and Peg Humphrey in Des Moines, Iowa. Bradley has one sister, Mercedes (19). Bradley is majoring in hotel and restaurant management and hopes to become a high school wrestling coach after graduating. |
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