OUTLOOK: Returning from an injury after a solid opening to the 2004-05 season, Austin DeVoe will lead the Tiger lineup at 125 pounds in his final campaign.
"Austin has been training with urgency going into his senior year," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "An unfortunate injury ended his season last year. This year, Austin is completely focused on his goal of making his first NCAA appearance and finishing among the top eight of his weight class."
2004-05: Opening the season with a fall over Jackson Van Treece of Nebraska on Nov. 14, DeVoe won four of five matches to take second place at the Central Missouri State University Open. DeVoe followed with a fifth place finish at the Missouri Open on Nov. 21. The 125-pounder suffered a season-ending injury against Andrew Rizzi of Lehigh on Jan. 11, stopping a promising streak of five consecutive victories that included two falls and a major decision.
2003-04: DeVoe made his start at 125 pounds on Nov. 21, against Oklahoma State's Cody Stites; scoring a 3-2 buzzer beater victory that helped Missouri to a 21-17 victory over the defending National Champion Cowboys. Quick on his feet, DeVoe managed five falls on the season, the fastest coming in 52 seconds against Eastern Illinois' Kevin McNicholas on Feb. 8. DeVoe competed at the Missouri Open on Nov. 23, finishing sixth in the open division. One of five Tigers to compete at the University Nationals, May 8, 2004, in Evanston, Ill., DeVoe finished first at the event, pinning Obe Blanc of Lock Haven, Penn., in 42 seconds in the gold medal match.
2002-03: Spending the season wrestling between the 125-pound and 133-pound weight classes, DeVoe set a 17-10 record. Recording two major decisions, DeVoe had five falls on the season, ending his year with two falls in times of 5:08 and 4:28 respectively, (both came while wrestling at 125-pounds). Named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Missouri Valley College Open on Feb. 1, DeVoe won 10 consecutive matches dating back to Jan. 10.
2001-02: DeVoe went 14-6 on the season, with three falls and two major decisions. Taking fifth place at both the Central Missouri State Open and the Roger Denker Open, DeVoe went 5-2 at each meet. He was 3-2 at the Northern Illinois Open in the 125-pound weight class. In the spring of 2002, DeVoe took fifth place at the University Nationals and was second at the Federation Internationale des Luttes Associees (FILA) Junior World National Championships.
HIGH SCHOOL: DeVoe compiled a high school record of 150-3, at Columbus Unified High School. Led by Head Coach Todd Napier, DeVoe placed second in the state tournament as a freshman (1998) and took the state championship title the following three years (1999-2001). DeVoe was the Kansas High School Class 4A Wrestler of the Year in 2001 and was runner-up at the 2000 FILA Cadet Nationals, later winning the 2001 Western Junior Regional Championship. As a sophomore in 1999, DeVoe finished third at the Junior Nationals All-American Freestyle tournament.
PERSONAL: Austin is the son of Steve and Debbie DeVoe and was born March 6, 1983, in Joplin, Mo. DeVoe has one brother, Ross (18) and is a parks, recreation and tourism major.
