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OUTLOOK: Ranked No. 1 in the nation at 165 pounds, junior Nicholas Marable is the first Missouri wrestler since two-time National Champion Ben Askren to earn a preseason ranking at the top of his weight class. Marable finished third at the 2008 NCAA Championships and is expected to improve on his 27-4 record from one year ago. All four of Marable's losses came to wrestlers that have graduated and all came by four points or less. Marable is one of two Missouri Big 12 Champions and looks to defend his title at the 2009 league championships in Lincoln, Neb. Marable finished last season with a spotless 4-0 record against his Big 12 foes. "Nick had a breakout season last year," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "To the outside world it was a great run at Nationals for Nick. But to Nick and our staff, we weren't fully satisfied with the final result. We know, and he knows, what he's capable of accomplishing, and that's a national title. Nick is a fierce competitor and he's tough to takedown. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he refuses to give up a takedown all season." 2007-08: In his first run through the 2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Marable finished the highest of his teammates at third in the 165-pound weight class. Finishing the tournament with a 5-1 record, Marable recorded three straight wins before falling to eventual National Champion Mark Perry of Iowa, 4-2, in the semifinals. Marable battled through the consolation bracket and won back-to-back bouts against eighth-seeded Moza Fay of Northern Iowa and fourth-seeded Mack Lewnes of Cornell to earn his first All-America honor. The Tigers' eighth Big 12 Champion in program history, Marable collected his first conference title March 8, by holding off Nebraska's Stephen Dwyer, 3-2, in the finals. Earlier in the afternoon, Marable recorded a 5-2 win over No. 8 Jon Reader of Iowa State. Marable was one of three Tiger grapplers to enter the league tournament with a perfect 4-0 record and No. 1 seed. Throughout his sophomore season, Marable wrestled 12 of the nation's top 20 ranked wrestlers at 165 pounds and went 13-4 record against ranked grapplers. Marable's four losses all came to then No. 1-ranked wrestlers, Eric Tannenbaum of Michigan (7-4), Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh (7-3) and twice to Perry (3-2 and 4-2). Marable wrestled at 174 pounds in his match with Gavin. Marable recorded a 14-match streak in which the Tiger never gave up a takedown (Dec. 19-March 21). Sixteen of Marable's 31 matches were determined by two or fewer points, with Marable taking the win in 14. Marable won the Missouri Open title and finished second at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. 2006-07: Wrestling between 157 and 165 pounds, Marable had an impressive season in which he went 26-8 and made seven starts in Missouri's lineup. Marable took four top-four finishes in tournament action, finishing first at the Central Missouri State University (CMSU) Open. Entering Missouri's lineup for the first time on Dec. 10, Marable managed a 9-6 win over Rocky Cozart of Michigan State. Marable made two appearances at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals, knocking off 19th-ranked Jeremy Larson of Minnesota, 5-3, in the Tigers' championship round dual. Marable recorded back-to-back conference wins over Oklahoma State's Newly McSpadden (4-2) and Oklahoma's Will Rowe (6-4). 2005-06: Finishing his redshirt season with 22 wins, Marable took third in three tournaments. Marable opened and closed his season with wins, and recorded two six-match win streaks. Shutting out Mike Colfax of Missouri Valley College, at the Lindenwood Open, Marable suffered a loss to Miguel Gutierrez (Lindenwood), but rebounded with four straight wins to finish third. Four of Marable's wins on the season came in the form of a fall, with three recorded in the first period. Taking on two wrestlers from Oklahoma, Marable won both matches, the first against Erik Ford (14-3) with his final match against Will Rowe won, 7-6. HIGH SCHOOL: Wrestling for Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn., Marable finished in the top three at the Tennessee State Championships all four years of high school, garnering the title at 152 pounds as a junior (2004) and 160 pounds as a senior (2005). Wrestling at 145 pounds during his sophomore campaign, Marable won the 2003 Cadet National Championship, a feat that helped him earn the Tennessee Outstanding Wrestler of the Year award. A three-sport athlete, Marable received eight letters from the Purple Wave for his participation in wrestling, football and basketball. PERSONAL: Born to Tom and Lisa Marable May 7, 1987, in Memphis, Tenn., Nick is a psychology major. Marable has five siblings Chris Giles (27), Anthony Giles (25), Michael Marable (23), Matthew Marable (11) and four-year old sister, Nicole Marable. |
2009 NCAA Brackets
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 Bradley Wins at FILA Junior Team Trials05/27/2009 - Wrestling Mizzou freshman Dom Bradley scored a victory in the 120KG (264.5 pounds) weight class of the FILA Junior World Team Trails this weekend, as he defeated Zach Rey (Lehigh) to earn a spot on the United States Junior Freestyle National Team. |
Bradley Takes FILA Junior Title04/13/2009 - Wrestling Missouri heavyweight Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) took first place at the FILA Junior 120 kg/264.5 pounds Freestyle Championships, while teammates Nick Hucke (Pewaukee, Wis.) finished second at 63 kg/138.75 and Patrick Wright (Grand Ledge, Mich.) took sixth at 74 kg/163 pounds. |
 Mark Ellis Crowned NCAA Champion03/21/2009 - Wrestling Missouri crowned its second-ever wrestling national champion upon the completion of junior heavyweight Mark Ellis' 3-2 overtime victory over fifth-ranked Konrad Dudziak of Duke. |
 Jordan Takes Third, One of Five Missouri All-Americans03/21/2009 - Wrestling Missouri wrestlers Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.), Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.), Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) and Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) finished the 2008-09 season as All-Americans closing out the third day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships with top-eight finishes at 174, 157, 197 and 165 pounds, respectively. |
 Tigers Make History: Five All Americans03/20/2009 - Wrestling The Missouri wrestling team wrapped up the second night of NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in historic fashion, crowning a program-high five All-Americans and sending junior Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) to the Championship finals of the heavyweight bout. |
