A 2006 graduate of the University of Missouri, former 141 pound wrestler Chris McCormick is set to begin his first year as Director of Wrestling Operations for the nationally-ranked Tigers.
McCormick, a four year letterwinner, closed his wrestling career at Missouri with a 79-53 record, winning the Missouri Open, among other tournament titles, in 2005.
Wrestling in freestyle tournaments, McCormick finished as high as fourth in the University National Team Trials, at 145.5 pounds in the spring of 2005.
McCormick, a native of Leawood, Kan., is older brother to 133-pound starter Tyler McCormick and graduated in May, 2006 with a bachelor's degree in business management. McCormick is currently working on his MBA.
2004-05: Up a weight class from his last Big 12 appearance in 2003, McCormick's season ended after a tough 5-4 overtime loss in which he nearly upset the 4th-ranked 141-pound wrestler in the nation (Matt Murray, Nebraska). McCormick took first place at the Central Missouri State Open (Nov. 14), second at the Missouri Open (Nov. 21) and seventh at the highly competitive Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 4). Recording his only fall of the season Jan. 15, in Missouri's final match of the Virginia Duals, McCormick pinned Roberto Vargas in 2:01, it was McCormick's sixth fall of his career and helped MU to a third place finish at the duals. McCormick opened his campaign with a 10-match win streak, knocking off wrestlers from Purdue (No. 14 Rene Hernandez), Illinois (No. 12 Michael Martin) and Indiana (No. 13 Michael Simpson) before losing to No. 3 Teyon Ware of Oklahoma.
2003-04: Choosing to redshirt his junior academic year, McCormick wrestled at four open tournaments, finishing first at the Oklahoma Open on Nov. 29 and later at the Roger Denker Open on Jan 10. The Leawood, Kan., native finished third at the Northern Iowa Open on Dec. 5. McCormick wrestled at 141 pounds, an increase from 133 his previous two years in the Missouri lineup. McCormick wrestled seven Big 12 opponents, taking six wins against them to finish the season at 20-3.
Competing at the University Nationals in Evanston, Ill., May 8, McCormick wrestled at 145.5 pounds and finished fourth. By the end of the tournament, McCormick had accumulated a 7-2 record, shutting out six of his opponents with technical falls.
2002-03: With three major decisions and three falls on the season, McCormick completed his second consecutive 13-16 season. Competing solidly in the 133-pound weight class through the Big 12 Championships on March 8, McCormick faced seven top-25 opponents and was 8-8 in duals. Competing against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 2, McCormick moved to the 141-pound weight class defeating Brian Sbertoll with a technical fall, 22-4.
2001-02: McCormick was the only true freshman in the Tigers' starting lineup, compiling a 13-16 overall record (9-12 in duals). McCormick went 4-0 at the Missouri Open in the freshman/sophomore division on Nov. 18, recording a 3-0 decision at the Cornell Duals on Feb. 23. McCormick picked up a fall (2:47), against Alejandro Alverez (Cornell) in his first dual of the day, defeating Brian Sebally (Buffalo) in a 13-5 major decision and winning his third and final match against Matt Barnes (Binghamton) by forfeit.
HIGH SCHOOL: At Blue Valley North High School, McCormick was a state champion his senior year (2001), under coach Jeff Mildner. McCormick placed second at the Southern Plains Regional Freestyle tournament and was a Kansas State Champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
PERSONAL: Older brother to redshirt freshman Tyler (19) and Nathan (14), all three are sons of Mike and Jennifer McCormick. Chris was born March 8, 1983, in Independence, Mo. A business major, McCormick plans to earn an MBA in business management.
