Tigers and Sooners Go Head-to-Head in Wrestling

No. 12 Missouri Takes on No. 18 Oklahoma in Second Annual Beauty and the Beast Event

Feb. 7, 2008

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Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri wrestling team will host its final two home duals of the regular season this weekend, beginning with a Friday, Feb. 8 contest against No. 18 Oklahoma, at 7:30 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. Working in conjunction with the Missouri gymnastics squad, the Tigers will host the second annual Beauty and the Beast event in which wrestling and gymnastics will hold simultaneous competitions on the Hearnes Center floor.

The annual event, which last year drew over 6,000 fans, offers spectators the opportunity to see two events at one time. This year, the Missouri gymnastics squad will host Centenary College beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CT), while wrestling will begin one hour later, at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Entrance to the event is two canned food items to be donated to the Central Missouri Food Bank, or $2.

Missouri enters the Friday evening dual ranked as high as 11th in the nation. Currently 7-3-1 on the campaign, the Tigers are looking for their first Big 12 win of the season. Six Missouri grapplers stand ranked among the top-20 of their respective weight class, with sophomore Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) holding on to the highest Missouri ranking, No. 2, for the three straight week.

Four Tiger grapplers, juniors Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) and Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) and sophomores Marable and Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) hope to extend their perfect 2-0 win streak against Big 12 opponents. Together, the quad has outscored its league foes, 66-29.

Oklahoma holds a dominating 39-6 lead in the all-time series with Missouri, although the Tigers have claimed four of the last five wins with the Sooners. Most recently, Missouri shut down Oklahoma, 24-14, in Norman, last season.

Led by Head Coach Jack Spates, Oklahoma enters the evening dual with seven Sooners ranked among the top-20 of their respective weight class.

Two key matches for fans to check out will come at the 184 and 197 pound weight classes. Wrestling at 184 pounds, Missouri's Jordan, 20-1 on the season and ranked as high as fourth in the nation, will pair with sixth-ranked Joshua Weitzel. A meeting between two of the nation's top-10 184 pounders, this marks the first time Jordan and Weitzel will go head-to-head.

For the second straight week, Askren, ranked as high as fifth in the nation, will take on his second top-10 opponent of the campaign. Wrestling two-time All-American Joel Flaggert, ranked seventh, this marks the third battle between the Tiger and Sooner wrestlers. Askren holds the 2-0 advantage over Flaggert, earning his first win his freshman season, 7-2, and his second win, last year, 2-1, at the Missouri Open.

The canned food drive, sponsored by Missouri's student-athletes and Greek community, marks the first time that these two organizations have joined forces on campus. Combining to help collect food for the Central Missouri Food Bank, representatives from both communities will be in the Hearnes Center to take donated canned items as well as monetary contributions.

Missouri's final home dual of the year is set for Sunday, Feb.10 at 2 p.m. (CT) against Oregon State. This marks Missouri's first meeting with the Beavers. The Tigers will recognize its six seniors prior to the start of the afternoon dual, so fans are encouraged to come early. In addition, Ben Askren bobble heads will be handed out to the first 400 fans that attend the Sunday dual.

 

 

Bradley Wins at FILA Junior Team Trials

05/27/2009 - 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 Title

04/13/2009 - 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 Champion

03/21/2009 - 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-Americans

03/21/2009 - 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 Americans

03/20/2009 - 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.