BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SETUP
Feb. 8, 2007
FOUR HOME DUALS IN NINE DAYS...
Edging closer to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the Tigers are down to their final four duals of the regular season and will host two meets in a span of three days. Beginning with the first-ever Beauty and the Beast event, Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center, the second-ranked Tigers will take on Northern Iowa (UNI) while the No. 19 Missouri gymnastics team takes on SEMO simultaneously. Two days later, Missouri will put its 3-0 conference mark on the line as they host third-ranked Iowa State (9-3, 3-0) at 2 p.m. (CT) in the final Big 12 dual of the season. Televised live locally on KZOU (channel 28 for Columbia residents), the dual will be rebroadcast on Fox Sports Midwest, Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. (CT) and Friday, Feb. 23, at Noon. Mike Kelly, Missouri's "Voice of the Tigers" will call the action alongside 1991 Missouri All-American and current stand-up comedian Greg Warren.
Following Missouri's Sunday afternoon dual, the Tigers will spend their Valentine's Day evening in center circle with wrestlers from Old Dominion. The Feb. 14 dual will help kick off the 2007 Missouri State High School Championships held across the street at Mizzou Arena. Bookending the State Championships, the Tigers will close out their regular season campaign with a 1 p.m. (CT) dual with UTC, Sunday, Feb. 18.
Missouri's four remaining duals all lead up to the 11th annual Big 12 Championships hosted for the second time in four years by the University of Missouri on Saturday, March 3, in the Hearnes Center. Tickets for the all day event can be purchased by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or by visiting online at www.mutigers.com.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS..
Led by Head Coach Brad Penrith, now in his seventh season with the Panthers, Northern Iowa owns a 5-8-1 record having recently tied Northern Illinois, 17-17, Feb. 4, at home. Of the Panthers' five wins, four have come by eight or more points, with Old Dominion, Missouri's Feb. 14 opponent, providing the toughest challenge to UNI (20-16). The Panthers have three wrestlers ranked among the top-20 in the nation with 165 pounder Nick Baima holding the highest ranking at No. 5. A senior, Baima is a three-time NCAA qualifier and owns a 28-6 record this season. Also ranked for the Panthers is 141 pound two-time NCAA qualifier C.J. Etterson at ninth and 157 pound grappler Moza Fay (No. 17). This past Tuesday, UNI's 149 pound grappler, Ryan Osgood, was named the Western Wrestling Conference (WWC) Wrestler of the Week after tallying a 3-0 weekend record that included a 5-3 win over ninth-ranked Mike Grimes of Northern Illinois.
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES...
With a 9-3 overall record and 3-0 mark in the Big 12 Conference, the third-ranked Cyclones of Iowa State are led by first year Head Coach Cael Sanderson. The Cyclones and Tigers are the only remaining schools in the Big 12 to hold perfect league records and will put it all on the line in Sunday's, Feb. 11 dual in the Hearnes Center. Eight Iowa State wrestlers are currently ranked among the top-20 in the nation in their respective weight class, with five ranked among the top-10. The Cyclones return three All-Americans to their lineup including two-time honorees Trent and Travis Paulson at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Kurt Backes is the Cyclones third All-American having turned in a top-eight performance at 184 pounds in 2004. Iowa State's Big 12 wins began Jan. 20 in Lincoln as the Cyclones took down the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 25-12. ISU collected a 27-9 win over Oklahoma on Jan. 26 followed with a 21-12 victory over Oklahoma State, Jan. 28. The Cyclones finished the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Cliff Keen National Duals in third place behind Minnesota (first) and Missouri (second).
NEVER BEFORE...
In 62 years of Missouri wrestling history the Tigers have NEVER gone 4-0 in conference. Whether it was the Big 12, Big Eight or even further back to the Big Seven, Big Six, etc., it's never been done.
ONLY ONCE BEFORE...
The last time a Missouri wrestling team recorded a one loss season came during the 1925-26 campaign. The Tigers, led by Head Coach Charles Fischer, were 4-1 on the year. The 1925-26 season was Missouri's third year of competition.
I KNOW YOU...
Two Missouri wrestlers will meet with familiar competition in either the Friday night or Sunday afternoon dual. Sophomore Michael Chandler wrestled Iowa State's Trent Paulson on three occasions last season, dropping all three bouts at 157 pounds. Missouri All-American Matt Pell will take on UNI's Nick Baima for the second time of his career. In their previous meeting, Baima bested Pell, 7-4, Feb. 13, 2006. Pell's Sunday dual with Cyclone Travis Paulson could provide sweet revenge for the senior Tiger. In their previous three meetings last season, Pell took two wins, with Paulson earning the third at the NCAA Championships by a 4-2 decision.
Iowa State's Kurt Backes, a 197 pound grappler, has wrestled with three different Tigers over the past three years, but never paired with Missouri's No. 1 pound starter Maxwell Askren. In previous meetings, Backes has beaten Joey Garrity but lost to Matt Pell and Raymond Jordan.
ON TRACK?..
To date, there are only two freshmen wrestlers with perfect records. Cornell's Adam Frey, ranked third in the nation at 133 pounds, and Missouri's very own Maxwell Askren, ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds. Both individuals are in search of a perfect season and such a feat would be the first for a freshman since current Iowa State Head Coach Cael Sanderson began his four-year 159 win streak in 1998. Maxwell Askren is 25-0 on the season, while Frey, who began competition in December, is 12-0.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS..
Since Head Coach Brian Smith's arrival at Missouri nine years ago, the Tigers have overcome many challenges and faced adversity head on. Coach Smith's squads were the first to ever take a win over Oklahoma State (2002) and since then have managed an additional two victories over the 34-time NCAA Champions. Last season, Missouri collected a one point victory over Iowa State in Ames for the first time since 1927-28 season. A win in the Tigers' Sunday afternoon dual with ISU would be Missouri's third in five seasons. Currently, Missouri is down 3-41 in the all-time series with the Cyclones, with two of the three wins coming under Smith's direction.
WEAR BLACK AND GOLD!!!...
Fans who wear anything black or gold to the Sunday, Feb. 11 dual against Iowa State will be allowed to purchase $2 for the 2 p.m. event. That's a savings of $3!!! So, WEAR BLACK AND GOLD!!!
BEING A PINHEAD IS A GOOD THING...
Students interested in joining Missouri's Pinhead Club, the Tiger wrestling fan club and cheering section, can do so by filling in some information on the west concourse of the Hearnes Center prior to any Missouri wrestling dual. Students that join will be given a FREE gold Pinhead Club t-shirt!
TIGERSTYLE TAILGATE RETURNS...
Fans interested in doing a little pre-dual tailgating can do so in the Black and Gold room located on the third floor of the Hearnes Center. Please bring your own food and drink and be ready to talk wrestling with some of the most exciting Tiger fans in the state! Tailgating begins one hour prior to the start of the dual.
FACING CHALLENGES HEAD ON...
This season, the second ranked Missouri wrestling team has gone to battle with five of the nation's top-10 teams, with its fourth top-five opponent coming to the Hearnes Center on Sunday (Iowa State).
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
Missouri's last team National Title came in 1965 when the men's track and field team earned the indoor title in Detroit, Mich. Just so you know...this year's wrestling nationals will be held in Detroit, Mich.
FOR ONLY THE 11TH TIME IN HISTORY...
Missouri's squad became just the 11th in collegiate wrestling history to earn the No. 1 ranking. Other former No. 1's include, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Arizona State and Illinois.
HOW SWEET IT IS..
The Tigers took first place at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational for the first time in team history. Ben Askren and Max Askren both brought home titles, and eight Tiger wrestlers finished among the top eight of their weight class. The team netted 157 points to lead the way in front of No. 8 Michigan (109) and No. 15 Penn (100.5).
WRESTLING REWIND...
Research by wrestling historian Jay Hammond and Ron Good of Amateur Wrestling News, revealed that the last set of brothers that were not twins that were ranked No. 1 were Dave and Mark Schultz of the University of Oklahoma at 167 and 177 pounds. It happened in 1982. That same year, the Tiger wrestling team finished 12th at the NCAA Championships, Missouri's third highest finish in the 62-year history of the program.
MISSOURI'S YOUTH...
Sure, they may be the young guys on the team, but did you realize that Missouri's starters that are freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores have collected 121 wins between the six of them? On the flip side, Missouri's junior and senior starters have recorded 80 victories.
FIRST PERIOD FALLS...
Senior defending National Champion Ben Askren wastes no time when he hits the mat. To date, Askren has pinned 21 opponents, eight ranked among the top-20 in the nation, within the first three minutes of action. Only two of the matches he eventually won by fall advanced into the second period, the first took only 50 seconds the second 21. Askren's fall total this season is 23, two shy of the season record he set last campaign (25). This brings Askren's career total to 85. Between Nov. 19 and Jan. 13, Askren collected 17 straight wins by fall. His streak came to an end Jan. 13 when he won by major decision (14-6) over Nick Hayes of Northwestern at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Cliff Keen National Duals.
Josh Wagner NAMED BIG 12 WRESTLER OF THE WEEK...
Missouri's 149 pound junior grappler Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week as announced Feb. 6 by the league office. This marks Wagner's first-ever Big 12 Wrestler of the Week accolade. Missouri has received three Big 12 Wrestler of the Week/Month honors this season, with redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) named November Big 12 Wrestler of the Month and senior Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) named December Big 12 Wrestler of the Month.
23-7 on the season and 4-0 against Big 12 opponents, Wagner recorded his biggest upset of the campaign after knocking off second-ranked Matt Storniolo of Oklahoma, 10-4, Sunday afternoon. The win was Wagner's 60th career victory. Earlier in the weekend, Wagner held off Oklahoma State's Dakota Simpson with a 15-4 win by major decision.
Wagner helped the Tigers earn back-to-back victories over fourth-ranked Oklahoma State (17-16) and No. 13 Oklahoma (24-14) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The sweep of both schools on the road was Missouri's first in wrestling history. The wins also helped the Tigers to a 3-0 record, something that hasn't been done since the 2002-03 season.
HONORS AND AWARDS...
Within a period of three days, Missouri wrestlers Ben Askren and Maxwell Askren received some noteworthy honors. Both Askrens claimed Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational titles at their respective weight class and for his work on the mat during the two days of competition, Ben was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler and Gorrarian Award recipient for most falls. Maxwell Askren was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Month for his spotless, 10-0 record and two tournament titles.
Ben Askren NAMED BIG 12 WRESTLER OF THE MONTH...
Missouri senior defending National Champion Ben Askren was named Big 12 Wrestler of the month for December as announced by the league office. The honor is Askren's third of his career and comes one month after younger brother Maxwell was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Month for November.
Askren, ranked No. 1 in the nation at 174 pounds, closed out 2006 with individual titles at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 1-2) and Southern Scuffle (Dec. 29-30). For his work on the mat, Askren also received recognition as the Most Outstanding Wrestler at both tournaments and was named the Gorrarian Award (most pins) recipient in Las Vegas. The Most Outstanding Wrestler honor was Askren's third at each tournament.
Among the co-captain's 23 wins on the season, 21 have been notched by fall with 19 recorded in the first three minutes of action. To date, Askren owns 134 career wins, setting a new Missouri record Dec. 30 in Greensboro, N.C. at the Southern Scuffle. The previous mark, 131, was set between 1978-82 by former Tiger All-American Wes Roper.
During the month of December, Askren squared off with several of the nation's top wrestlers including two bouts against second-ranked Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh. In both matches, Askren pinned Gavin, the fastest recorded during the semifinals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 2 in a time of 2:16.
The owner of the nation's longest active win streak, 75, Askren has tallied 85 wins by fall in his career at Missouri.
TAKE THAT...
In Missouri's 29-9 defeat of No. 10 Ohio State, the third-ranked Tigers held the Buckeyes to only THREE takedowns on the day. Missouri tallied 25 meaning that 50 of their 64 team points came from takedowns. Senior Ben Askren notched 10 in his bout, while senior Matt Pell recorded seven.
PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF...
After ending his junior season with a 14-2 major decision victory over previously unbeaten Jake Herbert of Northwestern at the NCAA Championships (the title bout to be exact), senior co-captain Ben Askren has extended the nation's longest win streak to 75 consecutive matches. Askren is 30-0 on the season and 141-8 in his four years at Missouri. Although not confirmed, it is believed that the nation's longest active win streak is held by Iowa State standout and current Head Coach Cale Sanderson at 159 wins. Askren also could be the first repeat winner of the Hodge Trophy since Sanderson.
JOIN THE CLUB...
Senior Matt Pell became the 14th wrestler in Missouri history to reach the century mark, doing so Nov. 16 with a 15-5 major decision victory over Chris Vondruska of Ohio State. Pell is currently 15-3 on the season and 115-31for his career. The Luxemburg, Wis., native stands at sixth in the Missouri career wins record book as he recently surpassed 2005 All-American Tyron Woodley. With four duals and the potential for two tournaments left, both Pell and Askren could finish in the top five. Over the past three years, six individuals have added their name to the 100-win club, Ben Askren, Kenny Burleson, Brad Cieleski, Matt Pell, Jeremy Spates and Tyron Woodley.
NO. 1 UNDONE...
Scoring a 12-3 win by major decision over Oklahoma's Josh Weitzel, Feb. 4, Ben Askren once again rewrote the history books setting Missouri's new career wins record at 141. The previous high, held by 1982 All-American, former Missouri Head Coach and 2006 Hall of Fame Inductee Wes Roper was set at 131 between 1978-82.
PRIMUS PREPARED...
While everyone has focused on Ben Askren's 141 wins, (75 consecutive) and his amazing 23 falls on the season, (that's 85 for his career), many people have failed to notice true freshman Ashtin Primus. Flying below the radar, this 141 pound grappler is 29-11 on the season with 16 of his wins coming by fall. Primus has made nine starts with the Tiger team, his first coming Dec. 9 against Eric Kruger of Central Michigan (L, 9-2).
MONDAY MATCHAT...
Be sure to catch all the latest news by chatting with Missouri's wrestlers every Monday at 2:30 p.m. (CT) on www.mutigers.com. Each week throughout the season a member of the Missouri wrestling team or coaching staff will be on line to answer your questions. Fans interested in submitting questions should visit mutigers.com and locate the link on the Missouri wrestling section of the website.
141 pound freshman phenom Ashtin Primus is up next for MatChat at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12. Fans are encouraged to submit their questions early as the chats will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
MAKIN' A MOVE...
Through the power of the Internet, the Missouri wrestling team presents you with the Move of the Week. Ever wondered about what steps Ben Askren takes when performing an outside cradle? Or how does Tyler McCormick manage that arm bar? Now you can watch and learn from the comfort of your own home. Throughout the season the Tiger team and coaching staff will present a Move of the Week in which fans will have the opportunity to learn how a move is done and see first hand how it's completed in competition. A new move will be presented each Tuesday of the season. The All-Access videos are FREE, but fans must register (no credit card information necessary) in order to watch the videos. Also, NO SPAM E-MAIL WILL BE SENT AFTER REGISTERING UNLESS YOU CLICK TO RECEIVE EMAILS. Visit www.mutigers.com for more information.
MAKING A NAME...
Redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren is attracting national attention at 197 pounds. After opening the season Nov. 16 with a win over former All-American and then No. 2 J.D. Bergman (8-4) of Ohio State, Askren improved to 5-0 taking a win over then No. 4 Joel Flaggert of Oklahoma (2-1). Askren topped those wins with a 4-3 victory over previous No. 2 Jerry Rinaldi at the 25th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 3. For his work, Askren earned the 197 pound title and was name the Big 12's November Wrestler of the Month. Since then, Askren has improved to 25-0 on the season, winning his most recent match with a 12-4 major decision over Jared Shelton of Oklahoma State.
THE WISCONSINITES ...
This has to be some sort of first. Take a close look at Missouri's starting lineup. FOUR members of the starting lineup are from the state of Wisconsin. These Cheeseheads include Josh Wagner at 149 pounds, Matt Pell at 165 pounds, Ben Askren at 174 pounds and Maxwell Askren at 197 pounds. Together this group has combined for 93 of Missouri's 201 wins this season (by starters).
BROTHERLY LOVE...
Missouri wrestlers Ben Askren and Maxwell Askren are brothers. Despite little Askren's lack of a `fro, he is definitively an Askren. His four tournament titles as a redshirt freshman and eighth place showing at the FILA Junior World Championships this past summer are enough proof that he has the same determination and competitive spirit as older brother Ben. They showed it in Vegas as both walked away with first place titles.
Ben and Max are the fourth brother tandem on the Missouri wrestling team in six years. Chris McCormick, a 2006 graduate and current Director of Wrestling Operations and Tyler McCormick were last year's Missouri brother duo to watch.
MAX ASKREN NAMED BIG 12 WRESTLER OF THE MONTH
Redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) was named November's Big 12 Wrestler of the Month after knocking off three of the nation's top-five wrestlers as announced Tuesday by the league office. A perfect 10-0 on the season, Askren most recently collected his first Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title at 197 pounds becoming Missouri's first freshman to take top honors at the prestigious event.
Opening the season Nov. 16 against Ohio State, Askren, then ranked No. 12 in the nation, took down All-American and then No. 2 J.D. Bergman, 8-4. Adding to the wins list, Askren went 4-0 at the Missouri Open, Nov. 19, besting two-time All-American and then No. 4 Joel Flaggert of Oklahoma, 2-1.
In his next outing of the campaign, Askren went 5-0 and finished first at the 25th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in Primm, Nev., Dec. 2. Ranked No. 3 in the country, Askren held off No. 2 Jerry Rinaldi of Cornell, 4-3, in the title match.
WRESTLING RECAP...
Norman, Okla.- The second-ranked Missouri wrestling team improved to 10-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Big 12 after dropping No. 13 Oklahoma, 24-14, in Norman, Okla. The second victory in two days in the state of Oklahoma, it marked the first time in Missouri wrestling history that the Tigers have been able to sweep both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma in their home facilities.
Claiming wins in seven of the 10 bouts, the afternoon dual began at 157 pounds with redshirt freshman Nicholas Marable (Colliersville, Tenn.) earning a 6-4 decision over Will Rowe. The bout with Rowe marked the third time this season that Marable weighed in and started at 157 pounds. Marable scored the early takedown, allowing Rowe to escape before closing the first period with a final takedown and a 4-1 lead. Allowing Rowe only an escape in the second period, Marable started down in the third, escaped, was taken down and escaped again for his 28th win of the season.
Missouri collected its second win in the form of a 10-1 major decision by Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) over Chris DeVilbiss at 165 pounds. Scoreless through the first period, Pell held a three-point advantage entering the third period, adding to his points with a takedown and back-to-back nearfalls.
Senior Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) and sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) recorded Missouri's second and third wins by major decision. Askren won his bout, 12-3, over Joshua Weitzel, while Jordan finished the day with a 13-4 victory over Josh Hinton.
Oklahoma scored its first five team points at 197 pounds after sophomore Joey Garrity (Orion, Ill.) suffered 16-1 loss by technical fall to All-American Joel Flaggert. The Tigers were quick to add three additional team points with Mark Ellis' 11-4 decision of Brad Farmer.
Returning to the top of the lineup, junior All-American Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) won a 6-2 victory over Brian Shelton with junior Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) closing out the dual with a 10-4 upset over second-ranked Matt Storniolo. Wagner entered the weekend duals ranked ninth in the nation at 149 pounds.
TIGERS SIGN SEVEN FOR 2007-08 CLASS
Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith announced Nov. 9 that the Tigers have signed seven wrestlers for the 2007-08 season, including four from the state of Missouri. Together, Dom Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.), Trever Collins (Nixa, Mo.), Troy Dolan (Blairsville, Penn.), Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.), K.C. Pescaglia (Columbia, Mo.), Michael Schmitz (Stewartville, Minn.) and Brandon Wiest (O'Fallon, Mo.) have combined for nine state championship titles in their respective weight class.
"Our coaching staff has recruited a very talented class," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "We've managed to fill our needs for the future and bring in some of the top wrestlers from across the country. We're all very excited about the potential this class brings to the Missouri wrestling program."
A three-time Missouri state qualifier (2003, 2004, 2005) and two-time state champion (2004 at 215 pounds and 2005 at 275 pounds), Bradley is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Wrestling, Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine. Led by Head Coach Mike Hagerty, Bradley and the Wildcats of Blue Springs High School finished third in the 2005 and 2006 Missouri Class 4 State Championships. During the summer of 2006, Bradley wrestled his way to a Junior National Freestyle title at 275 pounds. Bradley is expected to wrestle at heavyweight for the Tigers.
Competing at 171 and 189 pounds, Nixa, Mo., native Collins earned his first Class 3 state title as a sophomore (171 pounds), repeating the feat as a junior at 189 pounds. Expected to grapple at 197 pounds or heavyweight for Missouri, Collins is currently coached by Jason Carter at Nixa High School and stands at No. 11 in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. Earlier this fall, Collins claimed the Super 32 title at 215 pounds.
Dolan becomes the fifth Pennsylvania resident in four years to join the Tiger wrestling program. Currently ranked 11th in the country by W.I.N. Magazine, Dolan closed out his junior campaign with a first place finish at the Pennsylvania State Championship at 119 pounds and stood second in the nation (Intermat) of his classmates. A two-time state champion, Dolan took first at 112 pounds as a sophomore and was named the 2005 Powerade Champion at 119 pounds. Under the direction of Derry Area High School Head Coach Mike Wood, Dolan was crowned the Super 32 Champion in 2006. Dolan is expected to compete at 125 or 133 pounds for Missouri.
Expected to wrestle at 174 pounds for the Tigers, Henderson earned back-to-back state titles at 171 pounds in the state of Georgia. Henderson becomes the first Georgia grappler since current senior Amond Prater (Marietta, Ga.) to join the ranks of the Missouri wrestling team. Competing for the Blue Devils of Columbus High School, Henderson and his teammates claimed the 2006 3A state title coached by Larry Morgan.
Younger brother to current Missouri freshman Tony Pescaglia, K.C. is ranked as high as seventh in the nation at 125 pounds by W.I.N. Magazine. Pescaglia owns a 121-14 record entering his senior year of competition with the Kewpies and has notched 81 falls in three years. Coached by J.D. Coffman, Pescaglia was the 2006 Missouri Class 4 State Champion, improving on his fourth place finish at states one year prior. With a 3.80 grade-point average, Pescaglia has earned numerous academic honors including 2005 and 2006 National High School Coaches Association Academic All-America awards.
Ranked as high as 11th in the nation at 160-pounds by W.I.N. Magazine, Schmitz opens his senior campaign with the Stewartville Tigers with a 166-31 record. Schmitz finished first at the Minnesota State Championships and Junior National Folkstyle Championships in 2006 while wrestling at 160 pounds, finishing second as a sophomore in 2005. Schmitz is coached by Dennis Kuisle and will likely wrestle at 165 pounds during his time at Missouri.
Rounding out the incoming freshmen class, is Missouri native Wiest of Ft. Zumwalt West High School. Coached by former Missouri wrestler Danny Hayes, Wiest is a three-time state runner up and was named the Jaguars nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy. Wiest holds a 3.9 grade-point average and is a three-time academic all-conference honoree.
"This class has the potential to continue to build on the success our team has achieved over the past few years," Smith said. "Things such as the commitment of our administration, staff and team, combined with our outstanding athletic facilities and strong academics have helped Missouri stand out from some of the other top wrestling programs in the nation."
TIGERSTYLE CAMPS ...
Don't miss out on the 2007 TigerStyle camps led by Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith and several members of the No. 1 ranked team. For more information, visit www.mutigers.com.
A NEW ERA...
Smith, now in his ninth year with the Missouri wrestling program, holds a 101-53-1 record or 65 percent winning percentage, the highest of any of the seven coaches in the Tiger program history.
GOING ALONG WITH THAT...
After eight years and four duals with the Tigers, Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith owns a .650 winning percentage. Of the five Missouri coaches that have been at Missouri for a least nine seasons, Smith's overall winning percentage is second only to 12-year coach Bob Kopnisky (.694). Smith's percentage puts him ahead of Missouri's first wrestling coach Charles Fischer (.354), Hap Whitney (.601) and Wes Roper (.448).
