MAC Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio – After its fourth straight Mid-American Conference title (fifth consecutive conference title overall) and seventh NCAA Top-10 finish in 2015-16, the Mizzou Wrestling team was selected first in the 2016-17 MAC preseason rankings, announced by the coaches and league office on Friday. Mizzou received 32 points in the preseason poll, well ahead of second-place Northern Iowa (16.5 points) and third-place Central Michigan (11.0).
The preseason rankings were voted on by the league's head coaches. Teams received points in the poll based off the number of first-place through fourth-place votes received in the individual rankings, with first-place votes earning four team points all the way down to fourth-place votes earning one point.
In the individual preseason rankings, Mizzou was represented in nine of 10 weight classes, ranking first in seven weight classes. Senior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), who both captured MAC Titles last year, will begin the season ranked atop their respective weight classes. Joining Cox and Lewis at the top of their respective weight classes is redshirt freshman 133-pounder Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.), redshirt senior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), redshirt senior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.), redshirt junior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nev.) and redshirt junior 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa).
Redshirt junior 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.) and redshirt freshman 174-pounder Dylan Wisman (Winchester, Va.) were also included in the individual preseason rankings, coming in at No. 2 and t-No. 3, respectively.
In 2015-16, five Mizzou wrestlers won individual conference titles to help the Tigers capture their fourth consecutive MAC title and fifth conference title overall (Big 12 Champions in 2012). Cox, Lewis and McGhee are all returning MAC Champions. In 2017, Cox looks to become the second wrestler in program history (Drake Houdashelt, 2012-15) to win four conference titles in his career.
#TigerStyle would go on to finish sixth at the 2016 NCAA Championships, with Cox, Lewis, Mayes and Miklus all earning All-America honors. Cox won his second NCAA Title at 197 pounds inside Madison Square Garden. In 2017, the Olympic Bronze medalist seeks to become the first wrestler in program history to capture three NCAA Titles.
Mizzou will open the season with its annual Black and Gold Scrimmage, scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 3. The Tigers will open the regular season on the road at Old Dominion on Sunday, Nov. 13.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
2016-17 MAC Preseason Poll
1. Missouri (32.0)
2. Northern Iowa (16.5)
3. Central Michigan (11.0)
t-4. Eastern Michigan (9.0)
t-4. Northern Illinois (9.0)
t-6. Buffalo (6.0)
t-6. Old Dominion (6.0)
8. Ohio (5.5)
9. Kent State (5.0)
2016-17 MAC Weight Class Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Barlow McGhee (Missouri, Junior); 3. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion, Senior).
133 – t-1. Cameron Kelly (Ohio, Sophomore); t-1. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, R-Freshman); 3. Corey Keener (Central Michigan, Senior); 4. Josh Alber (Northern Iowa, Sophomore).
141 – 1. Matt Manley (Missouri, Senior); t-2. Kyle Springer (Eastern Michigan, Junior); t-2. Jake Koethe (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 4. Noah Forrider (Ohio, Junior).
149 – 1. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Senior); 2. Justin Oliver (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 3. (Steve Bleise, Northern Illinois); 4. Nick Barber (Eastern Michigan, Senior).
157 – 1. Joey Lavallee (Missouri, Junior); 2. Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 3. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Casey Sparkman (Kent State, Sophomore).
165 – 1. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Sophomore); 2. Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa, Senior); 3. Dakota Juarez (Eastern Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Austin Reese (Ohio, Sophomore).
174 – 1. Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois, Senior); 2. Jairod James (Kent State, Sophomore); t-3. Jacob Davis (Eastern Michigan, Senior); t-3. Dylan Wisman (Missouri, R-Freshman).
184 – 1. Willie Miklus (Missouri, Junior); 2. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Senior); 3. Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Joe Ariola (Buffalo, Junior).
197 – 1. J'den Cox (Missouri, Senior); 2. Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois, Senior); 3. Kevin Beazley (Old Dominion, Junior); 4. James Benjamin (Buffalo, Senior).
HWT – 1. Jake Gunning (Buffalo, Sophomore); 2. JJ Everard (Northern Iowa, Senior); 3. Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan, Junior); 4. Devin Nye (Kent State, Sophomore).
