January 19, 1999
Columbia, Mo. - After two months of competition on the road, the Missouri Tiger wrestling team opens their home schedule Thursday, January 21 with two dual matches. At 7 pm MU takes on #6 Missouri Valley and at 8:30 pm the Lions of #10 Lindenwood enter the Hearnes Center Arena. Rankings are courtesy of the latest Intermat NAIA Top 20 Coaches poll.
It has been nearly a year since the wrestling Tigers took to the mats of the Hearnes Center. A 22-16 win over Nothern Illinois in Columbia was the last Tiger match at home on February 22, 1998. Missouri will have two opportunities to gain its first dual win since then and its first under first year coach Brian Smith on Thursday.
Missouri's travel schedule has not helped the Tigers as they bring an 0-4 dual record into Thursdays matches. Losses have come to Illinois at Granite City, Ill., Indiana at Bloomington, Ind., and Purdue at West Lafayette, Ind.. Their road woes continued this past Saturday has they were defeated by Wyoming 30-7 in Laramie, Wyo.
"The kids are excited to finally have a home match," head coach Brian Smith said. "We had a disappointing trip [to Wyoming] but they are back in the room and working for Thursday." Smith has continued to praise his wrestlers for their work in the practice room over the past three weeks. In fact, he listed the teams practice on Monday, January 18 as the teams best since he has been the coach at MU.
NOTES ON MIZZOU
MU's Jeff Urban at the top of his game
Jeff Urban is ready for anyone who is willing to take him on. Entering Thursday's action, Jeff has won three consecutive dual matches versus Indiana, Purdue and Wyoming. The 149 lbs. junior, is one of the few upper classmen on Brian Smiths first Missouri team and he has steadily improved over his time at MU. Last year he was 24-10 overall, 9-4 in dual meets and finished in 4th place at 134 lbs. at the Big 12 Championships. This year he is 14-7 overall, 3-1 in dual action, and is locked with teammate John Kopnisky (165) for most dual wins and consecutive duals won.
Senior Steps Up for the Team
About two weeks ago, freshman Jesse Jordan (157) elected to have minor surgery on his knee. That meant head coach Brian Smith would be without one of his top wrestlers for a few weeks as Jordan build himself back into shape. The first year coach called on his lone senior, Matt Webster, to fill the 157 lbs. starting spot and the Washington, Illinois native has responded. Webster earned a third place finish at the Great Plains Open and joined Jeff Urban as the only Tigers to win at Wyoming this past Saturday. He takes a 13-5 overall record into this weeks contests and will look for his second dual win in succession versus Missouri Valley.
MU After First Dual Victory
Missouri is still after its first dual win of the 1998-99 season and its first under head coach Brian Smith. This years young grapplers have tackled tough opponents and a vigorous travel schedule, but have come up on the short end of a 0-4 record. If history is an indicator of the future, MU may end that streak on Thursday. Mis souri holds a 4-0 record all-time versus Missouri Valley, winning last year 24-12.
Tigers On The Road Again
After Thursday's action the Tigers will be on the road again. Their next match comes Friday, January 29 versus Central Missouri State in a dual meet at Warrensburg. Missouri returns home February 5 and February 7 for dual matches with Nothern Iowa and Iowa State. MU will finish their home schedule February 17 with a dual with Nebraska at the Hearnes FIeldhouse.
PROBABLE MISSOURI LINEUP
125 - Jake Lapinski Jr. 5-11 St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East/Meremac C.C.
133 - Mark Bader Fr. 11-8 Creve Couer, Mo./Francis Howell
141 - Cliff Sutcliffe Fr. 1-11 Pacific, Mo./Pacific
149 - Jeff Urban Jr. 14-7 Wichita, Kan./Northwest/University of New Mexico
157 - Matt Webster Sr. 13-5 Washington, Ill./Washington
165 - John Kopnisky Fr. 14-7 Carmel, Ind./Carmel
174 -
184 - Jason Moore So. 11-10 St. Charles, Mo/St. Charles West
197 - Kevin Herron Fr. 7-8 Imperial/Fox
HWT - Chad Hertzog Fr. 6-8 Greenwood, Mo./Lee's Summitt