February 3, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Tiger wrestling team brings a three match winning streak into this weekends dual matches with Northern Iowa and Iowa Sate. The Tigers have scored wins versus Lindenwood, Missouri Valey and Central Missouri State in the last two weeks, moving their record to 3-4 on the season. This weekends matches, however will be a bigger chore.

First up will be the Northern Iowa Panthers Friday night at 7 pm in the Hearnes Fieldhouse. UNI has hovered near the Top 25 all season with a 6-7 record, boasting five individuals ranked in the Top 20 of their weight class. All-time the Tigers are 5-13 versus the Panthers in dual action, winning last year in Cedar Falls, Iowa 23-14.

On Sunday at 2 pm in the Hearnes Fieldhouse, MU will face national powerhouse and Big 12 foe, Iowa State. The Cyclones are 14-5-1 this year and ranked #4 in he nation according to Intermat Magazine. Head coach Booby Douglas has 11 letterwinners back from last years squad that finsihed sixth overall at the NCAA Tournament. Seven Cyclones are ranked in the nations Top 20 among their weight, including the Sanderson brothers, Cody (Jr.), Cael (Fr.), and Cole (So.), who are are all ranked in the top 5 of their class and enter this weekends action a combined 62-12.

Admission to the matches both days will be $5 for adults, students and children $3, and children under 2 get in free of charge.

PROBABLE LINEUPS AND RECORDS VERSUS NORTHERN IOWA

125 Jake Lapinski (7-12) versus Tony Sweeting (8-10)

133 Mark Bader (13-9) versus #8 Eric Keller (14-3)

141 Cliff Sutcliffe (1-14) versus Mark Rial (8-6)

149 #20 Jeff Urban (17-7) versus #4 Tony Davis (12-2)

157 Matt Webster (16-5) versus Keith Weber (6-13)

165 Jesse Jordan (11-5) versus #20 Nate Lawrenz (16-6)

174 John Kopnisky (17-7) versus #19 Randy Pugh (19-3)

184 Jason Moore (13-11) versus Ken Bigley (22-9)

197 Kevin Herron (9-9) versus #4 Tony Wieland (11-2)

HWT Chad Hertzog (9-8) versus Burt Beamer (10-11)

NOTES ON MIZZOU

Urban Makes It A Cool Six Pack

With his win Friday night, Jeff Urban stretched his consecutive dual match winning streak to six. His top-notch grappling has also gained the junior national exposure as he is now ranked #20 in the nation at 149 by Intermat Magazine. The win pushed his season record to 17-7 overall, with a 6-1 dual mark. Jeffs wins have come versus Indiana, Purdue, Wyoming, Lindenwood, Missouri Valley, and Central Missouri State. Freshman John Kopnisky is also been wrestling well for MU. "Kop" has matched Urbans overall and dual records and has won his last three dual matches.

Horton Named to Staff of Conference Select Team

Missouri assistant wrestling coah Bart Horton has been named assistant coach of a Big 12 select team that will travel to Korea in May. Horton was selected for the position by vote of the conferences head wrestling coaches. Nebraska head coach Tim Neumann will head the teams staff. "This is an excellent opportunity for me to coach some of the elite athletes in the Big 12," Horton said of his appointment. "It is an honor to be chosen by my peers and I think it will be good for the wrestling program here at Missouri." The team will consist of ten wrestlers from the conference who will compete in the Korean Junior Nationals tourney over a ten day period the end of May 1999. Each of the five Big 12 schools with wrestling programs will be guaranteed representation by at least one wrestler. The other five positions will be filled on an at-large basis based on individual results at the end of the Big 12 season. Head coach Brian Smith thinks this is a great chance for his first-year assistant. "This is an outstanding opportunity for Bart and for our program. he is a great recruiter and this goes a long way to him developing relationships with kids from other schools and being seen as a respected coach within the Big 12."

Lineup Switchup

When Jesse Jordan went down with a knee injury earlier this year, coach Brian Smith asked senior Matt Webster (149) to fill in for the team in the staring lineup at 157. The senior agreed and responded by winning three dual macthes in a row in the slot. When Jordan returned to the lineup last week at CMSU, Smith could not take his lone senior out of the lineup. Adding to Smiths concerns was the hole created at 174 with the loss of Jared Sears from the team after the Wyoming dual. Thats when Jordan and John Kopnisky stepped up for their coach. The freshmen suggested that Jordan wrestle at 165, Kopniskys actual weight, and that Kopnisky move up to the 174 spot to fill out the lineup. Smith agreed and the Tigers were set for the CMSU meet. According to Smith the lineup will remain the same unless changes need to be made for the good of the team.

Familiar Faces for Missouri Asst. Coach

When assistant coach Bart Horton looks across the mat Sunday in MUs dual versus Iowa St. he will see some familiar faces. Horton is a 1997 graduate of ISU and a four-year letterman for Bobby Douglas in the Cardinal and Gold. As a senior Cyclone, Horton was an All-American at 167 pounds finishing seventh at the 1997 NCAA Championships.

PROBABLE LINEUPS AND RECORDS VERSUS IOWA STATE

125 Jake Lapinski (7-12) versus Jesse West (9-13)

133 Mark Bader (13-9) versus #3 Cody Sanderson (20-4)

141 Cliff Sutcliffe (1-14) versus Benjie Winegarden (6-14)

149 Jeff Urban (17-7) versus #4 Cole Sanderson (17-8)

157 Matt Webster (16-5) versus #8 David Malonado (17-6)

165 Jesse Jordan (11-5) versus #2 Joe Heskett (24-0)

174 John Kopnisky (17-7) versus Perry Parks (8-9)

184 Jason Moore (13-11) versus #2 Cale Sanderson (25-0)

197 Kevin Herron (9-9) versus #5 Zach Thompson (23-3)

HWT Chad Hertzog (9-8) versus #18 Mark Knauer (14-7)