March 19, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri wrestler Jeff Urban, 149lbs., lost two matches on Thursday at the NCAA Wrestling Championships and was eliminated from the competition after the first day. The junior from Wichita, Kansas finishes the season with a 20-14 record, the most wins by a Tiger this season.

Urban lost his first round match up with Marc Hoffer of American University, 6-3 and was defeated in the first round of the wrestlebacks, consolation bracket by Big 12 foe Joe Henson of Nebraska, 7-4.

Jeff's defeats bring the 1998-99 Missouri wrestling season to an end, the first season ending under first year coach Brian Smith. The Tigers finished their season 4-9 in dual meets, but will return all but one of their wrestlers for the 1999-2000 season. Next year will also be an important season for Missouri as the school will co-host the 2000 NCAA Championships in St. Louis with the St. Louis Sports Commission

For information regarding next year's championships go to the Missouri Tiger homepage at www.mutigers.com and look for the 2000 Wrestling Championships logo. For full brackets of this year's tournament visit the NCAA's championships website at www.ncaachampionships.com.