Dec. 16, 1999
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri wrestling team will take its show on the road this weekend when they host three schools for a four-way dual at Oak Grove High School in suburban Kansas City, Mo. Indiana University, the University of Wyoming and Central Missouri State University will be Missouri?s guests on Sunday, December 19 in a home event for MU.
On two mats of action, Missouri and Indiana will face off, while Wyoming and Central Missouri battle, both matches begin at 1 p.m. MU and CMSU will then switch opponents beginning at 3 p.m., as the Tigers take on Wyoming and CMSU the Hoosiers of Indiana. The day?s action will be completed when Indiana and Wyoming dual at 5 p.m.
The Tigers were 1-2 last weekend, dropping matches to #23 Purdue, 19-15 and at #7 Nebraska, 32-6. MU bested Lindenwood 27-15 Friday night for the team?s first dual win of the season. Indiana will wrestle its first dual of the 1999-2000 campaign on Sunday, while Wyoming and CMSU bring 2-0 and 4-1 records into the action respectively.
Missouri (1-4) is led by 174-pound sophomore JOHN KOPNISKY (#17 Intermat/#15 AWN) who leads the team with a 17-1 record and 11 takedowns. Kopnisky has won each of his five dual matches this season, one short of his career-high for consecutive dual matches won during one season. Counting wins in the final two duals of last season, Kopnisky has won seven consecutive regular season dual matches.
Senior JEFF URBAN (#16 Intermat/#19 AWN) has held down a national ranking throughout the season and is currently 12-6 overall, 2-3 in duals. At 157 lbs., sophomore JESSE JORDAN is 13-6, including a 2-3 dual mark, and is among the top-25 wrestlers in the NCAA at his weight. Freshman JEREMY SPATES has wrestled to a 14-4 overall record, and has won his last three duals--over Lindenwood, Purdue, and at Nebraska--putting him on the verge of a national ranking.
Indiana leads the all-time series versus Missouri at 4-8, having won the last five meetings between the two schools. The Tigers are 1-2 in all meetings versus Wyoming. Last season, MU dropped a 24-15 match at Indiana and lost 30-7 to Wyoming in Laramie.
After this weekend?s duals, the Tigers will be off until January 2, 2000 when the team will travel to the Great Plains Open hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. MU next dual action takes place January 9 at the Central Michigan Duals in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Missouri will face Central Michigan, George Mason, and Findlay in the team?s first dual action of the year 2000.