Dec. 19, 1999

Oak Grove, Mo. - The University of Missouri wrestling team ended the 1999 portion of its 1999-2000 schedule on a winning note Sunday afternoon. The now 2-5 Tigers, knocked off the previously unbeaten Wyoming Cowboys, 21-18 at Oak Grove High School. Earlier in the day MU dropped a 27-12 dual to Indiana.

JOHN KOPNISKY (174), JEREMY SPATES (141) and CHAD HERTZOG (HWT) each won two matches for MU on the day. Kopnisky (19-1, 7-0) has now won a career-best seven straight dual matches and leads the team with 19 total wins. The sophomore 174-pound wrestler will continue to move up the national rankings with his weekend wins. Previously he was ranked No. 15 by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 17 by Intermat Magazine.

Spates improved his record to 16-4, 5-2 in duals, in his first season at MU. The freshman has won five consecutive dual matches dating back to a loss on November 18 to Oklahoma State?s Jamill Kelly. Hertzog was a key contributor to the Tiger cause scoring a 2-1 win over IU?s Michael Dixon before pinning Wyoming?s Brad Steele in 6:27. With two wins, Hertzog evened his season record at 8-8.

Senior JEFF URBAN (149) won the deciding match of Missouri?s win, beating Mark Hamrick 7-6 in a match that came down to the last whistle and put Missouri up, 21-15. The lone Tiger senior is currently the No. 17 wrestler in the nation according to Intermat and is 13-7 this season. Sophomore KEVIN HERRON (197) also chalked up an important win for MU, taking Wyoming?s Craig Rumsey in a major decision, 11-3. Herron finishes 1999 with a 9-7 record.

Missouri?s wrestling squad will next wrestle on January 2, 2000 at the Great Plains Open hosted by the University of Nebraska. MU?s next dual action takes place on January 9 when the Tigers travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. for the Central Michigan Duals.