Tiger Wrestling Takes On Purdue and Lindenwood This Friday
12/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 6, 1999
Columbia, Mo. - After a three-week hiatus, the University of Missouri wrestling team returns to action this Friday night when they host No. 25 Purdue and No. 6 Lindenwood (NAIA) in a three-way dual beginning at 6:00pm. Missouri will first take on Purdue and then will face Lindenwood at approximately 7:30pm. Both matches will be held in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
The Tigers enter this week?s wrestling with an 0-2 dual record, but boasts two wrestlers among the nation?s top-20 according to Intermat Wrestling Magazine. Senior JEFF URBAN is the No. 16 wrestler at 149 lbs, while sophomore JOHN KOPNISKY is holding down the No. 17 spot at 174 lbs. Kopnisky is 2-0 in dual matches this season and is 14-1 overall. His only loss came to Oklahoma?s Byron Tucker in the championship match of the St. Louis Open. Tucker is currently the No. 2-ranked wrestler at 174 lbs.
Along with the team?s No. 25 ranking by Intermat, three Purdue Boilermakers find themselves in the national individual rankings this week. Jason Silverstein is ranked eighth at 125 lbs., Evan Robinson is No. 18 at 133 lbs., and Jacob Vercelli is No. 15 at heavyweight. A Tiger win would be its first over a Big Ten opponent since February 11, 1995 when MU defeated Purdue, 21-16. A victory over the 25th-ranked Purdue squad would be MU?s first victory over a ranked opponent since a 20-19 win over then-No. 9 Oklahoma at the Hearnes Center in 1994. Missouri is 5-9 all-time versus Purdue University. .
Lindenwood began the season as the No. 6-ranked wrestling squad among the nation?s NAIA schools according to Intermat. Eight Lindenwood Lions ranked among the top eight in their respective weight classes in the pre-season poll, proving Missouri will need a good effort to defeat their Show-Me-State rivals. The Lions closed the 1998-99 campaign by finishing 13th at the NAIA National Tournament. The Tigers are 3-0 all-time versus Lindenwood.
Missouri split with Purdue and Lindenwood last season, defeating the Lindenwood Lions 46-10 on January 21 after dropping a 26-5 dual to Purdue on December 13 in West Lafayette, Ind.
Following Friday?s duals, Missouri will travel to Sioux City, Nebraska for a Big 12 Conference dual with No. 14 Nebraska on Sunday, December 12 at 2pm. The match will be televised by Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
PROBABLE MISSOURI LINEUP
125 Open 165 Mark Vollmar (7-5)
133 Mark Bader (6-8) 174 John Kopnisky (14-1)
141 Jeremy Spates (11-4) 184 Josh Maze (10-6)
149 Jeff Urban (10-5) 197 Kevin Herron (6-5)
157 Jesse Jordan (11-5) HWT Chad Hertzog (5-7)
