Jan. 20, 2000

Marshall, Mo. - The University of Missouri wrestling team added two more wins to its season total Thursday night with a 26-9 victory over Missouri Valley and a 32-10 defeat of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Missouri, 8-6 on the season, has won five straight duals, and seven of its last eight..

This season?s eight wins gives MU the most team wins by any Tiger squad since 1991-92, when Missouri finished the season 8-6. The Tigers still have eight duals remaining, placing them in prime position to have the school?s first double-figure win total in wrestling since the 1984-85 season (11-10-0).

Six Tigers won two matches Thursday night led by sophomore KEVIN HERRON (197) who improved to 19-7 on the season by winning his eighth and ninth consecutive matches. JEFF URBAN (149), JESSE JORDAN (157), CHAD HERTZOG (HWT), JESSE WEST (125) and JEREMY SPATES (141) also were two-time winners.

Spates earned major decision victories over both his opponents, while West recorded the night?s only pin, a fall of Missouri Valley?s Chad Hopkins at 5:34. MU sophomore JOHN KOPNISKY (174), was back in the lineup for the Missouri Valley dual, registering a 6-0 win over Dustin Hynes. With the win, Kopnisky improved to 25-2 on the season.

Missouri will next be in action on Sunday, January 23 at 2 p.m. when it takes on Northwestern and Marquette. Those duals will be held at Marion Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Ill.

MISSOURI RECORDS FOLLOWING THURSDAY NIGHT DUALS

125 Jesse West 6-1

133 Mark Bader 10-20

141 Jeremy Spates 26-5

149 Jeff Urban 23-8

157 Jesse Jordan 22-12

165 Tim Hawks 3-10

165/74 Mark Vollmar 9-17

174 John Kopnisky 25-2

184 Josh Maze 13-19

197 Kevin Herron 19-7

HWT Chad Hertzog 14-12