Feb. 20, 2000
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri wrestling team finished its team dual schedule with a win Sunday, 24-12 over the Northern Illinois Huskies at Hearnes Center. The Tigers end the season with an 11-11 dual mark, the largest win total since 1984-85 (11-10), and will next wrestle at the Big 12 Championships on March 5. NIU fell to 3-12.
Senior JEFF URBAN (149), wrestling in his final home dual, led the MU charge with a pin of J.C. Gaunt in 6:05. Urban, now 29-10 overall, put MU ahead for good with his fall victory which gave Missouri a 12-6 advantage. His victory was the second of five straight which Missouri won to take control of the dual.
Starting the win streak was freshman JEREMY SPATES (141) who won his 30th match of the season, 4-2 over Tom LeCuyer. Spates is the first Tiger wrestler to win thirty bouts since Shaon Fry finished the 1993-94 season 38-3. The win also gave Spates 100 points for the season.
Sophomore JOHN KOPNISKY (174) won his 29th match as well, a 4-1 decision over Ben Heizer. Kopnisky is now 29-6 overall, 13-5 in duals. He and Urban both will be looking for win number thirty at the Big 12 Championships in two weeks.
Other winning Tigers were KEVIN HERRON (197), who added to his career-high with his 24th win, MARK VOLLMAR (165), who recorded his first collegiate pin, and JESSE JORDAN (157), who now has a career-high 25 wins.
The Big 12 Championships, hosted by the University of Nebraska, are up next for Mizzou's wrestlers. The conference meet takes place on Sunday, March 5 at the Devaney Center.
Missouri vs. Northern Illinois
197 Kevin Herron (MU) dec. Jason Nape (NIU), 3-0
HWT Jon Lovrich (NIU) dec. Chad Hertzog (MU), 9-4
125 Alexis Rivera (NIU) dec. Jesse West (MU), 3-1
133 Twan Pham (NIU) dec. Mark Bader (MU), 10-5
141 Jeremy Spates (MU) dec. Tom LeCuyer (NIU), 4-2
149 Jeff Urban (MU) pin J.C. Gaunt (NIU), 6:55
157 Jesse Jordan (MU) dec. Luc Dyer (NIU), 5-2
165 Mark Vollmar (MU) pin Zach Becker (NIU), 2:55
174 John Kopnisky (MU) dec. Ben Heizer (NIU), 4-1
184 Dave Potter (NIU) dec. Josh Maze (MU), 7-3
Missouri vs. Northern Illinois Bout-by-Bout
197 Kevin Herron vs. Jason Nape
Period 1
Period 2
M-R2
Period 3
M-TA1
Kevin Herron (24-10) dec. Jason Nape, 3-0
NIU 0 MU 3
HWT Chad Hertzog vs. Jon Lovrich
Period 1
N-TD2 N-NF2
Period 2
N-CAUTION M-CAUTION N-E1
Period 3
M-E1 N-STALL WARN M-TD2 N-E1 M-P1 N-TD2
N-TA1
Jon Lovrich dec. Chad Hertzog (16-18), 9-4
NIU 3 MU 3
125 Jesse West vs. Alexis Rivera
Period 1
N-CAUTION
Period 2
M-E1
Period 3
M-CAUTION N-E1 N-TD2
Alexis Rivera dec. Jesse West (9-6), 3-1
NIU 6 MU 3
133 Mark Bader vs. Twan Pham
Period 1
N-TD2 M-E1 N-TD2 M-E1
Period 2
M-E1 N-TD2 M-E1 N-TD2
Period 3
N-TD2 M-E1
Twan Pham dec. Mark Bader (11-27), 10-5
NIU 9 MU 3
141 Jeremy Spates vs. Tom LeCuyer
Period 1
N-TD2 M-E1
Period 2
M-E1 M-TD2
Period 3
Jeremy Spates (30-9) dec. Tom LeCuyer, 4-2
NIU 9 MU 6
149 Jeff Urban vs. J.C. Gaunt
Period 1
M-TD2
Period 2
N-E1 N-TD2 M-R2
Period 3
M-E1 M-TD2 M-NF3
Jeff Urban (29-10) pin J.C. Gaunt, 6:05
NIU 9 MU 12
157 Jesse Jordan vs. Luc Dyer
Period 1
N-TD2 M-R2 M-NF2
Period 2
M-E1
Period 3
M-STALL WARN
Jesse Jordan (25-16) dec. Luc Dyer, 5-2
NIU 9 MU 15
165 Mark Vollmar vs. Zach Becker
Period 1
N-TD2 M-E1 M-TD2
Mark Vollmar (10-19) pin Zach Becker, 2:55
NIU 9 MU 21
174 John Kopnisky vs. Ben Heizer
Period 1
M-TD2 N-E1
Period 2
N-CAUTION M-E1
Period 3
M-TA1
John Kopnisky (29-6) dec. Ben Heizer, 4-1
NIU 9 MU 24
184 Josh Maze vs. Dave Potter
Period 1
N-TD2
Period 2
N-R2 M-E1
Period 3
N-CAUTION M-E1 N-TD2 M-E1 N-TA1
Dave Potter dec. Josh Maze (16-28), 7-3
FINAL SCORE NIU 12 MU 24