Feb. 28, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - Head Coach Brian Smith will take his Tigers to Stillwater this weekend to compete in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, held Friday and Saturday March 2-3.

"This is what we work for all season," said Coach Smith. "We tell the wrestlers to be at their peak level of performance in March, and now we're here. This is what we focus toward all season. The Big 12 is the best wrestling conference in the country, so this will be one of the toughest tournaments we wrestle in all year. The team is healthy, and I think we're ready to go. It's exciting," Smith said.

Missouri's best hopes for advancing wrestlers into the NCAA Championships include junior John Kopnisky at 174 pounds and freshman Justin Spates at 125, although there are others who may surprise people, Smith said.

Missouri Big 12 Conference Tournament Lineup 125 - Justin Spates (Fr. 22-10)

133 - Jesse West (Jr. 15-15)

141 - J.P. Reese (Fr. 15-11)

149 - Kenny Burleson (Fr. 22-9)

157 - Jesse Jordan (Jr. 13-11)

165 - Mark Vollmar (So. 9-19)

174 - John Kopnisky (Jr. 27-4)

184 - Ry Stone (Jr. 14-15)

197 - Dante Stone (So. 15-13)

285 - Scott Barker (Fr. 10-9)