Nov. 16, 2001

In only its second year, the Missouri Open has become one of the largest and strongest events in the country. Over 20 Universities and colleges will be represented and more than 400 wrestlers will take to the mats in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Sunday.

The Missouri Open features many of the top teams from around the nation including teams from two of the strongest wrestling conferences in the nation.

From the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Iowa State will have wrestlers entered joining those from Missouri. The Big Ten will also be well represented, as wrestlers from Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Northwestern will be in action.

Other teams represented include Arizona State, Eastern Illinois and several junior college schools.

Many of the nation's top wrestlers will be in the Hearnes Center this weekend. Twelve wrestlers ranked in the top four in the nation will be in competition and four wrestlers that are ranked No. 1 in their weight class will wrestle this weekend.

Illinois' John Lockhart (HWT), Indiana's Viktor Sveda (184), Oklahoma's Jared Frayer (149) and Arizona State's Eric Larkin (141) are each the top ranked wrestler in his respective weight class.

The heavyweight division will have the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 16 and 19 ranked wrestlers in competition.

Wrestling will begin at 9 a.m. and continue all day. The finals are expected to start around 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for the entire day.