University of Missouri
Missouri Open
Eight Tigers Place as Missouri Host 2nd Annual Missouri Open
11/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 18, 2001
For the second consecutive year the University of Missouri hosted the Missouri Open, featuring more than 400 wrestlers from more than 20 universities and colleges. Included in the field were many of the top wrestlers in the country.
Four No. 1 ranked wrestlers in the nation were in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Sunday. Illinois' John Lockhart, Indiana's Viktor Sveda, Oklahoma's Jared Frayer and Arizona's Eric Larkin all took part in this year's Open. The heavyweight division included the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 16 and 19 wrestlers in the country.
The Missouri Tigers had eight wrestlers place in the open competition of the tournament. They also placed three in the freshman/sophomore division.
Junior Mark Bader took fifth place in the 125-pound weight class defeating Josh Buchanan of Lindenwood 6-4 in the fifth place bout.
In the 149-pound weight class, sophomore Jeremy Spates and senior Jesse Jordan reached the fifth place match, but did not wrestle for fifth. Spates was awarded fifth because he had won the earlier bout between the two.
Sophomore Kenny Burleson took second place in the 157-pound class and redshirt freshman Jon Sioredas took fourth in that weight class.
Redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley reached the finals of the 165-pound match, but fell to Illinois' Matt Lackey in the championship match.
Senior John Kopnisky took championship honors in the 174-pound class. He defeated Bryan Glynn of Illinois 3-1 in the finals.
In the heavyweight division, junior Kevin Herron took fourth place falling to No. 1 John Lockhart of Illinois in the semifinals 3-2, and then dropping the third place match to Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State. In the freshman/sophomore division, freshman Chris McCormick took first in the 133-pound class, freshman T.J. Hansen took second at 165 pounds and freshman Jeff Foust took third in the 184-pound class.
Open Division Champions:
125- Matt Ridings- Oklahoma
133- Witt Durdin- Oklahoma
141- David Douglas- Arizona State
149- Eric Larkin- Arizona State
157- Rocky Smart- Arizona State
165- Matt Lackey- Illinois
174- John Kopnisky- Missouri
184- Josh Lambrecht- Oklahoma
197- Nick Preston- Ohio State
HWT- John Lockhart- Illinois
Up next Missouri is a home dual with Indiana on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
