University of Missouri
Reno Tournament of Champions
Missouri Wins Reno Tournament of Champions
12/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 21, 2001
In a tournament that featured No. 2 ranked Oklahoma State and No. 13 ranked Arizona State, it was the No. 15 ranked Missouri wrestling team that took championship honors at the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev. Missouri had wrestlers place in all but one weight class and five advanced to the finals on the way to the victory.
The Tigers finished with a team score of 172.5, just ahead of Oklahoma State (171). Arizona State was third with a score of 115 and Penn State finished fourth with a 106.5 score.
Sophomore Scott Barker won the 197-pound weight class championship and was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. He pinned each of his four opponents on the way to winning the championship. His final pin came against Erik Gladish of Arizona State in 1:00. The longest it took for him to record a pin was 1:34.
Sophomore Jeremy Spates took second in the 149-pound class. He was defeated in the finals by Jerrod Sanders of Oklahoma State 3-2. Leading up to the championship match Spates had recorded a technical fall and a major decision along with two decisions.
Another second place finish came in the 157-pound class by junior Kenny Burleson. He reached the finals before falling to Shane Roller of Oklahoma State 8-6.
Redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley took second in the 165-pound class. Woodley, who recorded a technical fall in the first round, fell in the final match to Eugene Harris of Oregon by a 5-3 score.
Senior John Kopnisky was the fifth Tiger to reach the finals but was defeated by Oklahoma State's Ty Wilcox 3-0 in the final match. Kopnisky recorded a major decision over Pat Owens of Boise State in the semifinal match.
Also placing for Mizzou was sophomore J.P. Reese who took third in the 141-pound class. Reese pinned Scott Moore of Penn State in the third place match. He recorded two other pins in the tournament and had one technical fall.
In the 184-pound class, junior Dante Stone took third place recording two technical falls and a major decision on the day.
Redshirt freshman Matt Turner took fifth place in the 184-pound class, two spots behind teammate Dante Stone.
Junior Kevin Herron took fourth place in the heavyweight class. He also recorded two pins, one in only: 36.
MU junior Mark Bader took sixth at 125 pounds. In the tournament Bader recorded a pin and a major decision.
The next action for Missouri is a dual with Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. on Jan. 8. The Tigers are 5-0 in duals this year.
