Jan. 3, 2002

The University of Missouri wrestling team continues to move up in the polls. The Tigers are now ranked No. 10 in the latest poll released Wednesday by Intermat. Missouri also has six wrestlers who are ranked in their weight classes.

After beginning the season with a No. 21 ranking the Tigers are off to a 5-0 start, with two of those wins coming over teams that were ranked in the top ten. Mizzou then captured championship honors at the Reno Tournament of Champions that included teams such as then No. 2 ranked Oklahoma State and then No. 13 Arizona State.

Leading the Tigers this year has been sophomore Scott Barker. He has a 9-0 record on the year and of his nine wins, six have been pins. He was 4-0 with four pins at the Reno Tournament and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Barker is ranked No. 5 in the 197-pound class in the most recent poll.

Redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley is 10-3 on the season and is the eighth ranked 165-pound wrestler.

Tiger senior John Kopnisky is ranked No. 9 at 174 pounds. He is 11-2 on the year and is only nine victories away from reaching 100 career wins.

Sophomore Jeremy Spates is also 11-2 on the season and is ranked No. 9 at 149 pounds.

Sophomore J.P. Reese (141 pounds) and junior Kevin Herron (heavyweight) are ranked No. 14 in their respective weight classes. Reese is 10-4 on the year and Herron has a record of 9-6.

Next up for Missouri is a trip to Norfolk, Va. where the Tigers will dual with Old Dominion next Tuesday. The Tigers will then take part in the Virginia Duals on Jan 11-12.