University of Missouri
Penn State
No. 9 Missouri Wins Virginia Duals Championship
1/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Six Tigers won their matches against Hofstra including freshman Chris McCormick (133 pounds), sophomore Jeremy Spates, sophomore Kenny Burleson (157 pounds), senior John Kopnisky (174 pounds), junior Dante Stone (184 pounds) and junior Kevin Herron (heavyweight).
Mizzou reached the finals by defeating Penn State 19-16 in the semifinals earlier on Saturday. In that match, the Tigers got a technical fall win from Kopnisky (174 pounds), two major decisions from Spates (149 pounds) and Burleson (157 pounds), and decisions from sophomore Scott Barker (197 pounds) and Herron (heavyweight).
The Tigers are ranked No. 9 in the nation by Intermat and their 10-0 record is the best start to the season a MU wrestling team has had since the 1967-68 team started 15-0. That year the Tigers finished 18-0-1.
Missouri will travel to Wyoming on Friday before returning to the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Jan. 25 for a big dual with No. 2 Oklahoma State.
Finals
Missouri 25 Hofstra 13
125- Tom Noto (HU) maj. dec. Mark Bader (MU) 10-2
133- Chris McCormick (MU) maj. dec. Frank Hoeffner (HU) 9-0
141- Jon Masa (HU) dec. J.P. Reese (MU) 7-5
149- Jeremy Spates (MU) dec. James Scalan (HU) 1-0
157- Kenny Burleson (MU) dec. Paul Siemon (HU) 4-2
165- John Garriques (HU) dec. Tyron Woodley (MU) 2-1
174- John Kopnisky (MU) wins by Disqualification over Ralph Everett
184- Dante Stone (MU) dec. Jason Skretkowicz (HU) 4-2
197- Chris Sketkowicz (HU) dec. Scott Barker (MU) 17-13
HWT- Kevin Herron (MU) wins by forfeit over Matt Daddino (HU)
Semifinals
Missouri 19 Penn State 16
125- Adam Smith (PSU) maj. dec. Mark Bader (MU) 13-5
133- Scott Moore (PSU) dec. Chris McCormick (MU) 5-2
141- Marat Tomaev (PSU) dec. J.P. Reese (MU) 4-3
149- Jeremy Spates (MU) maj. dec. Jason Woodall (PSU) 13-2
157- Kenny Burleson (MU) maj. dec. James Woodall (PSU) 8-0
165- Chris Vecchio (PSU) dec. Jesse Jordan (MU) 5-3
174- John Kopnisky (MU) tech. fall Todd Brennan (PSU) 3:39
184- Mark Becks (PSU) dec. Dante Stone (MU) 3-2
197- Scott Barker (MU) dec. Pete Mielnik (PSU) 6-1
HWT- Kevin Herron (MU) dec. Josh Walker (PSU) 9-2
