University of Missouri
Old Dominion
No. 10 Missouri Routs Old Dominion
1/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 8, 2002
The University of Missouri wrestling team remained undefeated on the year as they rolled over Old Dominion 43-6 on Tuesday in Norfolk, Va. to move to 6-0. Old Dominion fell to 0-4 on the season.
Missouri dominated the dual winning all but one bout and claiming four pins and two technical falls along with three decisions.
Junior Mark Bader began the Tiger domination with a 9-4 decision over John Starks of Old Dominion in the 125-pound weight class.
At 133 pounds, freshman Chris McCormick gave Mizzou another three points by defeating Paul Jimenez by a 3-0 score.
The Tigers then began to roll starting in the 141-pound bout where sophomore J.P. Reese pinned Mark Clark in only :29. Reese improved to 11-4 on the year.
Sophomore Jeremy Spates then picked up a technical fall victory over Casey Todd in the 149-pound weight class improving his record to 11-2.
In the 157-pound match, sophomore Kenny Burleson claimed a 9-2 decision over the Monarchs' Jesse Pearce.
Redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley moved to 11-3 on the season by scoring a technical fall win over Ben Summerlin in the 165-pound bout.
The 174-pound match was the highlight match of the night featuring No. 9 John Kopnisky of Missouri and No. 5 Jeff Rusak of Old Dominion. Kopnisky dominated most of the match and was up 3-1 in the third period before Rusak put him on his back and picked up a pin and the lone Monarchs' win.
Missouri finished the dual by recording three straight pins. Junior Dante Stone pinned Old Dominion's Matt Small in 2:16 in the 184-pound class.
At 197-pounds, sophomore Scott Barker picked up his seventh pin of the season over Greg Gill in only :21. Barker improved to 10-0 on the season.
Not to be outdone, Tiger junior Kevin Herron pinned Derrell Lorthridge in only :18 in the heavyweight match.
"After the three week layoff, you never know what to expect," MU coach Brian Smith said. "We were a little rusty in a few matches, but really dominated in the upperweights with the last three guys going pin, pin, pin real quick. We're real happy with the win, but would have like to have had that 174 match also."
The 6-0 record is the best record the Tigers have held since they went 7-0 to start the 1983-84 season.
Next up for tenth ranked Missouri are the Virginia Duals on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers then travel to Wyoming on Jan. 18 before returning to the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Jan. 25 for a dual against No. 2 Oklahoma State.
