Nov. 16, 2002

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -

The Missouri Tiger wrestling team started the season off strong at the 28th Annual Central Missouri Open, placing 16 wrestlers at the all-day, 15 team event. Sophomores Jeremy Spates (149 lbs) and Tyron Woodley (165 lbs) and junior Kenny Burleson (157 lbs) all placed first in their respected weight classes. Woodley was picked as the open's Most Outstanding Wrestler, winning the 165 pound class with a 3-2 win over Iowa's Mark Mueller.

The 149 lb. championship match featured two Tiger wrestlers, Spates defeated sophomore Cody Greene 8-3. The 157 lb. championship bracket featured three Mizzou wrestlers; Burleson defeated Musaffar Aburakmanov (Colby Community College) by disqualification, Jon Sioredas placed fourth (falling to Iowa's Joe Johnston 9-7) and freshman Matt Pell placed fifth (shutting out Central Missouri's Ryan Hunter, 4-0).

J.P. Reese (141 lbs.), Matt Turner (174 lbs.), Chris Parris (184 lbs.) and Dante Stone (197 lbs.) all placed second in their weight classes.

Missouri Placings:

	125 	Austin DeVoe 		6th
	133	Mark Bader		5th
	141	JP Reese		2nd
	149	Jeremy Spates		1st
	149	Cody Greene		2nd
	157	Kenny Burleson		1st
	157	Jon Sioredas		4th
	157	Matt Pell		5th
	165	Tyron Woodley		1st 	(named Outstanding wrestler)
	174	Matt Turner		2nd
	174	Ben Askren		4th
	184	Chris Parris		2nd
	184	Jeff Foust		3rd
	197	Dante Stone		2nd
	HWT	Kevin Herron		3rd
	HWT	Karl Person		6th

The Tigers will be in action this coming weekend, as the Tigers host the Missouri Open on Sunday, November 24. The start time is 8:00 a.m. in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.