Wrestling Head Coach Brian SmithWrestling Head Coach Brian Smith
Wrestling

Wrestling Team Hosts Princeton and Central Missouri State

Dec. 13, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. -

The University of Missouri wrestling team will host the Central Missouri State University Mules and the Princeton University Tigers in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse in a double dual meet on Sunday, December 15.

This will be Mizzou's (0-1) first home dual meet this season and second dual meet this year. The first dual meet this season saw the Tigers fall to #1 ranked Oklahoma State 34-6.

Princeton will take on Central Missouri in the first dual of the day at 1:00. The Tigers will then take on Central Missouri State approximately 30 minutes after the first dual. The Tigers then will face Princeton in the last dual of the day, also 30 minutes after the last match.

The Mules (2-2) are currently ranked #13 in the Division II Intermat poll. They have two wrestlers ranked in the top ten of the DII individual poll. Drew Passley (125 lbs.) and Seth Shippy (197 lbs.) are both ranked 8th in their respected weight classes. They return 6 starters from a team that finished 19th at the NCAA DII Championships.

Last week the Mules split the Simpson College Duals, beating Cornell College and Concordia University and losing to Coe College and Simpson College.

Division I opponent Princeton is 0-2 in duals this season, dropping both of their meets at the Bloomsburg Duals. However senior All-American Greg Parker returns to competition after sitting out with injuries. Parker is ranked #3 at 184-pounds in the latest Intermat poll. Parker was the runner-up in the 174-pound weight class last season at the NCAA Championships.

Princeton finished sixth at the Kutztown Open, placing six wrestlers. Brian Kirschbaum won the 133-pound weight class defeating Shippensburg's Sonny Phillip 9-0. Matt Hawrilenko finished in third place at the heavyweight class.

NEWS FROM THE MAT

BARKER RETURNS: Missouri's All-American Scott Barker will see his first action of the year against Princeton today. Barker, who was out due to a knee injury, will wrestle at 184-pounds. Barker, who was ranked as high as #3 at 197-pounds before the season, will face off against Princeton's Parker (#3).

TIGERS IN THE RANKINGS: Five Tigers are currently ranked in their respected weight classes by InterMat: 

	141 J.P. Reese (#15)		165 Tyron Woodley (#5)					157 Kenny Burleson (#15)	HWT Kevin Herron (#16)
	149 Jeremy Spates (#6)

HISTORY AGAINST OPPONENTS: Sunday's matchup with the Mules is the 40th meeting in dual competition between the in-state rivals. Mizzou holds a 33-6 lead in the series including a 41-0 victory last season in Columbia. The series dates back to the 1963-64 season. This is the first time in Missouri wrestling history that the Tigers will face their namesake Princeton Tigers in dual meet competition. Earlier this season the Princeton Tigers competed in the Missouri Open. Senior Joe Clarke was the top finisher for the Tigers. He placed sixth in the 141-pound weight class.