Missouri Finishes Fifth at Big 12 Championships

Saturday, March 9

Norman, Okla.

All Day

University of Missouri

Big 12 Championships

3/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

March 10, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Missouri wrestling team took fourth place at the 2002 Big 12 Conference Championships in Norman, Okla. on Saturday, recording its best ever score at a Big 12 Championship. At the conference meet, 37 Big 12 wrestlers earned bids to the NCAA Championships, four of which were MU wrestlers.

A pair of Tiger sophomores reached the finals of their weight classes on Saturday.

Sophomore J.P. Reese defeated Ronnie Delk of Oklahoma State 4-2 in the semifinals, but was pinned by Iowa State's Aaron Holker in the finals. Reese's second place finish qualifies him for the NCAA Championships. It will be Reese's first trip to nationals.

At 197 pounds, sophomore Scott Barker recorded a 14-2 major decision over Justin Ruiz of Nebraska to reach the finals. In the championship match, Barker was defeated by Cael Sanderson of Iowa State. Sanderson, whose record improved to 154-0 for his career, recorded a technical fall over Barker. The second place finish qualified Barker for his first NCAA Championship.

Senior John Kopnisky took third place in the 174-pound class, defeating Nick Passolano of Iowa State in the third place match by a 7-3 decision. With the third place finish, Kopnisky qualified for the NCAA Championships, his third bid to nationals in his career at Missouri.

Junior Mark Bader (125), redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley (165), junior Dante Stone (184) and junior Kevin Herron (HWT) came away with fourth place finishes in their respective weight classes.

Redshirt freshman Tyron Woodley also qualified for the NCAA Tournament, earning one of the six wildcard spots selected on by the conference coaches.

Oklahoma took championship honors at the meet with a score of 87. Oklahoma State finished second with a score of 73, followed by Iowa State (63.5 points) in third, Nebraska (32.5 points) fourth and Missouri (26.5 points) fifth.

The 26.5 points is the most team points Missouri has scored in the six years of the Big 12 Championships. MU's previous best was 20 points in 1997, the inaugural season of the Big 12.

The NCAA Championships are March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y.

TEAM SCORES
1.) Oklahoma- 87 points
2.) Oklahoma State- 73 points
3.) Iowa State- 63.5 points
4.) Nebraska- 32.5 points
5.) Missouri- 26.5 points

MISSOURI MATCH RESULTS
First Round
125- Mark Bader (MU) maj. dec. Ty Malia (ISU) 14-4
133- Joey Malia (NU) tech. fall Chris McCormick (MU) 18-2 (5:46)
149- Jeremy Spates (MU) dec. Travis Shufelt (NU) 5-4
157- Kenny Burleson (MU) dec. Doug Cieleski (OU) 2-0
165- Tyron Woodley (MU) winner by forfeit
184- Dante Stone (MU) dec. Austen Palmer (ISU) 5-4
HWT- Kevin Herron (MU) maj. dec. Mitch Manstedt (NU) 10-2

Semifinals
125- Skyler Holman (OSU) dec. Mark Bader (MU) 6-1
141- J.P. Reese (MU) dec. Ronnie Delk (OSU) 10-4
149- Jared Frayer (OU) fall Jeremy Spates (MU) 6:10
157- Bryan Snyder (NU) maj. dec. Kenny Burleson (MU) 15-4
165- Joe Heskett (ISU) dec. Tyron Woodley (MU) 6-3
174- Ty Wilcox (OSU) dec. John Kopnisky (MU) 3-2
184- Josh Lambrecht (OU) tech. fall Dante Stone (MU) 18-2 (6:18)
197- Scott Barker (MU) maj. dec. Justin Ruiz (NU) 14-2
HWT- Leonce Crump (OU) fall Kevin Herron (MU) 1:23

Consolation
133- Zach Roberson (ISU) maj. dec. Chris McCormick (MU) 16-2

Third Place Matches
125- Jason Powell (NU) dec. Mark Bader (MU) 7-0
149- Travis Shufelt (NU) fall Jeremy Spates (MU) 4:20
157- Doug Cieleski (OU) dec. Kenny Burleson (MU) 5-2
165- Robbie Waller (OU) dec. Tyron Woodley (MU) 8-6 SV
174- John Kopnisky (MU) dec. Nick Passolano (ISU) 7-3
184- Travis Pascoe (NU) dec. Dante Stone (MU) 6-5
HWT- Mark Knauer (ISU) dec. Kevin Herron (MU) 6-4 SV