Jan. 31, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
In front of a record-breaking crowd of 1,145 fans, the University of Missouri wrestling team pulled off their second upset in a row by defeating ninth-ranked Nebraska, 23-14. The win is the Tigers second win this season in the Big 12, the first time in school history that a Tiger team has won two Big 12 duals. The win improved the Tigers to 11-5 for the season and 2-1 in the Big 12.
The Tigers started off in a 7-0 hole after the first two matches. Mark Bader (Creve Coeur, Mo./Vianney) lost a 11-4 decision to 3rd-ranked Jason Powell in the 125-pound bout. Chris McCormick (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley North) couldn't get anything started against 15th-ranked Joey Malia in the 133-pound match and lost via a major decision, 11-2.
J.P. Reese (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) got the Tigers on the board with his 9-2 decision over Dusty Spaulding in the 141-pound match. Jeremy Spates (Norman, Okla./Norman), ranked #8, made it two in a row with his 7-4 decision over 7th-ranked Travis Shufelt to cut the deficit to 7-6.
11th-ranked Kenny Burleson (Neosho, Mo./Neosho) extended his team's-best winning streak to 14 matches with his 11-5 decision over Nate McMillin in the 157-pound match to put the Tigers on top 9-7. The win gave Burleson his team leading 27th win and 14th dual win.
Tyron Woodley (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) kept the Tigers winning ways going with his 12-1 major decision victory over 17th-ranked Jacob Klein. The seventh-ranked Woodley recorded his team-leading ninth major decision of the season. The win increased the Tigers lead to 13-7.
Sophomore John Sioredas (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) saw his second dual action of the season against eighth-ranked Travis Pascoe. Sioredas couldn't hold off Pascoe's onslaught of takedowns and lost due to a technical fall, 27-12. The win narrowed the Tiger lead to 13-11.
2002 All-American and fourth-ranked Scott Barker (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) showed he was 100 percent recovered from his early season injuries with a quick pin of 13th-ranked B.J. Padden in 1:44 in the 197-pound bout. The pin gave the Tigers a 19-11 lead with two matches to go.
The Huskers made it 19-14, when 2002 All-American and third-ranked Justin Ruiz defeated 19th-ranked Dante Stone (Calder, Id./North Idaho Junior College), 8-3, in a tightly contested battle. The win gave the Huskers a chance to win the dual with a pin in the final bout.
Kevin Herron (Imperial, Mo./Fox) made sure that would not be the case as he dominated Mitch Manstedt in the heavyweight-bout and won by a major decision, 14-2 to clinch the victory and the upset. This is the first time in school history that the Tigers have won two in a row against top-ten opponents.
The win by the Tigers dropped the Huskers to 13-5 and 0-1 in the Big 12.
The win puts the Tigers in good shape to gain a second seed in the Big 12 Championships. If the Tigers defeat the Iowa State Cyclones next Sunday they would clinch the second seed behind Oklahoma State.
The Tiger hit the road Sunday for a nonconference dual against Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Illinois. The Panthers are 4-8 in duals this season.
NOTES FROM THE MAT: The previous attendance record was set last season against Oklahoma State when 1,138 fans attended the 26-7 loss by the Tigers in the Hearnes Center Arena.