Feb. 17, 2003
DEKALB, Ill. -
The ninth-ranked University of Missouri wrestling team couldn't recover from an early 6-0 deficit as they dropped six out of the ten matches against 20th-ranked Northern Illinois and lost, 21-16, in a nonconference dual meet in the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. The loss was only the Tigers sixth loss of the season, as the Tigers fall to 14-6 (3-1 Big 12) for the season. The loss snapped the Tigers five-dual winning streak and three-dual winning streak against ranked opponents. The Tigers are 4-5 against ranked opponents this season.
The Tigers were shorthanded, as starters Kenny Burleson (Neosho, Mo./Neosho), Matt Turner (Leawood, Kan./Blue Springs South) and Dante Stone (Calder. Id./North Idaho Junior College) did not compete due to injuries.
The Huskies (13-6, 2-1 MAC) picked up their third win over a ranked team as they celebrated Huskie Senior Day. In the first match of the day, senior Mark Bader (Creve Coeur, Mo./Vianney) lost to Marlon Felton, 3-2 in the 125-pound match. Chris McCormick (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley North) also suffered a loss, losing by decision to Sam Hiatt, 2-1 in the 133-pound bout. After two matches, the Tigers trailed 6-0.
The Tigers got on the board after 12th-ranked J.P. Reese (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) picked up his 23rd victory of the season, defeating 19th-ranked Josh Wooten, 6-4. The win by Reese cut the Huskie lead to 6-3.
Seventh-ranked Jeremy Spates (Norman, Okla./Norman) won his 141-pound match against Oliver Vazquez, 10-3, to tie up the scoring at six apiece. The victory was Spates' 21st of the season and his 13th dual victory of the season.
Sophomore Cody Greene (St. Charles, Mo./Seckman) filled in for an injured Burleson at 157-pounds, but was no match for 2002 All-American and third-ranked Scott Owen. Owen scored a pin in 2:27 to give the Huskies the lead for good, 12-6.
Fifth-ranked Tyron Woodley (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) suffered only his seventh loss of the season, losing to Jeremy Benesh in a sudden victory tie-breaker. Woodley couldn't score in overtime and then couldn't escape from Benesh to score in the extra period. In the 174-pound bout sophomore J.C. Russell (Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood West) replaced an injured Turner. Russell lost to Bill Lowney, 6-2. The two Huskie victories increased their lead to 18-6.
Tiger All-American Scott Barker (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) faced off against eighth-ranked Ben Heizer in the 184-pound bout. Barker pinned Heizer at the 6:38 mark to pick up his 11th victory of the season and his seventh pin of the year. It was Barker's fourth victory against a ranked opponent this season. The win by Barker cut the Huskie lead to 18-12 with two bouts left. The Tigers needed two victories in the final two bouts to win the meet.
The Tigers sent out redshirt freshman Jeff Foust (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) in place of an injured Stone to take on James Oliva. Foust and Oliva were all tied up at the end of three periods. In overtime Oliva scored a takedown and win, 4-2 in overtime and eliminated any thoughts of a Tiger comeback. The win by Oliva increased the Huskie lead to 21-12.
In the heavyweight bout, senior Kevin Herron (Imperial, Mo./Fox) recorded his team-leading 18th dual victory with a 10-0 major decision over Jack Dennis. The win by Herron ended the bout and scoring with the Tigers on the short end of the stick. 21-16.
The Tiger end their regular season in a nonconference home dual against the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on Wednesday, February 19 in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. The start time is 7:00 p.m. and will be the last home dual meet for three seniors. Bader, Stone and Herron will be honored before the meet.