Nov. 25, 2003
Columbia, Mo. - Earning a key win over defending national champion Oklahoma State, the Missouri wrestling team moved up three spots in the weekly Intermat Wrestling Poll to assume the No. 6 station. Former No. 1 OSU moved down one spot to No. 2, while Illinois moved to the head of the lineup.
With the move, Missouri stands ahead of Big 12 competitors Nebraska (No. 9) and Oklahoma (No. 17) and behind No. 2 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Iowa State. The Tigers will meet up with each of the Big 12 teams at one point throughout the season before heading to the Big 12 Championships on March 6, in Ames, Iowa.
Six Tigers improved on their standings in the individual polls. Making the biggest jumps were senior Kenny Burelson (157) junior Jeff Foust (197) and redshirt freshman Ben Askren (174).
Moving up three spots to No. 9 is Burleson (Neosho, Mo.). The team captain scored the final MU win in the dual with Oklahoma State last Friday night, defeating No. 11 Kevin Ward in a 5-3 decision. Returning to the mat on Sunday, Burleson finished second at the Missouri Open behind No. 2 Alex Tirapelle of Illinois.
Foust, a native of Blue Springs, Mo., made his first appearance in the weekly poll. Weighing in at 197 pounds, Foust stands at No. 18 ahead of Big 12 competitor Rusty Blackmon. In their seven-minute battle Friday night, Foust came out on top with a 3-1 decision.
Also improving is Askren of Hartland, Wis. Providing a challenge to No. 1 Chris Pendelton (OSU), Askren kept his matches with the Cowboy close on both meetings over the three day time-span. Askren debuted at No. 10 in the preseason polls before moving to ninth last week and sixth today.
Seniors J.P. Reese (141) and Mike Whitehead (HWT) along with junior Paul Collum (133) moved up one spot in their respective weight classes. Reese and Collum both stand among the top 10 in the nation, while Whitehead is just on the outside at 12th.
The Tigers will head to Las Vegas, Nev., for the Cliff Keen Invitational Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, before returning home to host Indiana Saturday, Dec. 13, in the Hearnes Center Fiedhouse.
-MU-