Jan. 16, 2004
Day One Bracket
Heading into week three of a month-long challenge, the second-ranked Missouri wrestling team travels to Cleveland, Ohio, for the NWCA National Duals Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17-18. Hosted by Cleveland State, the duals will run in the Convocation Center with first-round matchups beginning at 8 a.m., CT, Jan 17.
Entering with a 7-0 record, Missouri will meet with No. 24 Michigan State on mat seven of the 10 a.m. (CT) day one session.
The Tigers drew the No. 2 seed, with Big 12 competitor and defending NWCA National Duals champion Oklahoma State, drawing the No. 1 seed. Iowa State drew the No. 3 seed.
Alma mater of head coach Brian Smith, the Michigan State Spartans are tied with Missouri, 2-2 in the all-time series record, with the last win going to Missouri (30-6) on Feb. 10, 2002, at home.
"Michigan State has a great wrestling program," Smith said. "I used to run through the halls at practice and see lines and lines of pictures of former Big 10 and NCAA Champions. They have an amazing wrestling tradition and I have nothing but respect for (head coach) Tom Milken."
The winner of the Missouri/Michigan State dual will advance to mat three in a dual against the winner of the Hofstra/Central Michigan dual slated for 2 p.m. CT.
Expected to use his full starting lineup, Smith brings with him seniors J.P. Reese (141), Jeremy Spates (149), Kenny Burleson (157) and Mike Whitehead (HWT), juniors Tyron Woodley (165) and Paul Collum (133), sophomores Austin DeVoe (125) and Jeff Foust (197) along with redshirt freshmen Ben Askren (174) and Matt Pell (184).
Allowed to enter 15 wrestlers, Smith will also have juniors Cody Greene (149) and J.C. Russell (184) sophomore T.J. Hansen (174) and redshirt freshmen Amond Prater (133) and Gabe Conaghan (165) weigh in.
"Wrestling against Michigan State in our first dual of the day will be good for the team," Smith said. "The Big 10 schools have a different style of wrestling that we don't often see, so it will be a challenge, but one that we're looking forward to."
Bringing previous National Duals experience are seniors Burleson, Reese and Spates along with junior Woodley and sophomores DeVoe and Foust. Together the six men combined for a 6-4 record, with Burleson and Woodley going a perfect 2-0 in 2003.
The NWCA National Duals are recognized as one of the premiere wrestling events in the country. Bringing together the top-16 teams in NCAA Division I, II and III to compete for the national dual meet championship in their respective division, the two day event will run on 12 mats, with semifinals and finals held Sunday. The finals are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (CT). CSTV will broadcast the event on DirecTV channel 610 on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m.
"Everyone on the team was excited when the brackets were announced," Smith said. "We're entering the National Duals this year a lot more prepared than we were last year. I expect everyone to show up and wrestle their best."
Other Division I schools competing include No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Iowa State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Penn State, No. 9 Minnesota, No. 11 Hofstra, No. 12 Pennsylvania, No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 15 Northern Iowa, No. 17 West Virginia, No. 18 Ohio State, No. 19 Cornell, No. 20 Central Michigan, No. 24 Michigan State and HM Cleveland State.