Feb. 18, 2004
Returning home for the final two duals of the regular-season, fifth-ranked Missouri will take on Northern Illinois, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse and seventh-ranked Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 22, at noon.
Although Missouri leads the all-time series record with Northern Illinois 9-4, the Huskies took a 21-16 win over the Tigers in their last pairing Feb. 17, in Dekalb, Ill. Both teams enter the dual only two meets away from their respective conference championships.
Looking for redemption from their 20-15 loss to Iowa State, Missouri is expected to use its full starting lineup with Austin DeVoe (125), Brett Watkins (133), J.P. Reese (141), Jeremy Spates (149), Kenny Burleson (157), Tyron Woodley (165), Ben Askren (174), Matt Pell (184), Jeff Foust (197) and Mike Whitehead (HWT).
Senior captain Spates took career-win number 99 over Iowa State's Trent Paulson Friday night, and will look for win number 100 in his match with Northern Illinois' Josh Wooten. Ranked third in the nation, Spates enters on a three dual winning streak. If Spates manages a win on Wednesday, he will become only the 10th Tiger in Missouri wrestling history to hit the century mark, and second MU wrestler of the season to join the club. Senior Burleson hit 100 wins on Jan. 4, against Matt Lebe of West Virginia while wrestling at the Sun Devil Duals in Tempe, Ariz.
Hoping to improve on their Big 12 record, the Tigers will take on seventh-ranked Oklahoma for the final dual of the season. The Sooners hold a 38-3 all-time series record lead, but took a surprising 25-20 loss in their last meeting with the Tigers on Jan. 26, 2003, in Norman, Okla. Closing out the regular-season at home, Missouri will recognize the five seniors on the fifth-ranked team, that have helped bring the program to it's national prominence. "The five seniors that are graduating are from one of the first recruiting classes that I brought into Missouri," head coach Brian Smith said. "They've really helped to build the program and I'm pleased with all that they've accomplished over the past few years. It will be hard to see them go."
Missouri's two home duals will bookend the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships held Thursday through Saturday in the Hearnes Center Arena.