University of Missouri
Ohio State
Second Ranked Missouri Wrestling Takes Two In Tennessee
1/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 10, 2004
Chattanooga, Tenn. - Competing in back-to-back duals at Maclellan Gym, the second ranked Missouri wrestling team defeated host school Tennessee-Chattanooga, 30-19 and No. 15 Ohio State 34-9, extending their season record to 7-0. The Tigers scored nine combined pins and technical falls on the day, with three pins coming in the first dual against the Chattanooga Mocs.
Opening the day against UTC, redshirt freshman Ben Askren, ranked sixth in the nation, weighed in at 174 pounds, taking his ninth fall of the season over Adam DeCosmo in 2:19. Redshirt freshman Matt Pell (184, 11th-ranked) followed with a 20-3 technical fall over John Davis, while sophomore Jeff Foust (197) took a major decision over Josh Ward (12-0). Senior heavyweight Mike Whitehead (ninth-ranked) extended the Tigers' winning streak to four straight matches, dropping Diaz Edwards in 1:12.
With the score at 21-6, the Tigers suffered three disappointing losses at 125- 133- and 141-pounds. In a 5-3 decision, sophomore Austin DeVoe fell behind to 16th-ranked Matt Pitts at 125-pounds, with junior Paul Collum (10th-ranked) landing both shoulders on the mat for his first fall of the season at 133-pounds. The Mocs closed the gap in their battle with the Tigers, earning a win at 141-pounds. Michael Keefe proved too much for senior J.P. Reese (16th-ranked) who lost in a 14-4 major decision. Up by only three points, 21-19, senior captains Jeremy Spates (149, sixth-ranked) and Kenny Burleson (157, fourth-ranked) took wins in their respective weight classes. Spates held a 12-6 decision over Jacob Harris, while Burleson improved on his career-win record with a pin over T.J. Sanders in 1:21. Burleson's previous season-high wins with pins was two, this season Burleson has already taken four.
Missouri had no time between matches as they started in against No. 15 Ohio State at 165-pounds. Redshirt freshman Gabe Conaghan met with 2002 NCAA Champion John Clark, losing a 23-9 major decision. Next up at 174-pounds was Askren. Heading into the second period, Askren landed Anthony Magistrelli on his back and pinned him in 4:06.
"Ben is a pinner," head coach Brian Smith said. "If you're wrestling against Ben and you make a mistake, you can almost guarantee that he will find a way to get you on your back. Today's matches were no exception."
In a battle at 184-pounds, No. 11 Pell took a loss to No. 5 Blake Kaplan, 4-0. The scoreboard showed the Tigers down by one, 7-6, when Foust (197) paired up with 17th-ranked J.D. Bergman. Foust took a 7-5 decision pulling Missouri ahead by two points. Ranked ninth in the nation, Whitehead met in the center circle with three-time All-American and No. 1 ranked Tommy Rowlands. In a hard-fought match, Rowlands pulled ahead and won, 3-1. Heavyweight would be the last loss for Missouri as DeVoe pinned Jermain Jones in 1:09 at 125-pounds, followed by a technical fall by Collum (133) over Jesse Leng (15-0). Back on track, Reese scored his 11th pin of the season, and 43rd of his career dropping Theo Dotson in 1:53.
The match at 149-pounds would prove one of the most intense of the day as sixth-ranked Spates came from behind to knock off ninth-ranked Jeff Ratliff in an 11-8 decision. Behind in the third period, Spates was able to take down Ratliff and earn three back-points to take the lead and eventual win.
"It felt good to take a win over such a tough opponent," Spates said. "I was a little tired, but the win really helps me get ready for our upcoming National Duals."
Burleson would end the day for the Tigers with a technical fall (17-3) over Ryan Rhodes. Burleson leads Missouri in technical falls, his third coming this afternoon.
"We wrestled a little sluggish today," Smith said. "The coaches have been training the guys hard for the National Duals next weekend, so I expected the team to look a little tired. Both wins today were good, I think they help in preparing the team for the next challenge we have ahead of us."
Missouri will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, next week for the National Duals on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17-18. A full listing of team matchups will be available Tuesday afternoon.
Missouri 30, Chattanooga 19 Weight Wrestler/Result/Score Team Points 165 Jon Sioredas (UTC) won by forfeit 6-0 174 Ben Askren (UM) pinned Adam DeCosmo (UTC), 2:19 6-6 184 Matt Pell (UM) tech fall John Davis (UTC), 20-3 6-11 197 Jeff Foust (UM) maj. dec. Josh Ward (UTC), 12-0 6-15 285 Mike Whitehead (UM) pinned Diaz Edwards (UTC), 1:12 6-21 125 Matt Pitts (UTC) dec. Austin DeVoe (UM), 5-3 9-21 133 Josh Keefe (UTC) pinned Paul Collum (UM), 4:52 15-21 141 Michael Keefe (UTC) maj. dec. J.P. Reese (UM), 14-4 19-21 149 Jeremy Spates (UM) dec. Jacob Harris (UTC), 12-6 19-24 157 Kenny Burleson (UM) pinned T.J. Sayers (UTC), 1:21 19-30Missouri 34, Ohio State 9 Weight Wrestler/Result/Score Team Points 165 John Clark (OSU) maj. dec. Gabe Conaghan (UM), 23-9 0-4 174 Ben Askren (UM) pinned Anthony Magistrelli (OSU), 4:06 6-4 184 Blake Kaplan (OSU) dec. Matt Pell (UM), 4-0 6-7 197 Jeff Foust (UM) dec. J.D. Bergman (OSU), 7-5 9-7 285 Tommy Rowlands (OSU) dec. Mike Whitehead (UM), 3-1 9-9* 125 Austin DeVoe (UM) pinned Jermaine Jones (OSU), 1:09 15-9 133 Paul Collum (UM) tech fall Jesse Leng (OSU), 15-0 20-9 141 J.P. Reese (UM) pinned Theo Dotson (OSU), 1:53 26-9 149 Jeremy Spates (UM) dec. Jeff Ratliff (OSU), 11-8 29-9 157 Kenny Burleston (UM) tech fall Ryan Rhodes (OSU), 17-3 34-9 (*one team point deducted)
